Latest news with #RyuichiSakamoto
Sydney Morning Herald
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
I've developed an unhealthy interest in the view from my kitchen window. How to stop?
This story is part of the August 2 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories. My kitchen window looks into an apartment where a young man lives. I've developed an unhealthy interest in watching him. I can't see into his bedroom or bathroom, so there's no nudity or sex. How do I stop my obsession? I'm a woman who's many years his senior. S.G., Heidelberg, VIC Hardware stores in the Heidelberg area are going to be doing very good business today: they're going to sell out of window shutters, window covers, window paint, tarpaulins, plywood sheeting and wooden planks. Curtain and blinds companies should do well today, too. Along with electronics retailers selling security-camera equipment. As well as The Oversized Bathrobe Emporium, The Full-Length Kaftan Warehouse and Muumuus R Us. And this is all because of your inability to stop peeking at your neighbour, your inability to keep your peeking to yourself and my inability to ignore your question because creepy-peeky content always goes down well with Good Weekend 's AB demographic. And yes, we all know what it's like when you've run out of TV shows to watch – when you've seen everything on free-to-air, everything on streaming platforms and all 14 billion YouTube videos. You can get a little bored and start seeking other forms of entertainment, but instead of turning to popular hobbies like book-reading, cushion embroidery or curating Ryuichi Sakamoto Spotify playlists, you've potentially chosen the niche pastime of criminal stalking under Section 21A of the Crimes Act 1958.
The Age
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
I've developed an unhealthy interest in the view from my kitchen window. How to stop?
This story is part of the August 2 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories. My kitchen window looks into an apartment where a young man lives. I've developed an unhealthy interest in watching him. I can't see into his bedroom or bathroom, so there's no nudity or sex. How do I stop my obsession? I'm a woman who's many years his senior. S.G., Heidelberg, VIC Hardware stores in the Heidelberg area are going to be doing very good business today: they're going to sell out of window shutters, window covers, window paint, tarpaulins, plywood sheeting and wooden planks. Curtain and blinds companies should do well today, too. Along with electronics retailers selling security-camera equipment. As well as The Oversized Bathrobe Emporium, The Full-Length Kaftan Warehouse and Muumuus R Us. And this is all because of your inability to stop peeking at your neighbour, your inability to keep your peeking to yourself and my inability to ignore your question because creepy-peeky content always goes down well with Good Weekend 's AB demographic. And yes, we all know what it's like when you've run out of TV shows to watch – when you've seen everything on free-to-air, everything on streaming platforms and all 14 billion YouTube videos. You can get a little bored and start seeking other forms of entertainment, but instead of turning to popular hobbies like book-reading, cushion embroidery or curating Ryuichi Sakamoto Spotify playlists, you've potentially chosen the niche pastime of criminal stalking under Section 21A of the Crimes Act 1958.
Eater
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Tune In and Get Buzzed at This San Francisco Coffee Shop
On a warm afternoon on 16th Street, a little wooden tray lands on your table complete with three pink-red cups, a beaker-like glass of sparkling water, and a golden spoon. The three cups contain immaculate coffee and milk rehydrated from Japan. A laminated explainer with details on the arrangement arrives, too, like a flash card riddled with notes for a chemistry test. It reads, 'no substitutions, limited quantity.' It also instructs the drinker to queue the song 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' by Ryuichi Sakamoto on your phone, to soundtrack the experience. This is the newest offering from Liza Otanes and Rich Lee's SPRO Coffee. It's one of the only guided San Francisco coffee services available, a small and mighty scene that emerged properly in summer 2024. Lee, who judges international coffee competitions, says the idea was to bring a taste of that competitive world to caffeine heads in San Francisco. This particular tasting comes from 2025 U.S. Barista Champion Kay Cheon. The order comes with espresso, a cappuccino, milk, and sparkling water, the standard set-up at barista competitions. The milk served here points to that level of expertise: It's frozen for 72 hours, refined for an extra 30 hours to create better protein and fat, then combined with coconut milk and cryodesiccated milk from Hokkaido, a process (apparently). Cheon served drinks very much like these in the national finals; Lee took inspiration from the presentation. There are a few modifications allowed, but the guided coffee service starts at $21. The final pricing depends on which espresso you might want to try; in spring 2025, both options were Colombian, but one cost $1.50 extra and the other $10. It's a lot of flavor and a lot of caffeine for a casual coffee drinker. It's specifically a lot of dairy for someone who might consider black coffee the be-all and end-all. The guide instructs guests to move from espresso to milk, to 'the union' (the cappuccino), then to 'sip again,' before reflecting on each drink. That's not to mention the music prompt; following along with a specific song is a singular San Francisco treat. For the tasting, the crescendo hits with a rare Ombligon varietal — roasted by Los Angeles's Be Bright Coffee — and served as espresso. The notes are wild. Big blasts of watermelon, hella malty dark chocolate, and dots of cherry and raspberry result in a crazy symphonic slurp. It's bitter, but in that controlled way of stoneground dark chocolate. The milk tastes like the kind warmed on the stove by your grandma, nostalgic in its sweetness and fuzziness. For the Colombian roast that goes for $8.50 less, the impact of the espresso is less intense, resulting in a more balanced experience throughout the other drinks — your palate is a bit more prepared. Feeling a little self-conscious, one might have an out-of-body experience and see themselves as Keanu Reeves in Always Be My Maybe , weeping through his headphones, listening to the final moos of the cow slain to make his meal. But if you can get past that, it's an edifying phenomenon to drink coffee in this slow, powerful way. 'Let the final flavors fade,' the instructions read in part. 'Let the memory of feeling and flavor linger.' This coffee-music pairing comes from Lee's time working with baristas competing on the national stage. He worked with Saint Frank Coffee's Jason Yeo on his barista championship routine; Yeo took third place with just a few points separating him from second. Otanes and Lee's business has been on a winning spree in the city. The duo expanded past their Spark Social truck and Castro cafe with two new outposts in 2023, both in Civic Center. It's one of his former staffers who now runs the TikTok-approved coffee and tea program at Cafe Shoji. This summer, Lee will head to Milan to prepare for the international barista competition. 'I want to share some of that with San Francisco,' he says. SPRO Coffee is open with four outposts across San Francisco. The guided coffee pairing is available at the 500 Church Street and 525 Golden Gate Avenue locations. See More:
Japan Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Songs, stars and strategy: Japan debuts its newest awards ceremony
Under a wash of blue stage lights inside Kyoto's Rohm Theatre, Haruomi Hosono stood alone. A founding member of influential techno-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra, he addressed an attentive audience on the closing night of the inaugural Music Awards Japan — not just as a musician in his own right, but on behalf of his late YMO bandmates, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, and artists across the country. 'There are two people who couldn't make it here today. It's because of their talent that I'm able to stand here,' said Hosono, adding that he 'felt very honored' the pioneering YMO has been chosen as a kind of 'symbol' to represent that best Japanese music has to offer. Reflecting on the influence of his artistic peers, he expanded on the thing that drives artists to create. 'It's the passion we have for music, our love for it. We tried to come up with something unique to Japan.' J-pop Yoasobi delighted audiences with a performance of 'Idol.' | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 It was a moment steeped in reverence amid a week of celebration as Japan's 'answer to the Grammys' took place in the old capital on May 21 and 22. The Music Awards Japan (MAJ), which also included a YMO tribute concert a day before the ceremonies began, sought to strike a balance between past and present, domestic stardom and international reach. 'This awards ceremony is a source of encouragement for (musicians),' Hosono continued. 'There are many musicians who haven't made it here yet, but I hope they'll continue to mature beyond the boundaries of the entertainment industry. That's what I'm most looking forward to. I truly believe that support from the industry is essential.' Spearheaded by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association, a coalition of five major music associations, MAJ brought together around 5,000 musicians, producers and industry experts to recognize achievements in 62 categories. The two ceremonies where the awards were presented — red glass statuettes dubbed 'Rubies' — were broadcast live on NHK and streamed online where they were accompanied by curated playlists, signaling the organizers' intent to not just reward Japanese music but to export it. The launch of MAJ coincides with growing overseas interest in Japanese music thanks to viral hits driven by social media, anime tie-ins, and domestic labels and agencies embracing the internet as a way to reach international listeners. J-pop acts are literally making moves abroad, too. Last year saw a record number of groups — including Yoasobi, Awich, Atarashii Gakko! and Number_i — take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April, while singer Ado and idol outfits XG and Travis Japan embarked on world tours. This year also sees singer-songwriters Kenshi Yonezu and Kaze Fujii setting out overseas, as well as groups Wednesday Campanella and Hitsujibungaku. MAJ's aim is to cultivate more of these kinds of stars who have the potential to shine outside of Japan. While focused on current global ambitions, MAJ took the unusual move of awarding past hits, too, as if to say "Japanese music isn't just good now, it has always been good" ... or maybe it was a ploy to try to get some extra star power in attendance. Older songs such as Hikaru Utada's 'Automatic' (1999) and Kurousa-P's "Senbonzakura" (2011) won awards in the best Japanese R&B/contemporary song and best Vocaloid culture song categories, and even Teriyaki Boyz' 2006 track 'Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)" got a shout-out in the top Japanese song in Europe section. Rapper Chanmina delivered a rowdy set at the grand awards ceremony at the Music Awards Japan. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 Meanwhile, the MAJ Timeless Echo award was presented to 75-year-old rocker Eikichi Yazawa, who burst onto the Rohm Theatre stage in a shiny, dark red suit, flipping over his mic stand with flair and swiveling his hips as he sang 'It's Up to You!,' 'Tomaranai Ha~Ha' and 'Yes My Love.' With a nearly 50-year-long career behind him, Yazawa's presence encapsulated the enduring power of Japanese rock. Musical heritage aside, the bulk of the awards went to newer acts like Hitsujibungaku, King Gnu and tuki., and hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts took home a total of nine statuettes — the most of any act — including song of the year for their viral hit 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born.' Members DJ Matsunaga and R-Shitei earned one of the biggest laughs of the awards when, at the earlier ceremony where they won their first seven awards, a trolley of Rubies was rolled out onto the stage and the pair struggled to hold all the hefty trophies in their arms. MAJ's goal of demonstrating Japan's soft-power supremacy also came in the form of awards presenters — 'The Solitary Gourmet' actor Yutaka Matsushige, figure skater Mao Asada, contemporary author Mieko Kawakami and veteran actor Koji Yakusho all handed out Rubies. The show's live performances also ran the gamut of musical genres. At the May 21 ceremony, audience members were treated to sets ranging from koto player Leo's contemporary approach to traditional Japanese music and the atmospheric beatboxing of Show-go to the powerful vocals of Azumi Takahashi belting the 'Dreamgirls' show tune, 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.' Rocker Eikichi Yazawa received the MAJ Timeless Echo award. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 The following night upped the ante. In addition to live performances from Yoasobi and Creepy Nuts — as well as a pretaped recording from Hikaru Utada — rapper Chanmina, at one point suspended in the air alongside two acrobats, delivered a rowdy set that included an audacious split. Kaze Fujii, sat at a piano with one foot propped on his knee, exuded a cool charisma as he played a stripped-down 'Michiteyuku.' Later, Awich performed with fellow rappers Ai, Nene and MaRi on a rousing version of 'Bad Bitch Bigaku,' followed by a duet with Ai on 'Not So Different Remix.' The highlight performance came from rock band Mrs. Green Apple toward the end of the night, as two full rows of string players were dramatically revealed for a lush, emotional rendition of 'Darling.' The show was not without its quirks, though. At times, the backstage crew's voices and shifting set pieces were audible during speeches and presentations. A mismatched video package played after one award was announced, forcing presenters to improvise. Awich performed with fellow rappers Ai, Nene and MaRi. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 The aforementioned Mrs. Green Apple bookended the ceremonies by winning both the first and last awards presented over the two days — best Japanese song artist and artist of the year, respectively. 'This year marks our 10th anniversary since our debut, and we've been talking nonstop about what to do in the future, what kind of interesting things we can do and what the future holds,' said Mrs. Green Apple vocalist Motoki Ohmori while accepting the artist of the year award. 'We've been focusing on the long-term vision for over a decade, but this year, we finally took the time to reflect on the past 10 or so years and truly appreciate each other. We've been able to keep going thanks to the support of so many people, but above all, because I truly love creating music with these members. It's been a blessing. Thank you so much.' Mrs. Green Apple bookended the Music Awards Japan ceremonies by winning both the first and last awards presented over the course of two days — best Japanese song artist and artist of the year, respectively. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 Amid the domestic bliss was also plenty of love for overseas acts with genre-specific prizes going to Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande, among others. Country-specific awards rewarded artists from Japan's Asian neighbors, including Seventeen (South Korea), Zhou Shen (China) and Lola Amour (the Philippines). It's too early to tell if a Ruby will one day be as coveted as a Grammy, but as far as debuts go MAJ had something for pretty much everyone. The real test will be if next year's celebration is able to live up to the first. For more information about the Music Awards Japan, visit
Japan Times
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Crowds shouldn't stop you from seeing the hit Ryuichi Sakamoto exhibit
On a Sunday morning in January, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) in Kiba Park was flooded with bright winter light and a throng of people. Visitors waited in densely packed lines to see 'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Seeing Sound, Hearing Time,' billed as the largest solo exhibition dedicated to the composer and musician who The show has been a smash hit, far exceeding the expectations of the curatorial team. At the time of writing, tickets are sold out for the following weekend. For the remaining month of the show, visitors under 18 can enter for free, which may only boost crowds further. A month into the show's opening, long lines and wait times prompted the museum to introduce additional crowd control measures. On Jan. 29, MOT established date-specific ticketing, and two weeks later began restricting which works could be photographed or video recorded. The museum also rerouted the entry point for 'Life-Well Tokyo, Fog Sculpture #47662' a collaboration with fog artist Fujiko Nakaya and Dumb Type's Shiro Takatan, presumably to decrease congestion while people wait for the installation to start. This is arguably the most Instagrammable work of the video— and sound-heavy exhibit, so it's bound to draw people needing something good for the grid.
