Not wanting to overdo it on this first day of 2009, I decided to revisit for this Tokyo Thursdays, my Japan favored stories from January 2008.
One of them was Lost in Ginza…No More…With Hand Held Guide (Tokyo Ubiquitous Project) (January 24, 2008) where I shared that "In a number of instances I have felt frustrated that Japanese
information is available only in the native language which does not
help me much. I am sure it is a barrier for many others. To make life easier for travelers and transplants the Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project is doing a pilot experiment in Ginza."
A topic that resonated with many was 'Umbrellas of Happiness', Hand Crafted by Mr. Kitazawa (via PingMag Make) a week prior.
It has a timeless quality to it as this except shows: "Working from 10 in the morning sometimes until midnight (with a
little afternoon nap after lunch and a break at dinner time for good
measure), Mr. Kitazawa is portrayed as The Man who Makes Umbrellas of Happiness in PingMag Make.These days we often buy cheap umbrellas that get left behind or wrecked when strong winds come our way. Mr. Kitazawa's umbrellas can last up to 30 years."
As for plants and greenery on the urban scene 'Guerilla Flowerpots', Nature, Real and Fake in Tokyo concrete jungle takes a look at "Where is their oxygen coming from? If I am to believe a study
(circa 2000) from the local authorities, Tokyo counts 5 to 6 times less
green space than cities such as New York. This is one of the facts that Guerilla Flowerpots in Tokyo’s Public Spaces (PingMag) highlights. Some
residents and shopkeepers have taken it upon themselves to adorn the
sidewalks with flowers, vines in some instances or mini vertical
gardens."
A blast from the past for Tokyo Thursdays # 70
Previously: Peace Sign from Pennsylvania: Magibon, Japan's YouTube darling