International Project

International Project was a good chance to explore my neighborhood.

By using two ways of transportation, I was able to see the two different views.

1. Train- from Asakusa sta. to my house- : a train gives me faster trip. That gives me a chance to think of how close areas are connected. I could see the gradually changing views easily. To feel that is just like to listen to a music. The gradual change in my view is alike the gradual change in melody. If you just take a look at the score, you may not feel the music. But if someone plays the piano for you, you will feel the music better. If I just took a look at a map, I would not feel the place. But a train allows me to feel the place.
2. On Foot- from my house to Asakusa- : To take a long walk provides me a long quiet time. That enables me to take a close look at people living there or working there. There are many kinds of people: an old man sitting at a bus stop, a young woman working at a restaurant, a middle-aged man leading cars at a parking area, a little kid playing in the kindergarten, high-school boy working at a convenience store, mothers chatting at a coffee shop, an old woman hanging out the washing on the line to dry,....so many people! I could see where I live actually on the day.

As an artist.

This is my first time to see me as an artist.
What I felt before taking this course is that I was not an artist.
So, I have never thought I could be an artist.

The fact was not.
Having a chance to express or show his/her work to someone, anybody can be an artist.
You do not have to have career.
More like it is free.
I do not have any artistic career.

I am just an artist who has got a chance to exhibit my work and enjoy it.
I am just an artist who goes to an international university.
I am just an artist who tries to show somebody what is in the part of my life.
But, I became an artist in July 2007.

Field Trip to Azabu Jyu-ban

I walked around Azabu Jyu-ban sta.
It was a beautiful day between the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

The area right around the station is "Sho-ten gai," meaning shopping street.
There are many mom and pop's shop. Toy store, futon store, izakaya(bar), etc.
Between these shops, there are modern shops such as Mc Donald, Starbucks, Wendy's, TULLY's coffee, am pm, etc.
We can see the combination of traditional and modern at the same area.
We can see it not only among shops but also amog houses.
An old house stands right next to a very modern house.
The buildings next to each other are quite different. They really does not match.
However, this is what happens in subarban area in Japan.

There is one more kind of combination you can see there: nature and artificial.
In a certain area, we can see a park and temple surrounded by trees.
But, when you look up sky and turn right a little bit, you can see the soaring skyscrapers: Roppongi Hills.

This kind of way to construct neighborhood is very unique to Japan and it is pretty interesting, isn't it?