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The Shibuya Creative Tech Committee nurtures innovative technologies across the Shibuya area, connecting its diverse cultural assets through digital advancements.

Today, the Committee and EDCON (Community Ethereum Development Conference) have announced a strategic partnership to create a subcommittee that will enhance EDCON 2024, which will be supported by the Shibuya City Office and is free to attend.

This collaboration will unlock new opportunities in the global art and tech community by combining expertise and fostering creativity through innovative programming.

 

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Meikyoku kissas (名曲喫茶), or “classical music cafés,” are a distinctive part of Japanese culture, particularly in Tokyo. These establishments emerged in the early 20th century and provided a unique space for music enthusiasts to enjoy classical music in a café setting.

Heralded kissas like Lion Cafe have been garnering media and tourist attention as of late, with some calling it Tokyo’s “worst best kept secret.”

A brief history of these wonderfully unique establishments may help contextualize why they are so revered by enthusiasts and regulars, yet also so often misunderstood by non-Japanese visitors.

 

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November 15, 2023

Shinji Ohmaki: Interface of Being

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Shinji Ohmaki is known for creating large-scale installations that inquire into the nature of being and disrupt the somatic senses of viewers.

He has presented these ambitious works to high acclaim not only in Japan but also in many other countries across Asia and Europe.

The National Art Center, Tokyo is presenting Interface of Being, a solo exhibition of installations reflecting Ohmaki’s deepening psychological exploration. The exhibition is scheduled to present new works rooted in fundamental questions surrounding our reasons for living.

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Japan, a country steeped in tradition and seasonal holidays, has a somewhat odd and longstanding fascination with Halloween.

Arguably, it makes sense on paper — the prevalence of cosplay, liberal open container laws and a voracious appetite for entertainment. It certainly puts the Japanese concepts of “honne 本音,” and “tatemae 建前” into an interesting juxtaposition as well.

In Tokyo, Halloween has evolved into an adult holiday, with street parties abound, but none more famous than what transpires in Shibuya. But, this year, its Mayor is officially spooked.

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In close collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, the National Art Center, Tokyo is set to present the inaugural extensive retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent in Japan following his passing.

The exhibition will feature a comprehensive collection of 262 items organized into twelve chapters, encompassing 110 of the designer’s iconic ensembles, along with accessories, drawings and photographs.

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October 10, 2023

21_21 DESIGN SITE

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In 2003, Issey Miyake contributed an essay entitled “Let’s Create―Design Museum (Tsukuro- dezain myu-jiamu),” to the January 28th evening edition of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

The piece lamented Japan’s lack of a museum devoted to design generated a great deal of attention, and as an unexpected result, Miyake gained a number of backers and advocates interested in helping him realize his dream.

Four years later in 2007, thanks to their help 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT opened in the Garden of the Tokyo Midtown complex in Roppongi.

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September 26, 2023

Changes of a Seasonal Country

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The New Yorker’s Matt Alt writes a thoughtful piece on the changes Japan is experiencing not only with their weather, but also their seasonal culture. From the effects on its aged society, to the early blooming of cherry blossoms.

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