Interesting stuff from Japanese construction sites

Throughout the centuries, and still today, there has been a lot of interesting stuff going on at Japanese construction sites. Here is a bunch of pictures reflecting that. Eclectic madness. Low-key perfection and tacky exaggerations.



When I visited Kyoto in the late summer of 1997, the new station building had been finished earlier the same year and it was profoundly hated by many Kyotoites. Sometimes it takes a bit of perspective to appreciate what is good... This picture is taken from a part of the building that gives the impression of an artificial hill, fifteen stories high.



A thing of great beauty. And I used to hate glass facades. (Kyoto Station again, mirroring itself and the surrounding city.)



Kinkakuji, the golden pavilion temple. Not exactly the kind of aesthetic ideal that first comes to mind when you think of of the strict asceticism of Zen Buddhism. But it is really not to different from many other of these temples, only this time they covered it in 0.5 μm of pure gold.



The Osanbashi ferry terminal in Yokohama. I didn't get any pictures that could do this place justice, but it is well worth a visit. A fascinating and innovative approach to this kind of public space. And probably awesome for skateboarding.




One of the buildings at the Zuiganji temple in Takamatsu. Zuiganji is very famous but I do not think this particular house is. Just beautiful proportions and a nice example of the typical blurring of interior and exterior.



When talking about architecture and art, the gardens are not to be missed. This is the famous rock garden of the Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto. The peak of Zen aesthetics.



Alright, this is a slight deviation from today's topic. But when the sign says rock garden, you just have to strike a pose, right? Imagine what could be done in those Zen gardens with some electric guitars and maybe a couple of off-road bikes...



Todaiji temple in Nara, founded in the eighth century. Wikipedia says it is the largest wooden building in the world. Today's temple is a reconstruction made in the eighteenth century after a fire, 30 percent smaller than the original.



Interior from Todaiji. It is pretty massive.



It is a carrot! No, it is golden poo! An architectural Rorschach test. Asakusa, Tokyo.



Typical Japanese street. Third World Chic, with power lines all over.



Another typical Tokyo street. Some of the houses are so thin. How can they fit anything useful into the floors of those bonsai skyscrapers?



National Art Center in Tokyo

My new room rocks!

Back again! There is loads of stuff to upload about the last few weeks. I have been traveling around the country, studied Japanese and explored Kyoto. I am a bit short on time tonight thou, so this post is only going to be about today, and the last couple of days. I caught a cold a while ago and I have not been attending classes or training, but I am starting to feel better now. The place where I live in Kyoto is called Sakura apartments. Apart from me it is inhabited by a guy from Qatar, an American, two from the UK, a French guy, an Italian and two Japanese. Today I moved to a new room downstairs. It is like the nicest room I have ever lived in. But I am glad I am not staying here over the winter. The place is a traditional old-fashioned Kyoto town house, with loads of charm but absolutely no insulation. It is already starting to get really cold inside. Give a couple of more months and it is probably gonna be totally freezing.



My new room (ground level) seen from the garden.



Study corner with the garden in the background. The room has double outer walls with sliding doors and a little porch or passageway in between.



As in most traditional Japanese rooms, there is a "tokonoma" (decorative alcove) in one of the corners. I do not have much to put there, but at least I have not clogged it up with a TV set and a pile of mixed junk, as 21 century Japanese cultural tradition would dictate.



Evening view from the garden.

Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo headquarters, Tadotsu, Shikoku. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)

Here are some Kempo pics. Most of it is from my second week after arriving in Japan, which I spent at Honbu (the Shorinji Kempo headquarters on the island Shikoku). Some pics are from the dojo here in Kyoto, Rakutodoin. I can totally recommend kenshi from all over the world to try some training at Honbu or other places in Japan. It is inspiring!



Big drums are used for the Shinkon - opening ceremony for training sessions - both at Honbu and Rakutodoin. We need a big drum in Stockholm. Big drums are awesome! (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Timo Mäki-Kuutti socializing with his daughter and his niece. There was a bunch of foreigners training at Honbu. These are from Finland and they were behind the cameras when the pictures for this blog post were taken. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



This rough looking guy is one of the two guarding deities who overlook the entrance to Honbu. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Two happy Japanese university students! (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Meditation every morning before training starts. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Me training at Honbu. A little clarification regarding the swastikas in the background: The one to right in the picture represents love and mercy, and is often used as a symbol for Buddhism. It can be found on Japanese maps to show the location of a temple, or on Chinese food packages to show that the content is 100% vegetarian and therefore okay for a hardcore Buddhist to eat. The swastika to the left is also an old symbol from Buddhism, but a little less commonly used. It represents strength and intelligence. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Evandro Schuster, branch master from Brazil, in a friendly hug with Timo Mäki-Kuutti. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Some of the more inspiring evening sessions took place at "Yokota" the local restaurant. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



View from Honbu. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



The entrance to Rakuto-doin in Kyoto. This is where I practice Shorinji Kempo three times a week in Kyoto. It is run by the Morikawa family, father and two sons. A Buddhist temple and the home of the Morikawas are located in direct connection to the dojo. Old Morikawa-sensei and his eldest son, Katsuhito-sensei are also priests in the temple. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti.)



Rakuto-doin. Old Morikawa sensei with the huge beard in the center. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti)



Shinkon at Rakuto-doin. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti)