Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Representation of Japan (from Animal Planet): "The Legend of Maneki Neko | Must Love Cats "
Of course this video is much too simplistic. There are countless stories, legends and interpretations of Maneki Neko. Check out this source for more information:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/maneki-neko.shtml
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Japan Anti-Nuke/Pro-Love: Frying Dutchman "humanERROR"
Video shot at Sanjo in Kyoto! Thanks to PS for bringing this to my attention. More information:
http://fryingdutchman.jp/eng.php
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/241306-Japan-Frying-Dutchman-HumanError
Monday, March 5, 2012
Picturing 梅 in Banpaku Koen
It's the season for ume, and so it was back to Banpaku Koen for their Ume Matsuri where cameras seemed to outnumber the plum blossoms (although most representations won't show this...). There's always lots to photograph here, from the Tower of the Sun to ume, bamboo and other examples of juxtaposed nature and sculptures.
Information about Banpaku Koen: http://www.expo70.or.jp/e/
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Collaborative Film Project: "Japan in a Day"
Check out (and contribute!) to this interesting collaborative film project. Here's the description quoted from the Japan in a Day YouTube Channel:
Japan in a Day. One Nation. 24 hours. Millions of perspectives.
Japan In A Day is an extraordinary project to create the definitive self-portrait of Japan today, filmed by you on 11 March 2012, inspired by Life in a Day. It is dedicated, with our deepest sympathy, to those who lost their lives and those who are suffering as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that struck east Japan last year.
At 00:00 on Sunday 11 March 2012, Ridley Scott and Fuji TV invite you to capture the reality and intimacy of your day and to upload it here at www.youtube.com/japaninaday.
The resulting film will be a powerful and moving snapshot of Japan today, which will premiere in cinemas, and be screened around the world.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/Japaninaday/
Be sure to check out the Basic Rules tab for advice on methodology. Of particular interest:
It's generally OK to film in public places without permission. But in privately owned locations, make sure the owner of the location is OK with you filming there. We may later have to ask you to get the owner to sign a Location Release.
Don't shoot posters of a famous person or artwork or shoot brands or trademarks, such as cans of Coke, or famous manga unless you have the rights or permission to do so. If you do, we probably won’t be able to use your video.
Don't do anything stupid like breaking the law or not taking care of yourself or people you’re filming! Pay attention to your surroundings and your safety.
The Filming Tips tab has good advice (for this project in particular and/or filmmaking in general) as well:
Picture this
Filmmaking is storytelling: think about how to hold the viewers’ attention. Whether you’re filming you or someone else, the more personal the better.
Hold your shots long enough to establish them in the viewers’ mind. Avoid lots of panning and zooming – it will look messy and it will leave your viewers dizzy.
Don’t film yourself or your contributors in front of windows or other sources of bright light, unless of course you want them to appear in silhouette.
Make sure you know how to make your subject appear the right size in the frame, by having a trial run and reviewing the results. (Remember if filming on a mobile, to turn your phone around to landscape)
Loud and Clear
It’s really important that we can hear you properly. Pay attention to noises where you’re shooting which will interfere with recording sound. Try not to stand next to an air-conditioning vent or someone mowing the lawn! Outside be aware that a light breeze can sound like a gale when recording.
If you’re planning to move more than 3ft away from the camera during the filming, work out how you’re going to be heard. You could experiment with plugging a basic microphone into your camera.
Check the sound levels by making a short test film and playing back the sound. If it sounds distorted, you’re either too near the microphone or the sound level is turned up too high on the microphone.
It will be very interesting to see the various perspectives captured in this project - something to look forward to. I wonder about what will and will not be included and other aspects of editing/post-production. Still, this idea of collaboration is a step in the right direction towards a user-driven, participatory form of visual anthropology.
See recent related story at Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/fuji-tv-joins-forces-with-ridley-scott-for-japan-in-a-day-documentary-on-tsunami
Friday, March 2, 2012
Sushi Films
Here's some information about two recent films about sushi...
1. Sushi: The Global Catch
Announcement via EASIANTH:
In this meticulously researched documentary, filmmaker Mark Hall traces the origins of sushi in Japan to its status today as a cuisine that has spawned a lucrative worldwide industry. This explosion in demand for sushi over the past 30 years has brought with it problems of its own, as fish stocks have steadily depleted, threatening the balance of the ocean’s ecosystems.
Through extensive interviews with prominent industry representatives and environmental activists, Hall carefully presents the various solutions being proposed to the vexing issue of overfishing. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Seattle International Film Festival, Sushi: The Global Catch raises some pressing questions that all sushi lovers should seek to address.
Link: http://kinolorberedu.com/film.php?id=1244
Link: http://www.sushitheglobalcatch.com/
2. The Story Of Sushi
From "The Story Of Sushi, Short Film Made Entirely From Hand-Crafted Miniatures, Warns Of The Dangers Of The Fish Industry" at Huffington Post.
The Story Of Sushi, a short film created for Bamboo Sushi restaurant in Portland, Oregon, has a pretty depressing take on the state of the world's sushi. The four minute film dives into issues of sustainability and overfishing, and is worth watching if you need a primer on how fishing works (or if you want to get really sad).
Beyond the learning component, though, the real reason to watch this clip is because of the amazing hand-crafted miniatures. In fact, the film took seven months to complete. That's pretty painstaking work -- and definitely worth four minutes of your time.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/story-of-sushi_n_1310433.html
1. Sushi: The Global Catch
Announcement via EASIANTH:
In this meticulously researched documentary, filmmaker Mark Hall traces the origins of sushi in Japan to its status today as a cuisine that has spawned a lucrative worldwide industry. This explosion in demand for sushi over the past 30 years has brought with it problems of its own, as fish stocks have steadily depleted, threatening the balance of the ocean’s ecosystems.
Through extensive interviews with prominent industry representatives and environmental activists, Hall carefully presents the various solutions being proposed to the vexing issue of overfishing. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Seattle International Film Festival, Sushi: The Global Catch raises some pressing questions that all sushi lovers should seek to address.
Link: http://kinolorberedu.com/film.php?id=1244
Link: http://www.sushitheglobalcatch.com/
Sushi: The Global Catch - Trailer from Sakana Films on Vimeo.
2. The Story Of Sushi
From "The Story Of Sushi, Short Film Made Entirely From Hand-Crafted Miniatures, Warns Of The Dangers Of The Fish Industry" at Huffington Post.
The Story Of Sushi, a short film created for Bamboo Sushi restaurant in Portland, Oregon, has a pretty depressing take on the state of the world's sushi. The four minute film dives into issues of sustainability and overfishing, and is worth watching if you need a primer on how fishing works (or if you want to get really sad).
Beyond the learning component, though, the real reason to watch this clip is because of the amazing hand-crafted miniatures. In fact, the film took seven months to complete. That's pretty painstaking work -- and definitely worth four minutes of your time.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/story-of-sushi_n_1310433.html
The Story of Sushi from Bamboo Sushi on Vimeo.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
"City of Osaka passes 'Kimigayo' ordinance"
From The Daily Yomiuri Online, 3/1/12:
The Osaka City Assembly has passed an ordinance to oblige teachers to stand up and sing the "Kimigayo" national anthem at school ceremonies.
A bill for the ordinance was submitted by Mayor Toru Hashimoto to the assembly on Tuesday, the opening day of its session. In addition to Osaka Ishin no Kai, which has a majority in the assembly and is led by Hashimoto, New Komeito and the Liberal Democratic Party supported the bill after seeking revisions to part of it.
The ordinance obliges all teachers and workers in the city's public schools to stand up and sing "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies. It also obliges the city's public facilities to fly the Hinomaru national flag at all times.
The Osaka Prefectural Assembly passed a similar ordinance last June, when Hashimoto was governor. At that time, there was no other such ordinance in the nation.
Link: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120229005537.htm
Last VAOJ coverage of this issue: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2012/02/8-osaka-teachers-to-be-punished-for.html
The Osaka City Assembly has passed an ordinance to oblige teachers to stand up and sing the "Kimigayo" national anthem at school ceremonies.
A bill for the ordinance was submitted by Mayor Toru Hashimoto to the assembly on Tuesday, the opening day of its session. In addition to Osaka Ishin no Kai, which has a majority in the assembly and is led by Hashimoto, New Komeito and the Liberal Democratic Party supported the bill after seeking revisions to part of it.
The ordinance obliges all teachers and workers in the city's public schools to stand up and sing "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies. It also obliges the city's public facilities to fly the Hinomaru national flag at all times.
The Osaka Prefectural Assembly passed a similar ordinance last June, when Hashimoto was governor. At that time, there was no other such ordinance in the nation.
Link: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120229005537.htm
Last VAOJ coverage of this issue: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2012/02/8-osaka-teachers-to-be-punished-for.html
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Is Japan Cool? Representations of Japan from ANA's Cool Campaign!
All Nippon Airlines has a new ad campaign drawing upon the "coolness" of Japanese culture. Here are some screen shots borrowed from their web site. There is a contest involved for free air tickets to Japan. Please note the usual disclaimer here about VAOJ not endorsing any product - what is of interest is the cultural representation in the promotional video and the items selected as representative of (possibly) cool Japan.
In some of my anthropology courses we do a free listing exercise for Japanese culture. In this exercise we consider culture to be composed of sets of items: material objects, architecture, landmarks, food/drink, people, thoughts, beliefs, behavior, etc. The following items are those that can be voted on as either being cool or not in the ANA campaign and might serve as a similar list of the sets that makes up Japanese culture.
Itsukushima Shrine, Electrical Goods Store, Manga Cafe, Karaoke, Iced Coffee, Jinrikisha, High-Tech Toilet, Mt. Fuji, Kaminari-Mon, Decorative Anything, Capsule Hotel, Japanese Hospitality, Harajuku Girl, Sake, Sushi-Go-Round, Chopsticks, Public Bathhouse, Paper Fortune, Japanese Pub, Hot Spring Spa, Maid Cafe, Food Model, Character Bento, Idol, Sumo Wrestler, Tokyo Sky Tree, Ramen, Shrine Visit, Massage Chair, Gyoden, Ultramodern Vending Machine, Soba, Scramble Crossing
As of today, all of these things have overwhelming been voted as cool. You can follow the ranking as the days go by. The idea of cool Japan, especially along the lines of its soft power and pop culture, is certainly not anything new and you can find many web sites, campaigns, research projects and TV shows using this idea. The Japanese government has even been using this idea (link).
How do you feel about the ANA set of items as representative of Japanese culture? What would you add? (The list is certainly Tokyo-heavy and in need of some Kansai additions...) And how do you feel about the video? Is the campaign itself cool?
Link to ANA Cool Japan! Campaign web site: https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/#/campaign
Saturday, February 25, 2012
"8 Osaka teachers to be punished for refusal to sing national anthem"
From Japan Today, 2/25/12:
The Osaka Prefectural Board of Education has revealed that eight teachers in the prefecture declined to stand and sing the Japanese national anthem at high school graduation ceremonies which took place on Friday.
The reports come days after the Supreme Court dismissed two suits from 375 teachers and educational professionals requesting a ban on the enforced singing of the “Kimigayo,” Japan’s national anthem, in schools. The court earlier this month ruled 4-1 that such orders are constitutional.
The issue of enforced singing of the Japanese national anthem has long been a contentious one, with many teachers refusing to stand and sing the song at school. In some cases, dissenting teachers received reprimands, pay cuts or were suspended.
The court ruled that ordering teachers to sing the “Kimigayo” did not violate their freedom of thought, which was the basis for the plaintiffs’ claim, NTV reported.
Speaking to reporters after the graduation ceremonies, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said, “Perhaps these people mistakenly think they have the right to continue as public servants no matter what they do. I’d like to see an end put to this behavior.”
According to NTV, the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education said that the eight employees in question would be dealt with according to the law.
Earlier this month, a proposal was put forward at the national assembly to introduce a law whereby an education professional refusing to sing the national anthem for the third time would be subject to dismissal. The board added that if the law is approved, the eight teachers involved in this month’s incident could eventually face dismissal.
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/8-osaka-teachers-face-punishment-over-refusal-to-sing-national-anthem
Last VAOJ post on this subject (once again, oh Lord when will this end?): http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2012/02/supreme-court-rules-making-teachers.html
Somewhat related:
Osaka gov't workers' emails screened for evidence of union, political involvement
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/osaka-govt-workers-emails-screened-for-evidence-of-union-political-involvement
Ishihara agrees with Nagoya mayor's Nanjing massacre denial
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ishihara-agrees-with-nagoya-mayors-nanjing-massacre-denial
The Osaka Prefectural Board of Education has revealed that eight teachers in the prefecture declined to stand and sing the Japanese national anthem at high school graduation ceremonies which took place on Friday.
The reports come days after the Supreme Court dismissed two suits from 375 teachers and educational professionals requesting a ban on the enforced singing of the “Kimigayo,” Japan’s national anthem, in schools. The court earlier this month ruled 4-1 that such orders are constitutional.
The issue of enforced singing of the Japanese national anthem has long been a contentious one, with many teachers refusing to stand and sing the song at school. In some cases, dissenting teachers received reprimands, pay cuts or were suspended.
The court ruled that ordering teachers to sing the “Kimigayo” did not violate their freedom of thought, which was the basis for the plaintiffs’ claim, NTV reported.
Speaking to reporters after the graduation ceremonies, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said, “Perhaps these people mistakenly think they have the right to continue as public servants no matter what they do. I’d like to see an end put to this behavior.”
According to NTV, the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education said that the eight employees in question would be dealt with according to the law.
Earlier this month, a proposal was put forward at the national assembly to introduce a law whereby an education professional refusing to sing the national anthem for the third time would be subject to dismissal. The board added that if the law is approved, the eight teachers involved in this month’s incident could eventually face dismissal.
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/8-osaka-teachers-face-punishment-over-refusal-to-sing-national-anthem
Last VAOJ post on this subject (once again, oh Lord when will this end?): http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2012/02/supreme-court-rules-making-teachers.html
Somewhat related:
Osaka gov't workers' emails screened for evidence of union, political involvement
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/osaka-govt-workers-emails-screened-for-evidence-of-union-political-involvement
Ishihara agrees with Nagoya mayor's Nanjing massacre denial
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ishihara-agrees-with-nagoya-mayors-nanjing-massacre-denial
Friday, February 24, 2012
"NPA panel calls for more 'visualization'"
Can't get enough visualization... Here's the latest on this ridiculous situation (click here and here for background information) - story from The Daily Yomiuri Online, 2/24/12:
An expert panel of the National Police Agency proposed in its final report released Thursday that recording of the results of questioning in investigations--a practice called "visualization"--should be implemented in a wider range of cases.
Currently, parts of the investigation process in cases subject to lay judge trials in which defendants have admitted guilt are subject to visualization by audio or video recording, but the panel said this was not sufficient.
The report proposes implementing audio or video recording on a test basis in a wider range of cases in which defendants insist they are not guilty.
Based on the report, the NPA plans to instruct all prefectural police headquarters to test-implement visualization in a wider range of cases starting in April.
The recording of investigative questioning by police started in September 2008.
The measure was taken in cases chosen by police from among serious cases subject to the lay judge system, such as murder, robbery resulting in homicide and dangerous driving resulting in death, in which it might be questioned whether defendants' statements were truly voluntary.
By the end of last year, such visualization had been implemented in a total of 1,587 cases.
Defendants who insisted they were not guilty were excluded from the measure on the grounds that it is not necessary to prove their statements were voluntary.
From now on, visualization will be implemented even in cases of defendants insisting they are not guilty to prove questioning was properly conducted and avoid wrongful convictions.
The scenes that are currently recorded are those of police officers reading an account of what the defendant has already said in earlier questioning and then asking the defendant to confirm it.
Such scenes, about 15 minutes long, are recorded on DVD. (my bolding...)
The panel says that from now on visualization should also be implemented to record suspects' statements just after their arrest and to record changes in the content of suspects' statements over time.
In addition, the report called for visualization to be done in some cases that are not subject to the lay judge system.
Such cases include, for example, ones in which suspects are mentally handicapped and have difficulty communicating with investigators, resulting in a tendency of the suspects to say what they think the investigators want to hear.
Concerning questioning by prosecutors, visualization has been done in cases prosecutors began directly investigating in April last year, whether or not the cases are subject to the lay judge system.
By the end of last year, visualizations were made at all steps of about 40 percent of such cases.
In a case related to the political funds management body Rikuzan-kai, in which former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, 69, has been accused of violating the Political Funds Control Law, an audio recording of questioning of his former secretary was replayed in a trial session.
The former secretary underwent voluntary questioning by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office and secretly recorded the conversation.
The Tokyo District Court judged from the recording that prosecutors pressured or tried to guide the former secretary toward making statements favorable to their case. And the judges decided not to accept many of the former secretary's statements as evidence.
The incident indicated that visualization can also be effective for ensuring investigations are conducted properly.
The NPA panel was established in February 2010 with lawyers and former investigators as members so that effective visualization could be implemented without obstructing the protection of public safety.
Link: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120223007083.htm
An expert panel of the National Police Agency proposed in its final report released Thursday that recording of the results of questioning in investigations--a practice called "visualization"--should be implemented in a wider range of cases.
Currently, parts of the investigation process in cases subject to lay judge trials in which defendants have admitted guilt are subject to visualization by audio or video recording, but the panel said this was not sufficient.
The report proposes implementing audio or video recording on a test basis in a wider range of cases in which defendants insist they are not guilty.
Based on the report, the NPA plans to instruct all prefectural police headquarters to test-implement visualization in a wider range of cases starting in April.
The recording of investigative questioning by police started in September 2008.
The measure was taken in cases chosen by police from among serious cases subject to the lay judge system, such as murder, robbery resulting in homicide and dangerous driving resulting in death, in which it might be questioned whether defendants' statements were truly voluntary.
By the end of last year, such visualization had been implemented in a total of 1,587 cases.
Defendants who insisted they were not guilty were excluded from the measure on the grounds that it is not necessary to prove their statements were voluntary.
From now on, visualization will be implemented even in cases of defendants insisting they are not guilty to prove questioning was properly conducted and avoid wrongful convictions.
The scenes that are currently recorded are those of police officers reading an account of what the defendant has already said in earlier questioning and then asking the defendant to confirm it.
Such scenes, about 15 minutes long, are recorded on DVD. (my bolding...)
The panel says that from now on visualization should also be implemented to record suspects' statements just after their arrest and to record changes in the content of suspects' statements over time.
In addition, the report called for visualization to be done in some cases that are not subject to the lay judge system.
Such cases include, for example, ones in which suspects are mentally handicapped and have difficulty communicating with investigators, resulting in a tendency of the suspects to say what they think the investigators want to hear.
Concerning questioning by prosecutors, visualization has been done in cases prosecutors began directly investigating in April last year, whether or not the cases are subject to the lay judge system.
By the end of last year, visualizations were made at all steps of about 40 percent of such cases.
In a case related to the political funds management body Rikuzan-kai, in which former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, 69, has been accused of violating the Political Funds Control Law, an audio recording of questioning of his former secretary was replayed in a trial session.
The former secretary underwent voluntary questioning by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office and secretly recorded the conversation.
The Tokyo District Court judged from the recording that prosecutors pressured or tried to guide the former secretary toward making statements favorable to their case. And the judges decided not to accept many of the former secretary's statements as evidence.
The incident indicated that visualization can also be effective for ensuring investigations are conducted properly.
The NPA panel was established in February 2010 with lawyers and former investigators as members so that effective visualization could be implemented without obstructing the protection of public safety.
Link: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120223007083.htm
Thursday, February 16, 2012
"Bullet train service disrupted by train enthusiast taking photos"
From today's Japan Today:
A JR bullet train was delayed Wednesday after a train enthusiast was spotted leaning over a boundary fence next to the train line to take photos.
Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai) staff who noticed the man on an embankment near the shinkansen track judged the situation to be dangerous and ordered the driver to delay the arrival of the bullet train traveling between Nagoya and Gifuhashima stations until the man’s safety could be confirmed, NTV reported.
JR Tokai said 13 trains were suspended for 25 minutes from just before 9 a.m., affecting more than 10,000 passengers.
The man, who was seen leaning over the embankment fence in Shintomi, was questioned by JR staff and explained that he often takes photos of trains as his hobby, NTV reported. The man was cautioned and released without charge being filed, JR said.
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/bullet-train-service-disrupted-by-train-enthusiast-taking-photos
A good visual anthropologist shouldn't get in the way...
A JR bullet train was delayed Wednesday after a train enthusiast was spotted leaning over a boundary fence next to the train line to take photos.
Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai) staff who noticed the man on an embankment near the shinkansen track judged the situation to be dangerous and ordered the driver to delay the arrival of the bullet train traveling between Nagoya and Gifuhashima stations until the man’s safety could be confirmed, NTV reported.
JR Tokai said 13 trains were suspended for 25 minutes from just before 9 a.m., affecting more than 10,000 passengers.
The man, who was seen leaning over the embankment fence in Shintomi, was questioned by JR staff and explained that he often takes photos of trains as his hobby, NTV reported. The man was cautioned and released without charge being filed, JR said.
Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/bullet-train-service-disrupted-by-train-enthusiast-taking-photos
A good visual anthropologist shouldn't get in the way...
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