Vox’s photos tagged culture

THE OLD IMPERIAL HOTEL in PRE-WW2 TOKYO -- Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece in Japan

nobody@vox.com(Ken Kelsey) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:24:32 +0000

Here we have T. ENAMI meeting up with the work of FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. Wright's version of the Imperial Hotel, replacing those that came before it, opened on September 1st, 1923 -- the same fateful day on which the Great Kanto Plains Earthquake destroyed Enami's Photographic Studio -- along with most of Yokohama and Tokyo. Thanks to Wright's modern building techniques that employed a large amount of steel girders and reinforcements, this hotel survived with only minor damage. And Enami himself had rebuilt his studio on Benten Street and was back in business within two years. After 45 years in service, the structure was finally razed in 1968 to make way for a new incarnation. Thankfully conservation minded individuals assured that part of the Hotel was saved. Students of Wright's architectural works may continue to see and examine this original Entryway at Meiji Mura Architectural Park outside of Nagoya. The new Imperial Hotel in Tokyo also has incorporated some pieces of Wright's embellishments as part of the public interior spaces -- at least I remember seeing some of it before passing out in the Bar after too many "Rum and Cokes". For more on the long history of the place, and its many incarnations, see : <a href="http://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/cgi-bin/imperial_hp/index_e.cgi?ac1=EAD&ac2=&Page=hpd_view">www.imperialhotel.co.jp/cgi-bin/imperial_hp/index_e.cgi?a...</a> Frank Lloyd Wright was also a photographer, and a book of 50 of his photographs taken while in Japan has been published. (Try a used book connection thru amazon.com) From a Lantern-slide by T. ENAMI of Yokohama. Ca.1923-28. For more on the Life and Times of Enami see : <a href="http://www.t-enami.org/">www.t-enami.org/</a>

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

45/365: わさびディライト

nobody@vox.com(Socceraholic..) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:25:26 +0000

hahaha! and this is it's real name.. "Wasabi Delight" you should try this guys! amazing delicious thing! p.s: somebody take this 50mm away from me.. ! help im addicted!!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Dog Eat Dog World: Welcome to the New World Order

nobody@vox.com(Ken Kelsey) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:53:26 +0000

It has occurred to me that some flickr users might be "put off" by my occasional disdain and mockery of the various religions of Japan, both old and new. Some ardent Japanophiles might be especially offended at the very thought that someone as arrogant and smug as Okinawa_Soba would DARE to make any kind of negative remarks about ANY of the age-old institutions of Honorable Japan. Well, they are right. I REPENT. And to show my repentance, I now post four beautiful views of DOG FIGHTING in JAPAN. As everyone knows, all civilized nations love this sport, and in the USA especially, it has been given a lot of recent attention by the media. Apparently, even some of the rich and famous in the USA can't get enough of it ! ".............In the U.S., dog fighting is considered a felony in every state except Wyoming and Idaho. Despite that fact, according to The Humane Society, it's estimated that somewhere between 20,000-40,000 people in this country take part in this multi-billion-dollar industry........" <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2884063">sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2884063</a> But for now, forget the USA. Let's go to Japan where, except for Tokyo, DOG FIGHTING is STILL LEGAL ! Say hello to the famous TOSA fighting dogs of Japan. They look friendly enough. Would you like to have one ? LEGAL ISSUES "..............Ownership of Tosas is legally restricted in certain jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom ownership is regulated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A specific exemption of a British court is required to own and import Tosas legally in the UK (see article on the act for details). Some insurance companies will not insure homes with dog breeds deemed dangerous. The Australian Customs Service prohibits the import of Tosas, along with other dog breeds considered dangerous, into Australia [2]. The Tosa is one of 11 breeds of dog recently banned by the Dublin City Council from their properties, including council houses, flats and estates[3]. The New Zealand government banned the import of Tosas claiming that they are dogs specifically bred for fighting. It was to be a step towards combating the increasing number of dog attacks on humans, especially children......" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tosa_(dog)">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tosa_(dog)</a> TODAY, DOG FIGHTING IN JAPAN IS ONLY BANNED IN THE CITY OF TOKYO. OUTSIDE OF TOKYO, THE REST OF 21st CENTURY JAPAN IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BRING YOUR POODLE TO WATCH THE NEXT MATCH AGAINST ONE OF THESE DOGS.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend