Latest news with #Tokyo-born
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This exhibition of Japanese art at Haneda Airport features a traditional mobile tea room
We get it – there's never enough time in Tokyo, no matter how much time you spend in this incredible city. But now you can squeeze in one last Japanese experience before flying out, right at Haneda Airport. Located on the 5th floor of Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Art Dash Gallery is an exhibition space and art shop that aims to not only promote Japanese art, but also give travellers the chance to bring a piece of it home. Its latest exhibition, titled ' The Japan Art + ', does exactly that. Running now through November 9, the exhibition showcases a variety of Japanese art forms, from Edo-period (1603–1868) ukiyo-e woodblock prints to modern and contemporary nihonga (Japanese-style painting), as well as ceramics by emerging artists. Among them is Tokyo-born Yuta Omori, whose works are innovative yet remain deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the artworks are available for purchase, and they make for a much more memorable souvenir than some mass-produced trinket from Harajuku's Takeshita Street. But the real showstopper is the authentic mobile tea room, crafted by master temple carpenters using the traditional Japanese joinery technique known as kigumi. This elegant cubic structure is built entirely without a single nail. Even better, it's not just for show. Art Dash Gallery plans to host regular tea ceremonies inside. (Check the gallery website for the schedule.) In addition to the tea ceremonies, the exhibition will also feature a line-up of cultural events including ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. All in all, this art exhibition is one more reason to get to the airport a little early. The Japan Art + is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 5pm, until November 9. Admission is free. For more details, visit the gallery website. The Fuji Rock timetable for 2025 is here
San Francisco Chronicle
03-07-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
This hot Bay Area ramen spot had a 2-hour wait on opening day. Is it worth the hype?
Up until about a decade ago, I had mostly tried one kind of ramen: tonkotsu, with its thin, straight skeins and cloudy soup. Then Tsujita Artisan Noodle in Los Angeles introduced me to tsukemen, a Tokyo-born ramen where cold, thick noodles are served with a concentrated dipping broth. It was frequently named the best ramen restaurant in the region, with lines routinely snaking down the block, and it became my standard-bearer. Tsujita recently opened its first Bay Area outpost in West San Jose's Strawberry Park shopping plaza, a hot spot for Japanese food with several restaurants and the grocery store Mitsuwa Marketplace. On its grand opening weekend, the wait time was more than two hours. I haven't been to the Los Angeles restaurant in years, so I wondered if the new location would live up to my memory. It only took one bite to know the answer: yes. I'd put Tsujita in my top ramen spots in the Bay Area, especially since great tsukemen is in short supply here. It's a leading source for the ramen style, second only to Shutgetsu, which has locations in San Mateo and Fremont. On my dinner visit, I faced a line of nearly 50 people hugging the perimeter of a courtyard. I waited over a half hour before making it inside the snug shop awash in honey blonde wood. It was a packed house, with all 30 seats occupied by patrons noshing on jumbo chicken karaage or gleefully slurping down noodles. I ordered the deluxe tsukemen ($25.60). It came with two bowls: a cold one filled with a nest of yellow noodles, a lime wedge and a double helping of buttery braised pork slices; and another containing the warm dipping liquid. The latter was as potent as I remembered. A swirl of pork fat floated atop the murky brown broth, an intense distillation of richness, smokiness and umami with a fishy edge. How to eat tsukemen? Dunk the elongated noodles in the concentrated fluid and inhale them down the gullet. The lime provides flavor variance, a few drops over the noodles nicely mellows the reduced soup's intensity. Once you've reached the dregs, ask the staff to thin it out with complimentary chicken broth. While dipping ramen remains the draw, the tonkotsu, especially the spicy version ($18.95), is a wonderful alternative. The milky white pork broth is decadent, the noodles slightly firm and the heat level prickly but quick to dissipate. Tsujita debuted in 2003 in Tokyo before opening its first Los Angeles location in 2011. In the last decade, the operation has expanded to Texas, New Jersey and, now, San Jose. In its growth, the international ramen chain has maintained quality. While I think Tsujita is well worth the wait, line adverse patrons might want to wait a few weeks before visiting. There was one inconsequential detail that was absent on my visit: the pungent odor of long-simmered pork bones, which I associate with the initial Los Angeles location. I can't say I miss the scent, per se, but I affectionately view it as the perfume of Tsujita. Perhaps the smell is earned over time as it slowly settles into the walls. Tsujita Artisan Noodle. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 4330 Moorpark Ave., San Jose.
AU Financial Review
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
From pumpkins to punk: NGV reveals its next blockbuster
The National Gallery of Victoria will follow up last summer's record-breaking Yayoi Kusama ticketed exhibition with one on fashion icon Vivienne Westwood, teamed with another reclusive Japanese genius. Pieces from the late British designer who defined the punk aesthetic will be exhibited alongside the boundary-pushing oeuvre of Rei Kawakubo, the Tokyo-born founder of the Comme des Garcons ('like the boys') label.
Metropolis Japan
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Japanese Calligraphy & Sumi-e Workshop in Tokyo
Step into the serene world of Japanese calligraphy and Sumi-e (painting with black ink) with Tokyo-born artist Chiaki. In this immersive hands-on workshop in Tokyo, you'll explore the brush techniques, philosophy, and history behind Japanese calligraphy and ink painting. Chiaki's fresh, modern approach invites you to see calligraphy not just as writing, but as personal expression through art. Known for blending the timeless beauty of traditional calligraphy with minimalist contemporary design, Chiaki brings a truly global perspective to this ancient art form—drawing on her experience teaching and exhibiting in cultural institutions across Europe and Asia. No experience with calligraphy? No problem. You'll be guided step-by-step by Chiaki. During the workshop, you will get the opportunity to craft your own masterpiece on a traditional Japanese fan ( Uchiwa ), adding your personal touch. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to connect with Japanese culture through art in Tokyo this summer. The workshop is held in English and all materials are provided—just bring your curiosity and passion. No prior experience needed. Green tea and sweets will be served. Choose between attending on June 28 (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) or June 29 (2:00 pm-4 pm).
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Tokyo-born scholar Yuji Hosaka steps into Seoul politics
Hosaka leads the DP's accusations against the PPP over alleged pro-Japanese remarks Yuji Hosaka, a Tokyo-born political scientist and professor at Sejong University in Seoul, is making his foray into South Korean politics, appearing alongside Democratic Party of Korea leaders at presidential campaign events — marking him as the latest foreign-born figure to enter the country's political arena. Although Hosaka publicly endorsed Moon Jae-in during the 2017 presidential election, he had not actively participated in party campaign events until recently. His affiliation with the liberal South Korean party further expanded on May 17, when he was appointed chair of the party's newly launched Committee to Eliminate Pro-Japanese Historical Distortion. The 14-member committee operates as part of the Democratic Party's official campaign structure through the June 3 presidential election. On Monday, during a press briefing at the Democratic Party's headquarters in Seoul, Hosaka accused the conservative People Power Party of promoting pro-Japanese narratives. His remarks came in response to recent controversial comments by People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who claimed that Koreans under Japanese colonial rule were legally Japanese nationals. Hosaka strongly refuted the claim, saying it had no basis in the 1910 annexation treaty, the Meiji Constitution, or Japan's nationality laws at the time. 'The Japanese Empire treated Koreans as a separate group,' he said, 'placing them under surveillance as potential dissidents — not as fellow citizens.' 'New Right forces, backed by Japan, are working to distort historical facts to fit the claims of Japan's far right,' Hosaka added. 'Unless we eliminate these pro-Japan forces, another Yoon Suk Yeol will rise. This is a battle between common sense and absurdity, between defending the Constitution and destroying it.' The so-called New Right is a conservative movement in South Korea that emerged in the early 2000s. It seeks to reframe key historical events, including Japan's colonization of Korea, often portraying it as a period of modernization rather than oppression. In its statement Monday, the committee accused the New Right of reviving colonial-era narratives and undermining Korea's legal and historical identity. It denounced the theory of 'colonial modernization,' condemned the group's denial of wartime forced labor and sexual slavery, and warned against attempts to delegitimize Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo. The statement labeled the New Right 'an anti-state force.' According to the Democratic Party of Korea, the committee was created in response to a growing number of public statements by conservative politicians that downplay or justify Japan's colonial rule over Korea. 'This committee was not created for academic discussion,' one party official said. 'It is a response to direct political messaging that attempts to normalize the historical views of Japan's far right.' Hosaka has openly stated his alignment with the progressive bloc in South Korea. In a recent speech, he said, 'We must change the government and build a nation where people can live and realize their dreams. I will do everything I can to support those aiming to make that possible.' Asked whether he feared political retaliation, such as being blacklisted by conservative groups, Hosaka acknowledged the risk but said he would not be deterred. 'That possibility definitely exists,' he said, 'but I'm a rationalist. My political orientation has always been with the opposition here in Korea.' Reflecting on the 2015 comfort women agreement between Korea and Japan under the administration of former President Park Geun-hye, Hosaka criticized the process as fundamentally flawed. 'Even if you're conservative, you should be rational and trustworthy,' he said. 'The government failed to persuade the people. I believe the agreement must be renegotiated, but before that, we need to investigate why it was made in the first place.' Born in 1956, Hosaka moved to South Korea in the 1980s for academic research and became a naturalized Korean citizen in 2003. Over the years, he has emerged as a prominent advocate against historical revisionism and a vocal defender of Korea's sovereignty over disputed issues such as the Dokdo islets — called Takeshima in Japan. Since 1998, Hosaka has dedicated his academic career to Dokdo-related research and currently serves as the director of Sejong University's Dokdo Research Institute. His work focuses on gathering historical, legal and cartographic evidence to support Korea's territorial claim to the islets.
