Day 13 - May 28 - Wieden + Kennedy - Tokyo

Day 13 Photographs

Wieden + Kennedy

At Wieden + Kennedy the group had a wonderful discussion with Blake Harrop and Caleb Jensen. 

On Monday, the group had another treat in store for us at Wieden + Kennedy. We met with Blake Harrop and Caleb Jensen at the recently relocated Wieden + Kennedy Tokyo office. Blake compared the previous office location as that of Times Square and new office as more of a Brooklyn vibe.

After introductions, the group settled in to watch and discuss case studies on the Nike "Tokyo. Just Do It" campaign and UniQlo.

For the Nike campaign, W + K took to the street interviewing members of the skateboarding and extreme biking community. They used the group's own words and images on billboards in spaces where this community hangs out to communicate the brand.

Billboard for Wieden + Kennedy's "Just Do It. Tokyo" campaign.

Blake and Caleb explained how they aimed to create an office that was not just an extension of the larger Wieden + Kennedy but that was truly part of Japan and Japan's culture. In order to accomplish the firm needed to acquire Japanese clients.

One of the firm's first Japanese clients was UniQlo. This brand creates decent quality, stylish, affordable clothes. The brands original ads were typically Japanese, loud, aggressive and noisy in order to command attention. The problem, however, was that these commercials and ads did not present a flattering image of the customer.

W+K changed the ads to be quiet, almost silent--artful and elegant. The firm used the Japanese principals of art to create a Japanese advertisement by incorporating emptiness, space and by leaving the message slightly vague and open for interpretation.

http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2010/uniqlo-88-colors-in-shanghai/

The creatives at W + K also gave the group some ADVICE:

•  Keep trying new things
• Keep on keeping on - as Bob Dylan would say.
• Be a sponge
• Put yourself in uncomfortable situations

They also mentioned the most interesting people are people who continue to make things, work on projects and create for the sake of creating.

Day 12 - May 27 - Kyoto to Tokyo

Day 12 Phototgraphs

Kawaii - The Cute Culture

Kawaii is one of the most used words in Japan. It means childlike and celebrates all that is sweet, adorable, pure, gentle and sweet in social behavior and physical appearance.

The popularity of kawaii is immediately apparent when you step off a plane in Japan. From billboards, bus tickets, women's dress and the charms hanging off of book-bags and purses the appeal of kawaii is everywhere--absolutely everywhere.

A stuffed maneki-neko sits in front of a restaurant.
The cat figures are thought to bring in customers.

One example is the Maneki-neko which means "Beckoning Cat." It is also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money Cat, or Fortune Cat. The Maneki-neko is a common figurine in Japan which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. The cat is usually a calico/Japanese bobtail with an upright paw. The cats can have different hand or paw gestures. The most common belief is that the left paw raised brings in customers, while a right paw brings good luck and wealth.The cat is usually displayed at the entrance to shops, restaurants, parlors, and other businesses. 

Maneki-neko come in different colors and styles. In addition to ceramic figurines, maneki-neko can be found as keychains, piggy banks and miscellaneous ornaments. They usually have some sort of decoration around their neck. This can be a neckerchief or a scarf but the most common attire is a collar, bell and decorative bib. 

The bib might be related to the bibs often decorating statues of the divinity Jizso Bosatsu. Jizō can be found guarding the entrances to Japanese shrines and graveyards. Jizō is the protector of sick and dying children. Grateful parents of children recovered from illness will place a bib around Jizō as a gift of thankfulness.

Jizo Bosatsu

Kawaii characters are just not there to look cute. They also are used to help communicate helpful information to the public such as bus passes, bank cards, shopping bags and even condoms. Cuteness in Japan transcends both age and gender.

Kawaii on a Kyoto bus pass.

Companies also use kawaii to connect with customers. Japanese believe that funny mascots indicate that the business is friendly and unpretentious.

Kawaii used for corporate identity.

Japanese also have a fondness for charms and mascots to hang on their bags, purses and belt loops. Many Japanese feel that they can find a character or mascot to fit their personality. People adopt a character as a means of seeking their own identity. Wearing one of these public mascots is a way of communicating with others like themselves. There is a belief or consensus that wearing a cute mascot means you are a fun-loving, easy going person. So, if you a visitor in Japan, look for a friendly Japanese person wearing some kawaii.

Many Kawaii mascots to choose from in Japan!

Day 11 - May 26 - Byodoin Temple, Uji and Fushimi Inari

Day 11 Photographs

Japanese aesthetics have been shaped by Shinto's devotion to nature.

As noted in my previous post, Japan is a graphic culture filled with the imagery of organic shapes and natural references. This graphic imagery makes sense since the Japanese culture is in harmony with nature. It could also be a result of Japan's Shinto religion where references were abundant at Fushimi Inari. At this temple, we saw the imagery of Shinto Gods, or Kara in the manifestations of fox and lion imagery. These Kara were common throughout the Tori and the cemetery.  

One of the many fox images at Fushimi Inari.

Fox Kara fountain at Fushimi Inari.

Lion Kara fountain at Fushimi Inari.

Japanese religious imagery can be very specific since theirs is a homogenous culture with little need to modify messages or graphics for outsiders. The Japanese share a long history and as a result, most people are familiar with the cultural and religious references. It makes sense that the foxes and lions are located in Tori because of the forested terrain where Shinto Gods are thought to be present: mountains, trees and waterfalls. 

The Tori at Fushimi Inari are located in a forested area. Home to Shinto Gods.

Day 10 - May 25 - Nijo Castle

Day 10 Photographs

Graphic Japan is everywhere.

Japanese signage is graphic to Westerners due to the kanji symbols.

Blank areas of space. 

Colors eliminated or exaggerated. 

Objects reduced to the barest essentials and extra details eliminated. 

Minimal text or no text at all.

Japanes love "simple complexity." Meaning is often implied. It is up to the viewer to interpret and find meaning. Japanese do not like the obvious, they like mystery. Japanese designers view success as "making the familiar unfamiliar." 

Roof tiles are used to visually identify different temple complexes, property and neighborhoods.

Lots of Japanese design posseses the quality of emptiness.

Graphic banner hanging at the Shunko-in north gate.

Rock garden at Ryojuki Temple.

"A vessel full of something, mounted high with whatever it may be, is never as beautiful as one that is empty." Hara - Graphic Japan

Japanese believe the single flower loses its effect in a mass. In Japan economy of material and space is important. This simplicity extends into gardening. For instance, a large rock will be surrounded by a large expanse of gravel much like graphic design in the banner.

Due to the above characteristics, many Westerners find Japanese art to be abstract.

Western cultures want clarity. Communications need to be clear--the meaning explicitly communicated. This is because the U.S. is a multicultural nation with many different religions. Japan is the opposite. It is a mostly homogenous country with common religion and history. This makes communication more simple.

Day 7 - Kyoto Handicraft Center, Dinner, Laundry

Day 7 Photographs

Casey and I ventured out at 9pm one evening to do laundry and grab some dinner. As we walked through the dark and deserted Kyoto neighborhood, we remarked how safe we felt.

Kyoto neighborhood street at night.

Kyoto neighborhood street at night plus cat.

The fact that Japan is a collectivist culture could explain why we can safely walk the dark streets at night. The Japanese value the group over the individual. Japanese people are "we" conscious. "Their identity is based on the social system to which they belong (Dimensions of Culture)."

Japan, a collectivist culture, is also a shame culture. When a person does something wrong it not only reflects poorly on them but also on their family or the group to which they belong. Japanese are brought up to respect their families and in-groups. They do not want to do anything to reflect negatively on them. 

Collectivist cultures put high priority on these relationships in contrast to individualistic cultures which put high priority on tasks. The Japanese spend more time building friendships than western cultures. 

People, relationships and the community is important to the Japanese. It is reflected in the feeling of security when traveling in their neighborhoods and their country.

For another take on this subject, read the following article.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2011/03/stop_thief_thank_you.html

Day 9 - May 24 - Toji Temple

Day 9 Photographs

Today was a treat. Hillary journeyed with us to the temple and taught us about Buddhas. iconography and some history. 

Hillary explained the purpose and significance of pagodas. They are reliquaries, a place to store and protect ancient relics. They are derived from the Stupa in India, which are mounds of dirt with a wooden timber down the center. At the bottom of the wooden pillar are the relics. There is a stick that comes out of the mound to show its location.

The pagodas are similar. They can have several different stories. The pagoda at Toji has five. It is a National Treasure from the Edo period. In Japan, all numbers have some sort of significance.

The pagodas have a heart timber, shinbashira, running down the center of the structure, which is very sturdy. It is able to withstand earthquakes. How the shinbashira does this has been studied, "Indeed, far from carrying the building’s main loads, as the trunk of a tree does, the shinbashira—made from precious straight-grained Japanese cypress—is not even rooted in the soil. In some instances, it dangles freely above the ground; in others, it merely rests lightly on the foundations or second floor.

Even more strangely, the individual floors of a pagoda are not rigidly attached to those immediately above and below." Read more ... http://www.economist.com/node/14156084?story_id=14156084&fsrc=nwl

At the bottom of the timber under the ground are the relics.

On the first floor of the pagoda are the directional Buddhas, all with different mudra, the hand positions of the Buddha. Directional Buddha’s are very important for protection.

The Buddha’s are surrounded by their eight followers.

The process of creating the sculptures is very labor intensive. The sculptures are crafted from several pieces of wood and fitted together. They are then covered with lacquer soaked cloth. After this dries they are covered with gold foil.

The buildings and sculptures took many years to construct. As Taka said about Ryonji temple, "We use a thousand year old tree so the building lasts one thousand years."

Culturally speaking, Japanese are long-term thinkers and planners. This is clear when you see all of the magnificent buildings and sculptures that are still standing and intact. The materials chosen are extremely important as well as the craftsmanship.

Perhaps, the Buddhist religion in which followers are reborn encourages followers to think long-term. By preparing for the future of the children, grandchildren and others, they are also preparing for their next future. The belief in reincarnation fosters long-term thinking in the culture.

Day 8 - May 23 - Ryoanji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple

Day 8 Photographs

Sabi - a slightly bleak quality suggesting age, deterioration and the passage of time.

A mountain village
Where there is not even hope
Of a visitor,
If not for the lonliness,
How painful life here would be. 

Saigyo

Sabi can be used to refer to scenes that are desolate and melancholy. One explanation of sabi translates it as the "bloom of time." Buddhists often think of loneliness as sabi. As such they feel it is part of the human condition and that humans should just resign themselves to it. This creates a sad feeling that is sabi. It can also be an aesthetic term that is used to describe the passage of time, patina, the rust of age or the wearing of wood.

Stairs on Mount Daimonji

These stairs can illustrate sabi both as loneliness and as the passage of time. The stairs are on a lonely stretch of mountain. The form of stairs represents human activity and as such creates a feeling of melancholy. The stairs are also worn from the elements over time. This creates a feeling of impermanence, the stairs will continue to be here long after we are gone.

Pindola at Todaiji

The Pindola figure is especially sabi since it is in the form of a human and shows the ravages of time. The cloth makes it seem precious and especially sad since it appears to wear baby's clothes. The result is a rather grotesque figure that evokes sadness for the inevitability of aging.

The Buddha at Todaiji

The Buddha and Temple at Todaiji evoke the aesthetic sabi. The paint and gold leaf have flaked off the statue and the pillars. This also gives a feeling of the passage of time and impermanence.

Jizo stones at Kinkakuji Temple garden.

There are many jizo stones that exhibit the passage of time. Jizo stones are supposed to have the face of Buddha carved into them. Most that I have seen are completely worn away. This creates a sad feeling since nothing can stay the same. Everything changes.