XAMOSCHI Inc. is launching XAMOSCHi.COM on February 10. This is an intelligent entertainment media site where front-line specialists explain Japan’s hot topics in a variety of fields such as architecture, fashion, music and technology.
1. What Makes Japanese Architects So Significant? By Taro Igarashi (Architectural Historian, Critic and Professor)
Now Japanese architects are dominating the world’s architectural community. In the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is known as the Nobel Prize of the architectural world, Japan is ranked just after the United States by the number of its winners. Japanese architects won the prize consecutively in 2013 and 2014. Other than that, Japanese architects have achieved various great results to stun the world. Why are Japanese architects so remarkable? Architectural historian, critic and professor Taro Igarashi answers the question.
2. The ‘Sin City’ Has Its Own Rules – The Myths and Structures of Kabukicho By Suzumi Suzuki (Sociologist)
Kabukicho has come to be known worldwide for its odd characteristics told through numerous stories, but none of them explains the real nature of Kabukicho. On the surface, its residents seem to be immoral, but they have created their own morals, language and hierarchy. Its world has diverse ceremonies such as initiations and commendations. Even visitors are not allowed to deviate from the role they need to play in that society. It is a unique society, remarkable for its surprising complexity and mystically perfect structure. Construction of a society like this is an activity of “society’s self-organization” found not only in Kabukicho, but in any other community throughout Japan. Suzumi Suzuki, strong in sociological analysis, takes up the challenge of painting a new image of Kabukicho and building a fresh view of Japanese society.
3. Japanese Fashionology By Asuka Watanabe (Doctor of Sociology and Associate Professor)
Japanese fashion gets attention from all over the world. Japanese people seem to place emphasis on vogues and dislike being dressed differently from others but, at the same time, don’t hesitate to be clad in novel ways. What causes them to come and go between the conservative and avant-garde worlds of fashion without a sense of discomfort? Japan has experienced three major fashion revolutions: the introduction of Western fashion, the shocking emergence of Japanese fashion in the 1980s, and the rise of street fashion in the 1990s. The way in which Japanese brands and fashion magazines exist has become so unique that it is no longer possible to properly interpret them from the Western sense of fashion. Asuka Watanabe, doctor of sociology and associate professor at the Department of the Science of Living, Kyoritsu Women’s Junior College, answers the question “Why is Japanese fashion so unique?” by examining the close relationship with society surrounding it.
4. ZEN and Ultralight By Tomoyoshi Tsuchiya (Climber/Owner of Hiker’s Depot)
Ultralight (UL) style is a new trend in the outdoor industry, and it was accepted with keen interest in Japan as soon as it emerged in the United States. This trend, based on ultra-long hiking, pursues minimalism in backpacking outfits, given a view of nature containing a bit of animism. Acceptance of UL style in Japan, which doesn’t have super-long-distance trails, involved transformation based on the spirit of Zen. The unique style beyond this transformation might be a new culture influencing the world. UL culture guru Tomoyoshi Tsuchiya, who calls this new style born in Japan “Zen Hiking,” introduces it.
5. The Birth of High Compression Pop By Tomonori Shiba (Writer, Editor and Music Journalist)
BABYMETAL is conquering the world’s music scene. At only 15 and 16 years of age, a trio of girls has made two sold-out world tours and acted as a curtain-raiser for Lady Gaga’s stage. They ranked No. 5 on the list of “World Albums Artists” and the heavy metal website MetalSucks awarded them “The Best Metal Album of 2014.” This mixture of pop and metal music is not the only reason they have gained worldwide fame. Their unique music style is a product of 21st-century Japan, and is growing rapidly. In this series, up-and-coming music journalist Tomonori Shiba, who dubs this new music — which has not yet been analyzed well in Japan — “hyper-compression pop,” zeroes in on its whole picture.
6. Scene By XAMOSCHi staff
Our editing team selects a variety of artists who convey new allures of Japan. In our first “Scene” selection, we introduce photographer Yu Yamauchi. Mr. Yamauchi stayed in a small hut for 600 days to shoot Mt. Fuji. His art won the highest praise when it was introduced to the world because it shows a previously unseen face of Mt. Fuji. In this interview, we explore the secrets of his art.
About XAMOSCHi.COM
XAMOSCHi.COM is intelligent entertainment media devoted to the edgiest trends heating up Japan. Front-line specialists report on challenges faced by innovators shaping tomorrow’s world and on ideas they are grappling with in various areas such as technology, fashion, music and architecture.
OPINION
Specialists in each area will explore various subjects now in the air in a series of articles.
TOPICS
The editing team reports on current hot topics in Japan.
About XAMOSCHI Inc.:
XAMOSCHi.COM is managed by XAMOSCHI Inc. The company was established in July 2014 after it qualified in May 2014 for a subsidy program for promoting start-ups funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s fiscal 2013 supplementary budget.
Members
XAMOSCHI Inc. is organized by members of Modern Phase Systems Inc. and tenpo Inc.
Modern Phase Systems Inc
Modern Phase Systems Inc. is a consulting company that supports cooperation between the public and private sectors in community development. One of its start-up members, political sociologist Shinnosuke Horiuchi, is an executive producer of XAMOSCHi.COM.
tenpo Inc.
tenpo is a production company which conducts web-related promotion and business direction businesses. Its president, Naoki Yoshioka, is a chief editor of XAMOSCHi.COM.
SOURCE: XAMOSCHI Inc.
Contact:
Naoki Yoshioka
Editorial Office
XAMOSCHI Inc.
Tel: +81-3-6457-8948
e-mail: contact@xamoschi.com
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