- A Peek at Petit Geisai 15 (360º Panorama)Somese Naoto (Photographer)
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Breaking into the art world can be a challenge for young, inexperienced creators. Murakami Takashi’s Geisai event has become a prime springboard to success for emerging artists. Now in its fifteenth incarnation, Geisai was originally founded to promote communication in Japan’s art world. Geisai 15, which restored a more energetic and intimate atmosphere, marks a return to the event’s roots. This 360º panorama showcases Geisai and some of the future leaders of Japan’s art community.
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- Come, Snow: Moments of Respite in the Snow Country (Photos)Saitō Ryōichi
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In Japanese, the snow-heavy regions in the north and west of the country are known as yukiguni, or Snow Country. Even today, heavy snowfall sometimes isolates the Snow Country from the rest of Japan. Traditionally, winter festivals played an important role in helping the local people to get through the darkest months of the year. These heartwarming images introduce the people of the Snow Country, who live alongside the snow in all its abundance and beauty in their everyday lives. Click on the bottom of the photos to hear a recording of “Yuki” (Snow), a traditional children’s song.
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- Twenty-first Century Tokyo Architecture (Photos)Satō Shin’ichi
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For many years, Tokyo was famous as a testing ground for modern architecture. How will the city evolve in the twenty-first century? We take a tour of the architectural wonders of contemporary Tokyo.
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- The Deep Beauty of Lacquer Ware (Photos)Ōhashi Hiroshi
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Ōnishi Isao has been designated a living national treasure for his work in lacquer ware. The painstaking process of applying lacquer and polishing the surface over and over again results in objects of profound, quiet beauty.
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- Behind-the-Scenes Look at Popteen Cover Shoot (Video)
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Popteen is one of the leading magazines for young women who are into the vibrant style of Japan’s gyaru subculture. We visited the studio where the cover for the New Year’s issue was being shot for a behind-the scenes look at Kumikkī, Mizukiti, and Pikarin—the trio of kimono-clad amateur models featured on the cover.
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- The Elegance of the New Year Table (Photos)Uzawa Akihiko
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Osechi ryōri cuisine is one of the highlights of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations. Every December, Kondō Fumio, proprietor of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo, spends 20 days preparing an elaborate osechi banquet. On New Year’s Eve, he brings it to the home of his late mentor, the novelist and gourmet Ikenami Shōtarō.
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- Mount Fuji Through the Lens of Ōyama Yukio (Photos)Ōyama Yukio
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According to a traditional Japanese belief, the “first dream” (hatsu yume) a person has on the night of January 2 is supposed to predict that person’s fortune for the coming year. Most auspicious of all is to dream of Mount Fuji. In this special New Year’s slideshow, Nippon.com presents 22 images of Mount Fuji by Ōyama Yukio, a photographer renowned for capturing the beauty of this symbol of Japan. Looking at these photos may help you have that lucky “first dream” of Mt. Fuji!
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- A Journey Along Japan’s Rivers (Photos)Ōnishi Nariaki
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Rivers large and small crisscross the length and breadth of the Japanese archipelago, supporting ecosystems, sustaining livelihoods, and creating invigorating scenes of natural beauty. From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, we look at the diversity of Japan’s rivers.
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- Shakuhachi: Kominato Akihisa and the Music of the Universe (Video)Matsuda Tadao (Videographer)
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Kominato Akihisa is a young virtuoso on the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute. In the hands of a virtuoso like Kominato, the shakuhachi can express a wide range of emotions, almost like a human voice in song. By bringing a spirit of innovation to the rich traditions of this historical Japanese instrument, Kominato has delighted audiences around the world. In this video, Kominato introduces the history and diversity of the shakuhachi, and performs a special piece accompanied by piano.
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- Exploring Kenninji’s Beauty (360˚ Panorama)Somese Naoto (Photographer)
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Kenninji is the oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Our 360˚ immersive panorama gives you an up-close look at the temple’s enormous ceiling painting of two dragons and its renowned Fūjin raijinzu screen. The panoramic camera angles go beyond what temple visitors can normally see, making the experience even more awe-inspiring.
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- 3/11 and the Aftermath (Photos)
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March 11, 2011, was a day that stunned Japan and the entire world. These images of the aftermath provide an important reminder of how much rebuilding work remains to be done.
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- Kings of the Road (Photos)Tatsuki Masaru (Photographer)
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Decorated trucks, or decotora, have been a feature of Japanese roads for over 30 years. This slide show introduces some of these colorfully customized trucks and the men who drive them.
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