Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Isn’t chocolate universally everyone’s favorite flavor? It did come late to Japan because of the nation being one of the most isolated places in the world. Yes there are more, and much poorer places that are isolated, but imagine, Japan is an island separated from the rest of Asia by one of the toughest seas anywhere – the Japan Sea and on the other side? It’s the Pacific. It’s why it was safe from attack and foreigners. But now at the “17th Salon du Chocolat” held in Paris, it’s another story. Japan loves chocolate. Not the sweet Hersheys kind, but something that’s a bit more subdued. Desserts and sweets are a huge part of society and chocolate has crept in. Imagine, why are the multi flavors of Kit Kats so popular? Yes, there you have it. Japan loves chocolate. Yet it goes to the highest levels. Japan is part of the elite of chocolate. “… Susumu Koyama, 47, was even named “Best Foreign Chocolatier” — winning out over top masters from celebrated chocolate-making nations like Belgium and Switzerland.” Koyama it turns out is like the greatest around. A celebrity in the making for desserts. (AFP – Susumu) and read more about Koyama here.
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This article on touching pets even if you don’t have one is a big deal. According to Martin Lindstrom, “Japanese research has shown that the more time we spend touching pets, the longer we live.” As we live more online than ever, we need the touch of something alive and something that grounds us. Maybe it’ll be cat cafes that spring up in the US, but at the same time, cat cafes are really far and in between in Japan. (Fast Company – Cats) The below photo is one that we shot a few years ago. Calico Cafe is one of the cat cafe’s in Japan that’s a rental. Pay as you come in and pet cats as a therapeutic release. (GR – Calico)
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Japan is a society that’s good to the elders. Life expectancy is among the highest in the world and this one elder has been gifted a job that most his age can’t fathom. It’s in the sex industry. Veiled as an article that includes aging in Japan, this Guardian article is really just about porno star Shigeo Tokuda who at 77, is still working. He’s had a bypass surgery, but is still shooting scenes with actresses much, much younger. (Guardian UK – Shigeo Tokuda)
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That’s more than a billion dollars. “The amount will cover compensation for mental sufferings of victims as a result of evacuation and to pay for the losses incurred by small businesses following the nuclear disaster.” Is this even enough? A billion sounds like it’ll go down in a second. (Tokyotimes – Billion)
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A concert took place at the Hollywood Bowl with headliners Yellow Magic Orchestra or YMO. Much of the crowd were into Japanese culture, but surely had no idea who they were. Granted, openers like Cibo Matto or Towa Tei at the DJ tables, or even Buffalo Daughter may have clued people in, but did they know that YMO is a huge part of music history in Japan? Ryuichi Sakamoto was the front man of the band, Cornelius was an unnamed session guitar player, Haruomi Hosono, another legend, also in the band. Guessing that most probably didn’t know this. The show still went off well, people liked the music, and Yoko Ono did her best to ruin the evening. Yet Ryuichi Sakamoto, known for his electronics and bending sound is now going on an acoustic tour including piano, violin and a cello. His reasoning has more to do with getting back to the basics after 311. He ties the simplicity to the post and pre 311 problems to people’s isolation in Japan, including Hikikomori, a large group who never leave their homes. (Telegraph UK – Ryuichi Sakamoto)
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