Someone playing Super Mario Bros. in high-speed, and describing his play — I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh. Via Destructoid.

Just a reminder that Cafe Pause‘s 5th anniversary party — which I posted about earlier this week — happens tomorrow night (Saturday, February 21). Entry is free, and doors open at 19:00, with live acts starting at 20:00 (there are three scheduled, with Taichi playing third at around 21:00), and the cafe will be open until midnight. For people who Facebook, here’s the event page. Come join us!

Curious to see what the interior of Reed Space in Tokyo looks like? Dezeen posts an extended gallery. The design is by Upsetters Architects.

Update: Thank you Paul for reminding us that, yes, Reed Space in Tokyo actually closed last year.

Digging the modern typography — and overall packaging — for Yaoki shochu, courtesy of Dentsu Kyushu. Via Spoon & Tamago.

One bright effect from the recession: cycling in Japan is on the rise. The Y’s Road shop mentioned in the article is my regular bike shop.

Move over Kaneda, this is the bike for me — or any other sci-fi creation by Norio Fujikawa for that matter. Via Core77.

My weekly Tokyo post for MoCo Loco is up, this time covering MisoSoupDesign‘s W Lounge Chair, Atsuko Hamanaka “Mock & Mimic,” and Mile‘s “Solar Phone Concepts.”

Oh how I love these: rugs with designs inspired by Tokyo’s taxis. They were created by Swedish design/architecture firm Claesson Koivisto Rune, and are part of an exhibition entitled “Tokyo Takushii,” that was shown in Stockholm. Via MoCo Loco.

This new music video by Swedish band Peter Bjorn and John features the now famous Yoyogi park rockers. Via Japan Probe.

I’m always told I announce these things too late, so let it be said now: this coming Saturday (February 21) Cafe Pause celebrates its fifth anniversary. Doors will open at 19:00, with live performances starting at 20:00 — I’d make sure not to miss Taichi at 21:00. Entry will be free, and I’ll of course be drunk on the floor, so come celebrate with me.

If you’re left standing, on Sunday (February 22) Hiro will be returning to the cafe for a live painting session, accompanied by his brother on guitar. It starts at 19:00.

I’m really digging the large displays in the showcase, taken from the labels for the Pause Original Blend Tea.

Remember that Katana app for iPhone from Appliya I mentioned a while back? It’s now out on the iTunes App Store.

Want to get your hands on issues of classic culture magazine Relax? Nakaochiai Gallery‘s Julia Barnes is selling off her collection — 31 issues from 2000 to 2003 — either as a set or individually. For more info, get in touch with Julia — she’ll take the best offer by March 1.

Ayumi Hamasaki’s next album — Next Level, out March 25 — will be released in four different editions, including the 2GB USB memory stick version (the album will take up 800MB) pictured above. Via Tokyomango.

What is TB.Pensar? Find out here.

I’ve been wanting to do one of these for a while now, to highlight a few things I’m working on, and slowly prepping. As most of you know, I had a rough end to 2008, but I can honestly say that things are really good right now, and I’m very much pumped and energized, and loving what’s keeping me busy these days.

• First, of course, is my current work with KDa on Pecha Kucha Night, and I’m really enjoying working with Mark Dytham on this. My biggest role right now is updating Pecha Kucha Daily, turning it into a blog that’s worth keeping up with. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter as well (I’m the one twittering, on top of the regular automated event updates).
• I’m also working closely with a certain well-known creator on all sorts of interesting stuff — not really the kind of work you publicize, but suffice it to say that I’m very happy to be doing so.
• Radio OK Fred is back! Where you say? Well, we had recorded an episode two weeks ago, but recording mishaps meant we had to dump it. We recorded another episode this week — with special guest Ega Hiroshi — and that should be going up soon. Also, this week I went out and got the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder, which we’ll be using from now on, and I think that’s going to make for some really nice sounding episodes. And if you’ve never heard of Radio OK Fred, it’s a series of podcast I host along with OK Fred magazine’s Yoshi and Ay2.
• PauseTalk, yes, how could I not mention that. Last week’s edition was a terrific one — and yes, I realize I haven’t posted the attendance list yet, and will do so soon. The next edition happens March 2.
• I’m working on a new web project. I don’t want to say more, but let’s just say that if you like my blog, you’ll like this thing even more. Launching will depend on when I can find the time — or rather the courage — to finish the coding on it.
• I’ve started prep work on a conference — possibly a series — that I want to start this year. Again, more details as things start to take shape.
• And speaking of events, following the break we took last year, me and Jesper Larsson are definitely planning on holding a Swedish Style event this year during Tokyo Design Week. Since this year will mark the 10th anniversary of Swedish Style — and a return as well, following last year’s hiatus (mostly) — we really want to do something kick-ass.
• Of course, I’m still freelancing for various sites and publications, most regularly at The Japan Times and MoCo Loco. And I’m still an editor-at-large at Néojaponisme, which you all follow, right?
• The last project I’ll mention is one me and Paul Baron have been trying to get off the ground for a while now. Without going into too many details, it involves setting up a mini library of sorts for French BDs (graphic novels). My love for BD (and comics and manga) knows no bound, and I really want to set up a way to share that with others here in Tokyo.

So that’s it for now, at least what I can think of — and you know, I should also mention that great book everyone should own, none other than Arcade Mania. The goal of this post was that I just wanted to put all of this out there, so that people don’t think that I’m a sad victim of the current shitty economic climate, whiling away the hours at home, doing nothing — although I should add that most of these involve no money, and I do it out of love (or rather, obsession).

Studio 360 spent some time in Japan, resulting in a very entertaining podcast — there are also video bits on the site — that covers a few cultural points of interest. Some friends of mine collaborated on the project: Lisa Katayama and Roland Kelts each file reports and accompany the host on tours to a few areas in Tokyo. There are a few parts that are the typical “welcome to Japan, check this out” kind of thing, but I quite enjoyed the bits with Atelier Bow-Wow‘s Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Shigeru Ban.