On Display
A fun book display at Junkudo.
Oct 8, 2005
Cut Again
Fresh cut. I really should get cuts more often, I always feel so good afterwards — I’m just not big on going to the salon.
Sep 29, 2005
Xbox 360 Lounge
Well, now we know when that Xbox 360 building will open, and what it’s all about. From this morning’s conference at the TGS:
Another concern, and a lesson learned from the last launch, was that Japanese gamers at the were hesitant to buy into a new, wholly unfamiliar console. This time Microsoft hopes to entice gamers by opening a 360 lounge in the fashionable Aoyama area a full month before the launch date. The lounge will be a hip, comfortable place where gamers can play demos of 360 games before they buy them. (1UP)
Read more conference impressions here. The Nintendo conference should be happening at this very moment.
Sep 16, 2005
Earthquake-Ready
Earthquake emergency packs, on sale at Muji.
Update: You can get more info (and see what is included) on these emergency sets (there are two; one goes for 12600 yen, the other for 6300 yen) at this page from the online Muji store.
Sep 14, 2005
Love Nippon
I like the graphic work that this new political party is using on their posters.
Sep 3, 2005
Gameboy Micro
You can try out the new Gameboy Micro at Ikebukuro Station. It goes on sale in two weeks.
Sep 1, 2005
Summer Tea Party
A nice way to take in some traditional tea ceremony action, in a nice design-friendly setting.
This year’s Summer Tea Party is about experiencing the beautiful world of tea. Learn about the history of tea leaves, cups, manners, and different styles of serving tea. The “platinum tea room”, using 10,000 leaves of platinum, will be on special display. Kobori Sojitsu, Thirteenth Grand Master of the Enshu School of Tea, will demonstrate his skills. (TAB)
It’s happening at the Living Design Center Ozone until July 19.
Jul 16, 2005
Kissa Ginza
Enjoying a nice cold one at Kissa Ginza, actually located in Ebisu. I’ve been wanting to come here for a while now, ever since seeing a picture of the place in an issue of PAPER SKY. I’ll write more when I get back home.
Update: For anyone who went to the Scala-za in Shinjuku before it closed down (or if you saw the film ICHI THE KILLER, it was the cafe where they had their meeting), you’ll know what to expect, that same kind of retro atmosphere — it feels like you walked into an old diner. They had a DJ booth in the corner, but no DJ (and I was the only person there, drinking my beer alone), with some really cheesy techno-dance music playing. Loved it!
Jul 16, 2005
Jean Snow is a contributor to 
He will be contributing to the upcoming fifth editions of 
