Premier Magazine PH Vol. 1.8 Japan Issue

Pr emier SAPERE AUDE ISSN2799-0702 Vol. 1

AUGUST, 2021 JAPAN ISSUE

ABOUT THE COVER True to every Premier issue, we feature a theme cover image that speaks for itself. Our August theme is no different from the other covers we have had in the past for its impact and tremendous value created by a great mind in the field of architecture. This month, we celebrate the iconic Arata Isozaki, 2019 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. The international prize, which is awarded each year to a living architect for significant achievement, was established by the Pritzker family of Chicago through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979. It is granted annually and is often referred to as ?architecture?s Nobel? and ?the profession?s highest honor.?

Together with artist Anish Kapoor, Arata Isozaki has proven once again that his work will always remain unpredictable.?I could not dwell upon a single style,? he wrote. ?Change became constant. Paradoxically, this came to be my own style.? As an urban designer and a theorist, one can't help but wonder what more can there be inside the brain of such a genius. ?When Japan surrendered in 1945, I was still very young,? he wrote, ?but I could feel that history was disrupted. At the same time, there was a sense of complete stillness, from which maybe another time or another history could start. Like in the movie, The Matrix, two or three parallel worlds were crossing ? this kind of thinking preoccupied me.?

The ARK NOVA, the tourable, the inflatable structure is a mobile hall for shows, concerts, exhibitions, and even festivals. The mobile hall was first used in Japan?s Matsushima on September 27, 2013, to host a concert. The Lucerne Ark Nova hall was built to tour the Japanese regions and offer cultural events, the very first large-scale inflatable concert hall built for the benefit of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami victims through music. The earthquake struck regions in Japan back on March 11, 2011. The disasters seriously affected the northeastern regions of Japan. The series of cultural events indeed brought hope and new beginnings as we look back now. Something the world needs more of during these unpredictable times.

Photo Courtesy of Lucerne Festival 2013

IN THIS ISSUE "In the pink of health", as dated as it may sound, good health is what we all wish for nowadays. We chose to feature the pink inflatable structure which was one of the many designs made by multi-awarded Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki. It reminded us of cherry blossoms, one of the things we love about Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. We will be journeying towards their numerous contributions to the world for both big and fascinating ideas. As the Japanese say, ' we will go deep as the mind allows.' But our fascination does not stop there as we linger a little more on how simple Japanese words have influenced a movement, a way of living and thinking and somehow changed lives or may even have saved lives. We have not only picked unique and unpredictable visuals but we are featuring big words that defined not only the Japanese culture and its people but how simple, formless words can transform into multitudes of images and create visions that step into the real world.

TThe concert hall Ark Nova created by Arata Isozaki and Anish Kapoor is an air-inflated membrane structure equipped with the necessary stage and sound equipment. The membrane can be folded up and the equipment dismantled and loaded on a truck, so they can be brought to each site. The interior is a single uninterrupted space that, depending on the arrangement of equipment, is a multistage format that can accommodate various events from orchestras to chamber music, jazz, the performing arts, or exhibitions. It is envisioned to seat 500 during an orchestra performance and is planned to have a width of 30m, length of 36m, and a maximum height of 18m.

I dived down into the depth of the ocean of forms, hoping to gain the perfect pearl of the formless.

-Tagore, Rabindranath, Poem 100, Gitanjali, London 1914

MA Place, Space, Void

The 2019 Prit zker Architect ure Prize Laureate ARATA ISOZAKI If t h er e's a Nobel Pr ize f or Scien ce an d Lit er at u r e, Th e Pr it zk er is f or ar ch it ect u r e an d t h e pr of ession?s m ost pr est igiou s. As a Lau r eat e r ecipien t , an ar ch it ect 's w or k m u st dem on st r at e a com bin at ion of t h ose qu alit ies su ch as t alen t , vision , an d com m it m en t w h ich h as pr odu ced con sist en t an d sign if ican t con t r ibu t ion s t o h u m an it y an d t h e bu ilt en vir on m en t t h r ou gh t h e ar t of ar ch it ect u r e. Th e w or k of su ch a dist in gu ish ed m an , ARATA ISOZAKI span s decades of per f ect in g h is cr af t by doin g aw ay w it h t h e con ven t ion al an d leaves even t h e t r ain ed eye in obsolet e exist en ce. Ever y cr eat ion of h is h as a st yle of it s ow n as h e w or k s f r om t h e sou l of t h e place an d cr eat es m esm er izin g st r u ct u r es t h at st ep ou t of t h e dr aw in g t able an d dan ce w it h in on e's m in d-sh at t er in g old w alls an d goes beyon d w h at is h u m an ly possible. He ch allen ges t h e an t iqu at ed m in d w it h r evolu t ion ar y con cept s in ar ch it ect u r e an d beyon d. His ideas w er e r egar ded w ay beyon d h is t im e an d t h u s, ear n ed h im t h e r espect of t h e m ost dist in gu ish ed n am es n ot on ly in ar ch it ect u r e bu t t h e en t ir e w or ld is gr at ef u l f or h is cr eat ion s span n in g decades an d per f ect in g h is cr af t t h at h as in t an gible com pon en t s of volu m e, f or m , ligh t , su r f ace, place, an d t ools of a pr esen t at ion n ot on ly f r om an ar ch it ect u r e poin t of view bu t also f r om h ist or y, ph ilosoph y, t h eor y, an d cu lt u r e.

Isozak i in clu ded in h is w or k t h e con cept of 'M a', w h ich def in es t h e in t er m ediat e spaces bet w een t h e object s: " In -bet w een space, sou n d an d sou n d, t h er e ar e silen ces apar t , pau ses.

Th at 's called M a. Space is im por t an t ; in -bet w een space is m or e im por t an t " Ar at a Izosak i Ar ch Daily h t t ps:/ / w w w.pr it zk er pr ize.com / lau r eat es/ ar at a-isozak i

Through the transparent membrane that forms the facade, reading becomes an "open" experience. It manifests as an interaction between knowledge and the meditation surrounding the landscape of the library.

Maranello Library, an architectural glass library located in The New Town Library of Maranello, Italy, designed by architects Isozaki Shin and Andrea Maffei Photography by: Alessandra Chemollo

Art Tower Mito (ATM), symbolized by the 100-meter-tall metal tower that stands in its plaza, is a comprehensive cultural facility divided into three sections: a concert hall, a theater, and a gallery for contemporary art. The ATM complex has served as the venue for a wide variety of planned events, including musical concerts, dramatic productions, and art exhibitions featuring both Japanese and foreign artists. The material (titanium) chosen for the facade of this tower captures the architect?s vision to ?choose high-quality materials to build an architecture that last?.

Titanium is known as a maintenance-free material for its high resistance to corrosion and weathering. It is 60% lighter in weight than steel and is superior to other metals in strength and workability.

Did you know? Titanium is considered the most bio-compatible metal ? not harmful or toxic to living tissue ? due to its resistance to corrosion from bodily fluids. This ability to withstand the harsh bodily environment is a result of the protective oxide film that forms naturally in the presence of oxygen. The perfect metal to make replacement human body parts.

Photo by Jun Tazawa courtesy of Art Tower Mito

Liber al Ar t s an d Scien ce Bu ildin g in Edu cat ion Cit y Cam pu s, DOHA ,Qat ar

Isozaki's Woodland Studio Integral to Isozaki?s architectural legacy is the Japanese concept of ?ma?, space and time that lies in-between things, and the intervals that have so profoundly influenced his work. Isozaki also meditates on his practice and Japanese architectural identity as a whole. Known for rejecting a prescribed visual style, Isozaki approached each building in his portfolio as a solution for the project?s particular context.

He addresses the breadth of Japanese architectural styles in the post-war and post-Metabolism era as a departure from traditionalism while maintaining a through-line of recognizable Japanese taste.

Photo Courtesy of Plane Site

"The one that really spoke to me after reading her book was 'spark joy' because it's got that element of sudden flutter in your heart, or that feeling of inspiration if you're anticipating something."

Cathy Hirano, book translator of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

TOKIMEKU enjoy [be in] great prosperity; be prosperous; prosper; flourish; thrive; have one's day; be powerful; be influential; be in power. throb; palpitate; pulsate; pulse; beat fast.

The concept of tidying up gained a mass following through the person of Marie Kondo. "Sparking Joy" premieres on August 31 on Netflix.

Just in time when the pandemic struck, there's no reason not to tidy up our home and office base. But if the practice literally gets into your system, there's nothing wrong with that. The success of Marie Kondo globally inspired fans which is a stunning feat since her maiden book debut , The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing was launched eleven years ago. There's more to come for Marie's fans as she discusses tidying up beyond just the home but our way of life in general.

Photo Courtesy of : Architectural Digest / shop@konmariemarie.com

Th e Ar t of Flow er Wat ch in g an d t h e Ch er r y Blossom s in Japan

Kanji are ideograms.

Each character has its own meaning and corresponds to a word. By combining characters, more words can be created.

This is the Japanese character for sakura. The ? (ki) on the left side means tree/ wood and developed from a pictogram of a tree, with the horizontal line as branches and diagonal lines as roots. Sakura is derived from saku ? , which means to bloom, or alternately to smile/ laugh. The ? in ? indicates an open mouth.

? (hana) means ?flower,? and ? (mi), means ?to view.? Together, hanami literally means ?to view flowers.? ? is a combination of the characters for ?eye? and ?human,?evolving from a pictogram of a human figure with two legs and a large eyeball for a head.

These characters (yozakura) mean viewing cherry blossom at night. ? (yo) means night, and ? (zakura) is the same as sakura.

W idely celebrated in Japanese literature, poetry, and art, sakura carries layered meanings.

Flower Watching Festival or Hanami is widely celebrated in Japan with hundreds of beautiful locations. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori is particularly famous, attracting over 2 million visitors yearly. Generally, the event begins in mid-January when blooms start to come out and blossoms until April. Because they bloom briefly, they are often seen as a metaphor for the ephemeral beauty of living.

The practice was first associated with plum blossoms before becoming almost exclusively linked with cherry blossoms by the Heian Period (794?1185). Audiences around the world embraced sakura as a particularly Japanese cultural hallmark.

However, we were drawn by the multi-layered symbolism of the blossoms as it is thought-provoking as life itself. The beauty of this mystical flower is widely known and closely associated with the Zen concept of Impermanence in Buddhism, one of the major religions in Japan.

We will not delve into the origin of the flower as this is not a subject taken lightly by historians and ethnobotanists especially in Asia. But it is evidently proven that cherry blossoms have been a symbol of friendship across nations particularly as a gift thus its abundant existence in other countries. The average tree has a life span of only 16 to 20 years while black cherry blossoms have a longer life expectancy of up to 250 years.

The Hanami Festival was canceled in 2021 due to travel restrictions for safety reasons but we are sure that the next event will truly have a profound meaning to everyone as nothing is permanent in our world but impermanence.

The impermanence of blooming Sakuras is revered and cherished with 'flower watching'.

Hanami

Yozakura. Cherry Blossoms illuminated at night.

Photo courtesy of gotokyo.org.

The gorgeous cherry blossoms and the tower of Hirosaki Castle create a beautiful Japanese aesthetic.

Photo courtesy of www.tohokukanko.jp

Dive into the blue Life is fleeting.

Since 2020, the concept of death and the idea of dying, no matter how absurd it is, entered our minds like it never did before and mostly, a huge concern now more than ever; like a cloud over our heads. There is a saying that 'what you don't know won't kill you but not knowing, in fact, scares us the most. And if life continues to give us another day or years what would you do? Would you want to live beyond 100?

Blue Zones are regions of the world where a higher than usual number of people live much longer than average.

Exploring t he Blue Zone In March 2000, Michel Poulain and Giovanni Mario Pes, who had been studying longevity in Sardinia, introduced the term BLUE ZONE, in connection with an area of extraordinary longevity in Sardinia and subsequently used the term in an academic paper in 2004.

It all began with an expedition for National Geographic. Dan Buettner headed a team of demographers, scientists,s, and anthropologists to uncover the secrets of longevity. They tracked the places where the most concentration of centenarians lived and they ended up with Five "Blue Zones": Okinawa (Japan); Sardinia (Italy); Nicoya (Costa Rica); Icaria (Greece); and among the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California based on evidence showing why these populations live healthier and longer lives than others. Since then, it became a massive project in the United States. They have taken these principles into communities while working with policymakers, local businesses, schools, and individuals to shape the environments of the Blue Zones Project Communities. The discovery led to curating a healthy environment on an individual does not work but through policy and environmental changes. The Blue Zones Project Communities have been able to increase life expectancy, reduce obesity and make the healthy choice the easy choice for millions of Americans. www.bluezones.com https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Ikigai the age-old Japanese ideology that?s long been associated with the nation?s long life expectancy.

IKIGAI a combination of the Japanese words ?iki?(? ? ), which translates to ?life,?and ?gai?(? ? ), which is used to describe value or worth, ikigai is all about finding joy in life through purpose.

In other words, your ikigai is what gets you up every morning and keeps you going.

THE BLUE ZONES POW ER 9

Blue Zones uncovered 9 evidence-based common denominators among the world?s centenarians that are believed to slow this aging process.

1. Move naturally. The world?s longest-lived people do not pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms.

Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it.

They grow gardens and do not have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work.

2. Purpose. The Okinawans call it Ikigai and the Nicoyans call it to plan de Vida; for both, it translates to ?why I wake up in the morning.?Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to 7 years of extra life expectancy.

3. Downshift. Even people in the Blue Zones experience stress. Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. W hat the world?s longest-lived people have that others do not are routines to shed that stress. Okinawans take a few moments each day to remember their ancestors; Adventists pray; Ikarians take a nap, and Sardinians do happy hour.

Photo Courtesy of Susann Schuster

4. 80% Rule. Hara Hachi bu? the Okinawan 2500-year old Confucian mantra said before meals remind them to stop eating when their stomachs are 80% full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. People in the Blue Zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening, and then, they do not eat any more the rest of the day.

5. Plant slant. Beans, including fava, black soy, and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets.

Meat? mostly pork? is eaten on average only 5 times per month. Serving sizes are 3 to 4 oz, about the size of a deck of cards.

6. W ine @ 5. People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1 to 2 glasses per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/ or with food. And no, you cannot save up all week and have 14 drinks on Saturday.

7. Belong. All but 5 of the 263 centenarians interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination does not seem to matter. Research shows that attending faith-based services 4 times per month will add 4 to 14 years of life expectancy.

8. Loved ones first. Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. This means keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home (It lowers disease and mortality rates of children in the home too.).

They commit to a life partner (which can add up to 3 years of life expectancy) and invest in their children with time and love. (They?ll be more likely to care for aging parents when the time comes.)

9. Right tribe. The world?s longest-lived people chose? or were born into? social circles that supported healthy behaviors, Okinawans created moais? groups of 5 friends that committed to each other for life. Research from Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Borba

The concept of moai Popularized in the United States by Dan Buettner, the founder of Blue Zones. Blue Zones is an organization devoted to helping people live longer, better lives by sharing the lessons of the longest-lived cultures.the age-old Japanese ideology that?s long been associated with the nation?s long life expectancy.

MOAI In Japanese, moai refers to a group of lifelong friends. It also means a social support group that provides social, financial, health or spiritual interests.

Okinaw a Home to t he world?s longest-lived women, t hese Sout h Pacific islands offer many secret s to longevit y. The Okinaw a t radit ion of forming a moai provides secure social net works. These safet y net s lend financial and emot ional support in t imes of need and give t heir members t he st ress-shedding securit y of know ing t here is alw ays someone t here for t hem. In Okinaw a, at age 5, children are put into t hese commit ted social net works. One specific moai discovered by Blue Zone Project s had been toget her for 97 years; t he average age of t he group is 102. They meet every day to drink sake and gossip. If one of t hem does not show up, t he ot her 4 put on t heir kimonos to w alk across t he village to check on t heir friend. Okinaw ans also at t ribute t heir longevit y to t he old Confucian mant ra said before meals Hara Hachi Bu, w hich reminds t hem to stop eat ing w hen 80% full, so t hey do not overeat . They also hold a st rong sense of purpose in t heir family. One centenarian described t he feeling of holding her great great great grandchild as ?Jumping into heaven.?

Reiji Hiramatsu, 1941 | Monet and Water Lilies

By Tutt'Art Bihiku Art Movements and Styles 20th century Art, 21st Century Art, Japanese Art Reiji Hiramatsu ? ? ? ? is a Japanese Nihonga painter born in Tokyo.

His father was a civil servant who moved the family to Nagoya in 1946, where Reiji Hiramatsu would grow up.

Early on he developed an interest in the traditional painting techniques of Nihonga, however on the behest of his parents he first studied law and economics at Aichi University. Early on he developed an interest in the traditional painting techniques of Nihonga, however on the behest of his parents he first studied law and economics at Aichi University.

He began his artistic career after graduating and developed into one of the foremost representatives of Nihonga.

In 1967 he married his wife Hiroko, who would encourage him in his pursuit of painting.In 1994 he visited the Musée de l'Orangerie and Giverny in France.

He was inspired by Claude Monet and produced a number of paintings and by?bu screens that re-interpret Monet's Water Lilies, which in turn originally were inspired by Japonisme.

Reiji's Water Lilies were exhibited in 2013 at the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny, as well as the Museum of Asian Art in Berlin.

In 2013 he also donated 34 pieces, including ?Japanese Apricot Banquet? and ?Mt. Daikan in Golden Yellow in Autumn?to the Yugawara Art Museum.

Thebeauty andeleganceof Nihonga This elegant Japanese art style is known as nihonga (Japanese painting), which are perhaps not widely known internationally, but were created by some of the best Japanese artists to date.

TORICO, CCC published a new manga titled Joze Rizal, based on Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal's life. The manga was launched three years ago in both English and Japanese and is planned to be released in Filipino. Takahiro Matsui is in charge of the story, and Ry? Konno is drawing the art.

Takur? And?, the company representative of TORICO, said that he was inspired to make a manga about Rizal after seeing his statue in Hibiya Park in Tokyo, and asked the CEO of a Filipino company to connect to TORICO for more details about Rizal's life.

Jose Rizal is renowned throughout the Philippines as a scholar, polymath, and novelist. His work and life are part of the Philippines' standard academic curriculum, and his Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo novels are required reading in all Filipino high schools. Rizal's works, along with his execution at the hands of the Spanish government in 1896, helped fan the flames of a then-ongoing revolution against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for eventual Philippine independence.

José Rizal: The Filipino Hero's Life Illust rated (Jose Rizal # 1-10)

by Takahiro Mat sui (Story), Ryo Konno (Art ) Raised by a hardworking father and a well-educated mother, young Jose lived a happy childhood.

He grew up in a large and wealthy family? with one brother and nine sisters keeping him company, while his mother taught him how to read and write.

During the Spanish colonial rule, many of the locals suffered from discrimination, but Jose knew none of that. Until one day, a family scandal broke. His mother was taken away for a crime he knew she did not commit. Watching his mother being dragged away, Jose finally began to see the plight of his country? a country suffering from injustices and abuse, and a people? his own countrymen? ostracized and oppressed.

He eventually leaves for Europe for further studies, but he never lost sight of the country he loved.

After years of studying and researching, he sat down and wrote a book, and the rest is history.

In this illustrated work, Takahiro Matsui and Ryo Konno bring us a dynamic retelling of the life of Jose Rizal? from a young boy to a driven illustrado? whose novels played a pivotal role in the Filipino?s fight for independence.

Connecting to Tomorrow The Tokyo 1964 Games completely transformed Japan, enhanced Japanese people's awareness of the outside world and helped bring about rapid growth of Japan's economy.

The 2020 Games will enable Japan, now a mature economy, to promote future changes throughout the world, and leave a positive legacy for future generations.

??

Isan Legacy

©Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo Medal Project The design of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals reflects the concept that to achieve glory, athletes have to strive for victory on a daily basis. The medals resemble rough stones that have been polished and now shine with ?light? and ?brilliance? - their overall themes. The medals collect and reflect myriad patterns of light, symbolizing the energy of the athletes and those who support them. Their designs are intended to symbolize diversity and represent a world where people who compete in sports and work hard are honored. The brilliance of the medals signifies the warm glow of friendship symbolizing people all over the world holding hands. But what makes the design special is because, for the first time in the history of the Olympics, the medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games are made out of recycled electrical goods, mostly smartphones, laptops.?We developed a waste management movement for the medal project," Toshio Kamakura, director of Renet Japan Group said.

With the cooperation of many stakeholders, from the Japanese government to local communities we were able to achieve our goal. The campaign called on the public to support and donate obsolete electronic devices for the project. We are grateful for everyone?s cooperation,? said Toyko 2020 spokesperson Hitomi Kamizawa.

The release of official art posters is one of the prerequisites from the Host City, to create a cultural legacy forever associated with a specific edition of the Games.

Selected by the IOC from the series of the Tokyo 2020 Art Posters, the ?Iconic Posters?will represent the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland and other museum collections and special exhibitions around the world for generations to come. The IPC did not select a poster for past Paralympic Games; however, it decided to select one for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The copyright and ownership of the two original Iconic Posters will be transferred to the IOC and the IPC respectively.

United by Emotion Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage Director Angelita TEO said, ?We are delighted to have outstanding artists from Japan and all over the world come together to create these official art posters for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The chosen poster articulates themes of embracing diversity and solidarity; core messages which the Olympic Games have always valued as we work towards creating a world where people are intrinsically linked with one another. This clearly symbolises the Tokyo 2020 Games concept of ?Unity in Diversity?.?Graphic designer Asao Tokolo said, ?I decided to return to the basics and use a compass and a ruler to draw by hand the chequered ?ichimatsu moyo? pattern of the Tokyo 2020 emblem, which represent ?diversity and inclusiveness?. I take great pride in the Japanese indigo colour, which was considered ?the colour for victory?by warlords during the Sengoku Period (late 1500s to late 1600s) and a colour widely used in the clothing worn by common folk during the Edo Period (1603 ? 1868). For the poster, the emblem is drawn in white on a Japanese indigo background. The poster is like a baton that is passed on to the future generation. As a symbol of the Tokyo 2020 Games that will mark an important milestone in Olympic history, I hope that the poster will be passed on and cherished for many years to come.?

Asao Tokolo profile: Asao Tokolo was born in Tokyo in 1969. His major exhibitions include MOT Annual 2010: Neo-Ornamentalism from Japanese Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2010); Asao Tokolo × Aomori City Archives Exhibition: Individual and Group, Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (2016); Arita× Tokolo, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Saga (2019); and works including the outdoor sculpture, Tower of Connect (2017); and Tokyo 2020 emblems.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Iconic Poster Tit le: HARMONIZED CHEQUERED EMBLEM STUDY FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES ©Tokyo 2020

[EVEN EDGED MATTERS COULD FORM HARMONIZED CIRCLE W ITH ?RULE?] Graphic designer Asao Tokolo

IPC President Andrew PARSONS said, ?It was difficult to choose a poster which best represents the Games as there were many great posters. Overall, it has been incredible to see so many great designers developing their visions of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The most iconic post by GOO CHOKI PAR represents the diversity and joy we have at the Paralympics providing a spectacular platform to change the world through sport.?

Graphic Designer, GOO CHOKI PAR said, ?We expressed the strong determination of the Para athletes who continue to challenge with optimism. Passion cannot be stopped. Passion is the hope of humanity that has always been passed on through the ages. We would be happy if the Paralympic poster we designed for the Tokyo 2020 Games will inspire and motivate the athletes today as well as in the times to come.?

GOO CHOKI PAR profile: GOO CHOKI PAR is a design unit of three graphic designers: Rei Ishii (b. 1985 in Kanagawa), Kent Iitaka (b.1985 in Fukuoka) and Q Asaba (b. 1986 in Tokyo).

Major awards to date include One Show Design Gold, D&AD Yellow Pencil, and NY ADC Awards Gold. ?Visual communication? transcending language and thinking is at the heart of their interdisciplinary creations. Their work aims to stretch the boundaries of graphic expression and free it from convention by combining the aesthetic sensibilities of the three designers, and funneling those sensibilities into a single expression.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Iconic Poster GOO CHOKI PAR / Graphic Designer Tit le: PARALYMPIAN

©Tokyo 2020

"Sport Manga is a genre of manga almost unique to Japan.

Sport manga played a significant role in the evolution and success of Japanese manga because the weekly serial comic is the perfect format for capturing the excitement of sporting events."

Now it 's your t urn!

©Tokyo 2020

Naoki Urasaw a - Manga Art ist

"Multicolored spherical celestial bodies hurtling through space at the speed of lght. Never-to-be-repeated chance encounters of vivid, sparkling colors and heavenly beings - I was imagining an Olympic scene far removed from Earth. A pink figure appears out of nowhere."

Space Kicker

©Tokyo 2020

Shinro Oht ake - Painter

"Numerous lines intersect in this world: Lines of vision; parabola; boundaries; threads of narrative foreshadowing ; and many more. At times becoming entangled with one another and at times coming loose, these countless lines form images in space, and in our minds and bodies." flow line

©Tokyo 2020

Daijiro Ohara - Graphic Designer

©sho

"This work was produced in the hope that the commitment and enthusiasm of athletes, as well as everybody supporting the Olympic Games, will soar high above Tokyo to reach people the world over. The calligraphy with its ray of dazzling light represents the energy of athletes."

FLY HIGH!

©Tokyo 2020

Shoko Kanazaw a (Calligrapher)

"As animals, each human being grasps the world with totally different perceptions. We see the world through our own umwelts. None are the same. No words are identical.

No light is identical. If the Olympic Games prepare themselves for that and address it honestly, then in time, a new ecsystem, filled with senses, for a small organism , will begin to function."

W ild Things - Hachilympic

©Tokyo 2020

Tomoko Konoike - Art ist

"Five randomly arranged rings from the Olympic symbol when shifted along their trajectories This poster design expresses a future where each athlete, from whichever part of the world, competes by bringing their own unique talents, culminating in a sum greater than its parts, a harmony that is the Olympics."

Olympic Cloud

©Tokyo 2020

Taku Satoh - Graphic Designer

"I believe that the Olympic Games do not exclusively belong to select athletes. My work expresses the idea that the Games are a memorable beacon of hope that belongs to all people, both young and old."

Tokyo Children

©Tokyo 2020

Takashi Homma - Photographer

"It is unthinkable till now that skateboarding has become an Olympic sport as it seems contrary to its rebellious culture. Skateboardng has has a language of its own and being a relatively new sport it is continually evolving and is a synthesis of art, design, fashion, music and even having gestures of its own."

Ext reme Revelat ions

©Tokyo 2020

Theseus Chan - Art Director

"The artwork I have produced for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games presents the image of a high jumper, arching in front of the red circle of the sun. The artist is performing a universal leap as signified in the achievements of the Olympic Games."

The Games People Play

©Tokyo 2020

Chris Ofili - Art ist

Photo Credit: The Telegraph

Photo Credit: Artnet News

"I wanted to make an image that was playful, colorful and meaningful. The intention was to depict the JOY of PLAY. Another important element was to allude to the cultural diversity and the variety of nationalities who all come together to participate in the Olympic Games."

Ludus

©Tokyo 2020

Viviane Sassen - Photographer

"I decided to draw on rice paper as it seemed conrunt with the games taking place in Japan. Then, guided by my hand, lympic Stadium took shape in front of me according to my own vision of it."

Olympic St adium

©Tokyo 2020

Philippe Weisbecker - Art ist

Photography: Ayumi Shino

Summer nights are the perfect time to be looking up at the stars, and humans have been mesmerized by the view for centuries. Not so long ago, the possibility of photographing successful images of the night sky was not as accessible to pro and enthusiast night photographers ? this was often left to the scientific community and imagers with specialized astrophotograhpy cameras using telescopes. That's changed and capturing the celestial beauty of the night sky with ease and clarity is now in reach for most photographers. Photo by Mike Meyers (@mmeyers76). Sony Alpha 7R II, Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master at Alpha Universe.

AWARDEE Filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi and screenwriter Takamasa Oe won the Best Screenplay award at the 2021 Cannes International Film Festival for ?Drive My Car,? becoming the first Japanese to win the prize. The three hour long film is based on a short story of the same name by novelist Haruki Murakami.

The Cannes Film Festival held last July , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held usually in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

Earlier this year, Hamaguchi, 42, also took home the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival for his film ?Guzen to sozo? (?Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy?), a collection of three short stories on chance and coincidence, each revolving around a woman.

Photo Credit: Japan Times

First Person Singular: St ories

by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel (Translat or) A rivet ing new collect ion of short st ories from t he beloved, int ernat ionally acclaimed, Haruki Murakami. The eight mast erful st ories in t his new collect ion are all t old in t he first person by a classic Murakami narrat or: a lonely man. Some of t hem (like W it h t he Beat les, Cream and On a St one Pillow ) are nost algic looks back at yout h.

Ot hers are set in adult hood--Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova, Carnaval, Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey and t he st unning t it le st ory. Occasionally, a narrat or who may or may not be Haruki himself is present , as in The Yakult Swallows Poet ry Collect ion. Is it memoir or fict ion? The reader decides. The st ories all t ouch beaut ifully on love and loss, childhood and deat h . . . all wit h a signat ure Murakami t wist .'

Successfully capturing the stars in a photo takes research, practice and the right setup.Photo by Carmen Huter (@carmenhuter). Sony ?7R IV. Sony 14mm f/ 1.8 G Master. 13-secs., f/ 1.8, ISO 1600 at Alpha Universe.

Th e Rain bow Br idge (? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , Rein b? Bu r ijji) is a su spen sion br idge cr ossin g n or t h er n Tok yo Bay bet w een Sh ibau r a Pier an d t h e Odaiba w at er f r on t developm en t in M in at o, Tok yo, Japan .

It w as bu ilt by Kaw asak i Heavy In du st r ies, w it h con st r u ct ion st ar t in g in 1987 an d com plet ed in 1993.Th e br idge is 798 m (2,618 f t ) lon g w it h a m ain span of 580 m (1,903 f t ). Of f icially called t h e " Sh u t o Expr essw ay No. 11 Daiba Rou t e - Por t of Tok yo Con n ect or Br idge." Th e n am e " Rain bow Br idge" w as decided by t h e pu blic. ©Tokyo 2020

©Tokyo 2020

Th e Tok yo Im per ial Palace (? ? , K?k yo, lit er ally 'Im per ial Residen ce') is t h e m ain r esiden ce of t h e Em per or of Japan . It is a lar ge par k -lik e ar ea locat ed in t h e Ch iyoda dist r ict of t h e Ch iyoda w ar d of Tok yo an d con t ain s sever al bu ildin gs in clu din g t h e m ain palace (? ? , Ky? den ), som e r esiden ces of t h e Im per ial Fam ily, an ar ch ive, m u seu m s an d adm in ist r at ive of f ices.

It is bu ilt on t h e sit e of t h e old Edo Cast le. Th e t ot al ar ea in clu din g t h e gar den s is 1.15 squ ar e k ilom et r es (0.44 sq m i). Du r in g t h e h eigh t of t h e 1980s Japan ese pr oper t y bu bble, t h e palace gr ou n ds w er e valu ed by som e t o be m or e t h an t h e valu e of all of t h e r eal est at e in t h e st at e of Calif or n ia.

The "LQ", a concept vehicle that leverages advanced technology to build an emotional bond between car and driver. The next generation of the Toyota "Concept-i", a concept vehicle first exhibited at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, LQ is equipped with automated driving capabilities and "Yui," a powerful artificial intelligence-powered interactive agent designed to learn from the driver and deliver a personalized mobility experience.

Global finalists of the Earth Observation Dashboard Hackathon. World MAQI: Dominic Vincent ?Doc? Ligot, Michael Lance M. Domagas, Arturo "Art" Caronongan III, and Mark Neil Pascual. GiveSight: Karl Adrian de Guzman, Angelica Mhay Salazar, Joshua Bungcaras, Mark Barretto, and Gabriel Kristopher "Cricket" Soong.

Headin gsTw o t eam s f r om t h e Ph ilippin es, GiveSigh t an d Wor ld M AQI, ar e select ed by t h e Un it ed St at es space agen cy Nat ion al Aer on au t ics an d Space Adm in ist r at ion (NASA), Eu r opean Space Agen cy (ESA), an d Japan Aer ospace Explor at ion Agen cy (JAXA) as global f in alist s f or t h e all-vir t u al Ear t h Obser vat ion Dash boar d Hack at h on h eld last Ju n e 23-29. Wit h 4,300+ par t icipan t s f r om 132 cou n t r ies an d t er r it or ies, t h e w eek -lon g even t f eat u r ed 233 pr oject s t o solve ch allen ges r elat ed t o t h e COVID-19 pan dem ic u sin g dat a f r om t h e Ear t h Obser vin g (EO) Dash boar d, an in t er act ive dat a r esou r ce givin g policym ak er s an d t h e pu blic a u n iqu e t ool t o pr obe t h e im pact s of pan dem ic-r elat ed r est r ict ion s im plem en t ed ar ou n d t h e w or ld t h r ou gh t h e len s of Ear t h obser vat ion sat ellit es.

2 Philippine teams are finalist s in global space dat a compet it ion for COVID-19 Abou t EO dash boar d h ack at h on Fr om Ju n e 23- 29, coder s, scien t ist s, en t r epr en eu r s, design er s, st or yt eller s, m ak er s, bu ilder s, ar t ist s, t ech n ologist s, an d space en t h u siast s f r om ar ou n d t h e w or ld join ed Nat ion al Aer on au t ics an d Space Adm in ist r at ion (NASA), Eu r opean Space Agen cy (ESA), an d Japan Aer ospace Explor at ion Agen cy (JAXA) f or t h e all-vir t u al, global Ear t h Obser vat ion Dash boar d Hack at h on .

Du r in g t h e h ack at h on , par t icipan t s w ill h ave t h e oppor t u n it y t o f or m vir t u al t eam s, in t er act w it h exper t s f r om NASA, ESA, an d JAXA in ou r ch at ch an n els, an d su bm it pr oject s. Th e w in n in g t eam s w ill h ave t h e oppor t u n it y t o in cor por at e t h eir solu t ion s in t o t h e EO Dash boar d ? m ak in g a last in g im pact on it s lon g-t er m legacy!

Th e EO Dash boar d Hack at h on celebr at es t h e on e-year an n iver sar y of t h e EO Dash boar d's lau n ch an d bu ilds on t h e su ccess of t h e Space Apps COVID-19 Ch allen ge.

Du r in g t h is w eek -lon g even t , par t icipan t s w ill cr eat e vir t u al t eam s an d solve on e of 10 ch allen ges r elat ed t o t h e COVID-19 pan dem ic u sin g dat a f r om t h e Ear t h Obser vin g Dash boar d (t h e " EO Dash boar d" f or sh or t ). Th e EO Dash boar d is an in t er act ive dat a r esou r ce t h at gives t h e pu blic an d policym ak er s a u n iqu e t ool t o pr obe t h e sh or t -t er m an d lon g-t er m im pact s of pan dem ic-r elat ed r est r ict ion s im plem en t ed ar ou n d t h e w or ld t h r ou gh t h e len s of Ear t h obser vat ion sat ellit es.

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©Tokyo 2020

Vol. 1

SAPERE AUDE

AUGUST, 2021 JAPAN ISSUE