Sun - July 24, 2005
may 2006 in Japan again with Memnon
Yezz, final entry to this blog on this year.
It seems 90% certain well be touring Japan again on may
2006.
I've gotten some queries what was in the backpack and case I was carrying around, well here it goes:
I had to use mainframe computer calculations an zen meditation
to come up with this packing scheme
2 x Korg kaospad II + poweradapters
2 x DI ultra DI box
Lacie 40 gt firewire HD for backups
Muuntosähkö 100 v to 230 v powertransformer (4 kg!)
Peavey PC-1600x midi controller + poweradapter
Motu 828 mk II audio-interface
Plenty opf cables
In backpack:
Apple 12"
Beyerdymamics k250 headphones
PSP
Ipod photo
all possible display + video adapters for mac
Canon mini DV cam + poweradapter
usb mouse
Sony minidisc
pack og high quality green tea as a present home
Isight
book I bought from Tokyo "Samurai code"
Memnon promo CD's
Ipod shuffle for my sister
extra powerbook battery
book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
deodorant
can of seaweed balls from hokkaido, present to a friend
+ canon G5 camera I took these photos with.
I've gotten some queries what was in the backpack and case I was carrying around, well here it goes:
I had to use mainframe computer calculations an zen meditation
to come up with this packing scheme
2 x Korg kaospad II + poweradapters
2 x DI ultra DI box
Lacie 40 gt firewire HD for backups
Muuntosähkö 100 v to 230 v powertransformer (4 kg!)
Peavey PC-1600x midi controller + poweradapter
Motu 828 mk II audio-interface
Plenty opf cables
In backpack:
Apple 12"
Beyerdymamics k250 headphones
PSP
Ipod photo
all possible display + video adapters for mac
Canon mini DV cam + poweradapter
usb mouse
Sony minidisc
pack og high quality green tea as a present home
Isight
book I bought from Tokyo "Samurai code"
Memnon promo CD's
Ipod shuffle for my sister
extra powerbook battery
book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
deodorant
can of seaweed balls from hokkaido, present to a friend
+ canon G5 camera I took these photos with.
Posted at 11:04 PM Read More
Thu - June 2, 2005
back at home
yep, everything must come to an end, we could
have easily stayed for another month
:)
Travel went fine - thanks for everyone we met at out fantastic trip!
I just uploaded our Tokyo live video to our homepage, go chek it out at www.memnon.fi
I'll still be updating some images and stories here this weekend, so stay tuned!
Travel went fine - thanks for everyone we met at out fantastic trip!
I just uploaded our Tokyo live video to our homepage, go chek it out at www.memnon.fi
I'll still be updating some images and stories here this weekend, so stay tuned!
Posted at 03:00 PM Read More
Mon - May 30, 2005
Sun - May 29, 2005
crow talent
handsome and fearless crow at mountains of
Hokkaido just waiting to be discovered at Hollywood. I'm now it's agent taking
30%. Can't believe that I'm supposed to leave back to Finland very
soon...
Posted at 12:00 AM Read More
Sat - May 28, 2005
Labo -gig with Pauliina
Place was small and fun! both us and Pauliina played 2 shorter sets. She's playing a big concert today, see info from Office Ohsawa website and come see! Mr. Iwasaki gave us a very nice edited DVD of our Astro Hall -gig, thanks!
In the audience there we're few fans from Astro-Hall gig, some local people who had just accidently popped into the place (and said they we're positivelly surprised what was happening) and few quite surprising connections, like fiancée of a Singaporean contemporary composer currently living in London that we've been introduced to by Finnish-German visual artist living in Germany - both that we have never met in real life. It was very nice that you could come! Sorry for disinformation about the start time on my side! sorry sorry!
Posted at 07:16 AM Read More
Shinkansen - nozomi
took the fastest bulled train "Nozomi" from
Osaka to Tokyo
this one goes faster than Formula 1 and looks ten times more scary
this one goes faster than Formula 1 and looks ten times more scary
Posted at 07:04 AM Read More
Fri - May 27, 2005
hotel snaps
psycedelic escalator on 30 Th floor, backyard waterfall and laster manipulation...
Posted at 04:58 AM Read More
Thu - May 26, 2005
osaka
Quite a nice view from the hotel, don't you
say?
taken w. Canon G5
link to quicktime VR panorama of this picture
link to full size .jpg (1,5 MB)
UPDATE:
by night. Didn't have time for panorama pic yet
taken w. Canon G5
link to quicktime VR panorama of this picture
link to full size .jpg (1,5 MB)
UPDATE:
by night. Didn't have time for panorama pic yet
Posted at 02:15 PM Read More
Off to Osaka
From Sapporo to Osaka today.
taxi-train-check-in-plane-train-taxi-hotel
On Washington Post homepage is Kaiser and Perkins tour Finland -blog
On Washington Post homepage is Kaiser and Perkins tour Finland -blog
Posted at 11:53 AM Read More
Wed - May 25, 2005
Noya gig
Noya gig with Aasian kukka went very well! Big thanks to Hiroko for all the arrangements. Concert was held upstairs of small Japanese restaurant "Noya" About 50 people came and place was full. Atmosphere was very intimate and we played quietly. Bonus was that sound guy recorded our gig with edirol r1 and I could download recorded file straight to my Mac with USB cable. Let's see, there is a great possibility that one r1 leaves Japan with me...
An anti-photo of the place after our gig - people carrying instruments away
Our gig happened inside this mysterious tower...
Posted at 01:27 PM Read More
'accidental' shave
Popped in to a barber shop to have few mm cut
from my skinny hair, and while I explained how short I really want it to be guy
asked "shave?" and wiith out thinking much I answered "yes".
after cutting my hair, guy didn't only shave my very few beard hair alike, but shaved my whole face - all the small "baby hair" from ears, under my eyes AND inside my nose and end ears and gave me a face massage. Felt very strange but good afterwards. And 3000 yen only :)
-ville
after cutting my hair, guy didn't only shave my very few beard hair alike, but shaved my whole face - all the small "baby hair" from ears, under my eyes AND inside my nose and end ears and gave me a face massage. Felt very strange but good afterwards. And 3000 yen only :)
-ville
Posted at 07:32 AM Read More
Tue - May 24, 2005
Mon - May 23, 2005
extra memnon gig at Tokyo on 27.5. with Pauliina Lerche
We've got a extra + special gig on friday 27
th with Finnish artist Pauliina Lerche who has her own gig on saturday.
(Japanese info on Pauliina's
gig)
Friday's joined gig starts around 21:00 at a restaurant called LABO. The place is in Shibuya's Shotoh area. either walk around 15 min. from the JR's Shibuya station or 5 min. from Shinsen on Inogashira Line.
LABO 2-14-12-102°@Shotoh, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
tel: 03 3469 6722
Walk up the hill road in front of Tokyu Bunkamura towards the Old Yamanote Street. The bar is on the right hand side of the street, tucked in the 1st floor of a large apartment building. The bar has a very small sign in the showcase place in front of the bar. The best way is to call the bar in advance and check. very exclusive place ;)
Friday's joined gig starts around 21:00 at a restaurant called LABO. The place is in Shibuya's Shotoh area. either walk around 15 min. from the JR's Shibuya station or 5 min. from Shinsen on Inogashira Line.
LABO 2-14-12-102°@Shotoh, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
tel: 03 3469 6722
Walk up the hill road in front of Tokyu Bunkamura towards the Old Yamanote Street. The bar is on the right hand side of the street, tucked in the 1st floor of a large apartment building. The bar has a very small sign in the showcase place in front of the bar. The best way is to call the bar in advance and check. very exclusive place ;)
Posted at 12:55 PM Read More
kantele-lecture
We just had a small lecture about Kantele,
electric kantele and Memnon at Sapporo GaKuin university that was involved in
arranging yesterdays Porto Hall gig. Only 4 students showed up and 2 people from
the administration. Well... maybe this is a proof that our music is the part
that is interesting and not the concept.
We talked, showed some video's and I explained what I do with the electronics in Memnon and demonstrated how to connect a 5 string kantele to powerbook and play with garageband's distortion effects. Don't actually know if they understood a word, but everyone seemed happy afterwards and we we're payed well and in cash :)
We talked, showed some video's and I explained what I do with the electronics in Memnon and demonstrated how to connect a 5 string kantele to powerbook and play with garageband's distortion effects. Don't actually know if they understood a word, but everyone seemed happy afterwards and we we're payed well and in cash :)
Posted at 12:45 PM Read More
weird links for monday
Psycedelic food commercial
hanbanda
Japanese monsters blog
via we make money not art
Posted at 07:57 AM Read More
Japanese toilet commercial
very nice characters and
soundtrack.
http://www.toto.co.jp/tips/cmlibr/CM/newapri_l.mpg
via we make money not art
http://www.toto.co.jp/tips/cmlibr/CM/newapri_l.mpg
via we make money not art
Posted at 05:10 AM Read More
Sun - May 22, 2005
porto hall gig
just came back from the porto hall we're we
had a big gig. About 300 people in the audience, very nice (maybe I don't
mention here that entrance was free...)
I blogged about the place earlier
First half was Eva playing acoustic and second Memnon. Let's see if I'm able to get pics taken during the gig.
In sound check I realized how hard it is describe a sound with just communicating with hands and signs and trying to be very polite when technicians did not understand much english. "hmmmm. Bit too bright, B-R-I-G-H-T, High. Yes, top, up up. High. Down. Low. Less. Little. very well ok ok" Everything went perfect and sounded good to my ears.
Lot of people came do ask questions about Kantele and the electronics and we actually had a over 30 min chat there.
To our surprise this photo taken by Antti Ahonen during our PixelACHE -gig had ended up in the program. Sorry Antti, there was no photo credit.
Pic of the program and a doll someone gave us after the gig...
I tough that the Kata-Kana letters look very cool with Memnon logo (like seen on the logo of this blog at the top) and I've been using them in the video visuals, but after this gig two Japanese friends said that the font looks stupid to them and it's much cooler just to use the Memnon logo and maybe leave the Kata-kana to be used just back in Finland... doh!
I blogged about the place earlier
First half was Eva playing acoustic and second Memnon. Let's see if I'm able to get pics taken during the gig.
In sound check I realized how hard it is describe a sound with just communicating with hands and signs and trying to be very polite when technicians did not understand much english. "hmmmm. Bit too bright, B-R-I-G-H-T, High. Yes, top, up up. High. Down. Low. Less. Little. very well ok ok" Everything went perfect and sounded good to my ears.
Lot of people came do ask questions about Kantele and the electronics and we actually had a over 30 min chat there.
To our surprise this photo taken by Antti Ahonen during our PixelACHE -gig had ended up in the program. Sorry Antti, there was no photo credit.
Pic of the program and a doll someone gave us after the gig...
I tough that the Kata-Kana letters look very cool with Memnon logo (like seen on the logo of this blog at the top) and I've been using them in the video visuals, but after this gig two Japanese friends said that the font looks stupid to them and it's much cooler just to use the Memnon logo and maybe leave the Kata-kana to be used just back in Finland... doh!
Posted at 02:06 PM Read More
fresh facehugger for sale
Best known from the movie series "Alien" now
sold fresh for all your cooking
purposes!
Humanoind hand on the right will give you a hint of huggers true size...
Humanoind hand on the right will give you a hint of huggers true size...
Posted at 06:18 AM Read More
could nintendogs make woman less aggressive?
Sweet Camel - Jeans for Aggressive Woman
I'd really like to know how "Sweet Camel" is doing. Have they find their niche of aggressive woman to sell these jeans?
Latest hit for Nintendo DS - Nintendogs
a dog tamagotchi living inside Nintendo portable console. It doesn't bark as loud as a real one and you don't never have to pick warm poop from the street. Just pick a breed you prefer.
Posted at 06:10 AM Read More
Sat - May 21, 2005
planetarium gig
we just had a gig at a planetarium of Sapporo science centre
(bit like Heureka in Finland) and it was just excellent! First they
showed a Finnish start sky and explained something for 10 minutes and then we
played. Sound was excellent - very high quality surround sound system and very
damped place. We played in front and a realtime video image of us playing was
projected on the roof, coz the chairs were at "sleeping position" so that the
audience were actually facing the roof. About 170 people and very nice
atmosphere! After our gig sapporo night sky was
displayed.
I had forgotten how cool places planetariums are! I think our music fitted there very well, and audience seemed to like. Actually they used traditional kantele-music from CD as a back round to the star-show. pics later...
meanwhile info for all:
Sapporo planetarium projection system
sapporo population 1,869,888, 43°04' N 141°21' E
kantele
I had forgotten how cool places planetariums are! I think our music fitted there very well, and audience seemed to like. Actually they used traditional kantele-music from CD as a back round to the star-show. pics later...
meanwhile info for all:
Sapporo planetarium projection system
sapporo population 1,869,888, 43°04' N 141°21' E
kantele
Posted at 05:47 PM Read More
blogging to history
all my million readers - please check earlier
entries too, coz I'll be blogging earlier concert stuff that I was too busy to
blog at the same day, but I decided to make this blog chronological so those
earlier stuff will appear below... our Date-city trip was very interesting..
more on that later -> in history :)
Posted at 05:41 PM Read More
Fri - May 20, 2005
proper photogallery of Astro-Hall pics
Yes I know I'm sucking up this
:)
http://homepage.mac.com/hyvone/PhotoAlbum32.html
http://homepage.mac.com/hyvone/PhotoAlbum32.html
Posted at 09:11 AM Read More
boys and toys
I could not resist it - with money from last
gig I bought new iPod photo 60 gt for 45 000 yen (330 eur) and PSP (playstation
portable) for 14 000 yen (around 105 eur) wich is a real bargain! I'm really
excited about PSP - it plays mp4 -video, .mp3 audio, displays .jpg photos, syncs
with mac AND has a WLAN (802.11b wireless networking) cabability build in!
Powertransformer works with 100 - 240 v (works in Finland too) and I was able to
change PSP:s language to english from Japan. I was happy to discover I can use
my canon camera's USB cable to connect PSP to mac, so no need for more cable
hassle. Have to buy a large memorystick and maybe some game for it
soon...
Found good multimedia management software for os X / PSP called iPSP small bugs, but it works.
For iPod bought also the photoreader that was not in the shops yet in Finland when I left. That means I can transfer photos directly from my camera (Canon g5) to Ipod with out computer. Photos can be watched from ipod and then highspeed transferred to computer via firewire / USB 2.
Now if I just could connect these two somehow...
Found good multimedia management software for os X / PSP called iPSP small bugs, but it works.
For iPod bought also the photoreader that was not in the shops yet in Finland when I left. That means I can transfer photos directly from my camera (Canon g5) to Ipod with out computer. Photos can be watched from ipod and then highspeed transferred to computer via firewire / USB 2.
Now if I just could connect these two somehow...
Posted at 05:27 AM Read More
Thu - May 19, 2005
Sekuni remixed
Big kudos to Dj Muffler aka Konsta for making a great drum n'
bass remix of sekuni for our Japanese
promo-CD.
Posted at 04:23 AM Read More
Wed - May 18, 2005
North Aim
Eva is having a classical concert today with a Japanese Okarino player at this concrete building "North Aim".
Tatami backstage looks a lot friendlier than the front. Helped to carry all the instruments to tha place and off to the city to hang around.
Posted at 11:15 AM Read More
Porto hall @ sapporo
On tuesday 17 th we flew from Tokyo to
Sapporo. During take-off and landing Do-airlines played dreamy sound box version
of John Lennon's "Imagine" - originally a manifesto for
socialism.
Staying in Susukino that is the entertainment centrum of Sapporo. Lots of strange girl-bars.
After booking ourselfs to a hotel went to Porto Hall to rehearse for our sundays concert there. Concert program is bit special. First half is Eva playing modern classical with acoustic kantele, and the last tune of 1st half is "icebreak" for electric kantele and a computer - composed for Memnon by fellow cncd'er Sami Järvinen. On sunday will propably be the only time we'll be playing that tune in Japan, becourse it's very long and modern and hard to fit in on any other situation.
2nd half is Memnon. Place is big and new. We have 400 seats to fill on sunday, huh!
Entrance of Porto hall. It belongs to the university of Sapporo and it's kind of Media centrum.
'
Entrance hall. Big plasma displays everywhere-
Our setup seems so tiny in this huge space... acoustic kantele lives in the middle.
From the stage perspective. Lot of seats to fill, yes yes.
Flaming laptops. Testing our video visuals - working fine. Please note memnon branded powerbooks :)
Again using speakerbox for my stuff. This one can be electronically rised / lowered for an extra effect
Local tehnician is wondering if we really need all those gadgets to make such noise.
japanese sound tech people are very helpful and they don't carry such a cynical attitude as european colleges.
Staying in Susukino that is the entertainment centrum of Sapporo. Lots of strange girl-bars.
After booking ourselfs to a hotel went to Porto Hall to rehearse for our sundays concert there. Concert program is bit special. First half is Eva playing modern classical with acoustic kantele, and the last tune of 1st half is "icebreak" for electric kantele and a computer - composed for Memnon by fellow cncd'er Sami Järvinen. On sunday will propably be the only time we'll be playing that tune in Japan, becourse it's very long and modern and hard to fit in on any other situation.
2nd half is Memnon. Place is big and new. We have 400 seats to fill on sunday, huh!
Entrance of Porto hall. It belongs to the university of Sapporo and it's kind of Media centrum.
'
Entrance hall. Big plasma displays everywhere-
Our setup seems so tiny in this huge space... acoustic kantele lives in the middle.
From the stage perspective. Lot of seats to fill, yes yes.
Flaming laptops. Testing our video visuals - working fine. Please note memnon branded powerbooks :)
Again using speakerbox for my stuff. This one can be electronically rised / lowered for an extra effect
Local tehnician is wondering if we really need all those gadgets to make such noise.
japanese sound tech people are very helpful and they don't carry such a cynical attitude as european colleges.
Posted at 10:50 AM Read More
Tue - May 17, 2005
Memnon on the Tokyo air
Our Tokyo promoter Mr. Ohsawa just mailed me
that a radio host he knows had played our track "sekuni " on FM radio.
Probably the first on-air ever
of
Memnon piece in Japan.
yes yes yes, we are big!
Memnon piece in Japan.
yes yes yes, we are big!
Posted at 12:09 PM Read More
Mon - May 16, 2005
Pictures from Astro-Hall
Gig went well. I was surprised after the gig
when 6 different Japanese people from the audience came speaking Finnish to me
:)
Entrance and the building where Astro-Hall locates
That dotted raster on us + backround is our video visuals. Operated by the very kind 岩崎 裕和
iwasaki hirokazu, THANKS MAN!
Entrance and the building where Astro-Hall locates
That dotted raster on us + backround is our video visuals. Operated by the very kind 岩崎 裕和
iwasaki hirokazu, THANKS MAN!
Posted at 12:01 PM Read More
Sun - May 15, 2005
not first Finns on Astro-Hall's stage
At backroom wall is a large collection of
flyers from the past 5
years.
Finnish acts I could spot were Sonata Arctica and Negative :)
more namedropping:
The Donnas, Sahara Hotnights, Dee dee Ramone, Peter Hamill...
Finnish acts I could spot were Sonata Arctica and Negative :)
more namedropping:
The Donnas, Sahara Hotnights, Dee dee Ramone, Peter Hamill...
Posted at 12:33 PM Read More
Sat - May 14, 2005
Jazz brunch
On saturnday we were invited to "jazz brunch"
to embassy of Finland.
Tro Töykeät played. When Rami Eskelinen played his solo piece - Ozzy Osborne's "Paranoid" just on drums, I had to quietly sing few lines on the top for our british backing force Paul from Parole records. After he "catched it" he was very excited about this rhytmic tribute to his fellow brit Ozzy :)
Met Marita Liulia and found out that she's been spendin 2 moths in Tokyo.
http://www.maritaliulia.com/
update:
We've on embassy's calendar :)
Prime minister Vanhanen was also at the brunch - wen't to Astro-hall later on to check out Finnish Rock showcase
Tro Töykeät played. When Rami Eskelinen played his solo piece - Ozzy Osborne's "Paranoid" just on drums, I had to quietly sing few lines on the top for our british backing force Paul from Parole records. After he "catched it" he was very excited about this rhytmic tribute to his fellow brit Ozzy :)
Met Marita Liulia and found out that she's been spendin 2 moths in Tokyo.
http://www.maritaliulia.com/
update:
We've on embassy's calendar :)
Prime minister Vanhanen was also at the brunch - wen't to Astro-hall later on to check out Finnish Rock showcase
Posted at 11:03 AM Read More
green tea
Finnish music export happening went very well
- I'll update pics here later.
After the trade-show our promoter Mr. Ohsawa took us to a very nice specialized tea-shop. There we're over 100 different types of tea, all in small cans mapped by type and growing location.
Nicest thing was that you could select and taste before purchasing anything. Tried 6 different kinds - high quality stuff. The most respected kind of green tea is blended on only 60 degrees warm water and tasted suprisingly sweet. It cost like 1800 jen / 50 g, so about the street prize of cocaine :)
very unique experience.
Actually green tea is the most popular drink in Japan, topping coca cola and evian by par. It's served in bottles on all of the millions vending machines. And yes - it's the world's helthiest drink that exists. Not like "kosken korva " that we Finns prefer.
a spy camera pic of a similarf tea rack. At the original tea place that we went they especially asked not to take photos of their trade secrets... so this is different but similar
UPDATE 17.5.:
Found web page of the place we went
http://www.tea-tsu.co.jp/
there is a picture of the tea rack I was forbidden to photograph :)
After the trade-show our promoter Mr. Ohsawa took us to a very nice specialized tea-shop. There we're over 100 different types of tea, all in small cans mapped by type and growing location.
Nicest thing was that you could select and taste before purchasing anything. Tried 6 different kinds - high quality stuff. The most respected kind of green tea is blended on only 60 degrees warm water and tasted suprisingly sweet. It cost like 1800 jen / 50 g, so about the street prize of cocaine :)
very unique experience.
Actually green tea is the most popular drink in Japan, topping coca cola and evian by par. It's served in bottles on all of the millions vending machines. And yes - it's the world's helthiest drink that exists. Not like "kosken korva " that we Finns prefer.
a spy camera pic of a similarf tea rack. At the original tea place that we went they especially asked not to take photos of their trade secrets... so this is different but similar
UPDATE 17.5.:
Found web page of the place we went
http://www.tea-tsu.co.jp/
there is a picture of the tea rack I was forbidden to photograph :)
Posted at 10:36 AM Read More
Fri - May 13, 2005
Finnish music export day in Tokyo
musex info
text:
The invasion of Japan by Finnish professionals is drawing near, with Finnish Music Days In Tokyo launching on Thursday, May 12th with a metal showcase at Liquid Room. The following day, May 13th, over 20 top Finnish music companies will introduce their stables of talent in pop, rock, electronic music, world music and metal at a music trade event held at JETRO. On Saturday, May 14th Finnish rock will take centre stage at Shibuya's Astro Hall.
more info
link
The JETRO building after trade show
Our very sticky desk. Our advantage was that we we'rent heavy metal label like allmost all the others :) We also had the beautiful instrument on display (small part of Electic Kantele's lag on the right low corner)
The invasion of Japan by Finnish professionals is drawing near, with Finnish Music Days In Tokyo launching on Thursday, May 12th with a metal showcase at Liquid Room. The following day, May 13th, over 20 top Finnish music companies will introduce their stables of talent in pop, rock, electronic music, world music and metal at a music trade event held at JETRO. On Saturday, May 14th Finnish rock will take centre stage at Shibuya's Astro Hall.
more info
link
The JETRO building after trade show
Our very sticky desk. Our advantage was that we we'rent heavy metal label like allmost all the others :) We also had the beautiful instrument on display (small part of Electic Kantele's lag on the right low corner)
Posted at 09:55 AM Read More
Thu - May 12, 2005
misc links part II
Useless Japanese
inventions
http://www.technow.ca/taste_of_japan.htm
http://www.technow.ca/taste_of_japan.htm" target="NewWindow">
Sex manual from 60's
http://www.harmful.org/homedespot/newtdr/NEWtdrARCHIVE/6diary/SEXBOOK/1.html
Hello Kitty Blog
http://diary.hellokitty.ne.jp/blog/index.html
http://www.technow.ca/taste_of_japan.htm
http://www.technow.ca/taste_of_japan.htm" target="NewWindow">
Sex manual from 60's
http://www.harmful.org/homedespot/newtdr/NEWtdrARCHIVE/6diary/SEXBOOK/1.html
Hello Kitty Blog
http://diary.hellokitty.ne.jp/blog/index.html
Posted at 05:12 PM Read More
Music panel
On thursday Musex + Fimic and Finnish
Japanese institute had arranged a small "music business in Japan" panel for us
finns at the Finnish embasy. Met the fellow finlanders who are joining us at the
Finnish music export trade fair in friday. They arrived here yesterday and
jetlagging. There we're Keith Caboon/Hotwire,
Takeshi Imaizumi/Tower Records, Shiroh Kawaguchi/Creativeman and Aya Ohi/Victor
records breafing us about the state of Japanse music business, the worlds second
largest music market :)
Other Finns we're from record labels, and it was mostly business talk. Finnish Heavy Metal is very big in and we we're told this Ms. Aya Ohi is the one that picked up new-born Hanoi Rocks and Negative to Japan. Creative man is a company that promotes Hanoi gigs here, and actually Mr. Monroe and McCoy are rockig here somewhere right at the moment.
Selling music to mobile ringtones is nowdays bigger business that selling CD's. Also found out that the Tower record store in Shibuya is the worlds largest recordstore. So I'm heading there then :)
Other Finns we're from record labels, and it was mostly business talk. Finnish Heavy Metal is very big in and we we're told this Ms. Aya Ohi is the one that picked up new-born Hanoi Rocks and Negative to Japan. Creative man is a company that promotes Hanoi gigs here, and actually Mr. Monroe and McCoy are rockig here somewhere right at the moment.
Selling music to mobile ringtones is nowdays bigger business that selling CD's. Also found out that the Tower record store in Shibuya is the worlds largest recordstore. So I'm heading there then :)
Posted at 09:47 AM Read More
3D parking
As space (specially parking space) is very
limited and everybody is not happy just using their bicycles with extremelly
squeeky brakes (aargh!) this mighty system of 3 dimensional parking has had to
be invented.
System operates automatically. This thing in the picture is especially called "silent park" so I guess the mecanism that lifts the cars up does not make so terrible noise.
these things often exists just next to living premisis (as in the pic).
System operates automatically. This thing in the picture is especially called "silent park" so I guess the mecanism that lifts the cars up does not make so terrible noise.
these things often exists just next to living premisis (as in the pic).
Posted at 06:09 AM Read More
Wed - May 11, 2005
Vending nation
Around Nekotalo at Koenji I've noticed that
there is a vending machine (coin operated automat) selling drinks and cigarettes
on every street corner.
When googling at the subject, found a page where one guy has done a very good study on this. He says that there are over 5 million vending machines in Japan, with some VERY excotic articles like fresh eggs and used underwear...
check it out:
http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines/
Bubble man and Joyful vitamin inside one of the 5 000 000 vending machines offering us our daily refreshment, food, porn and 10 kg rice sacks.
When googling at the subject, found a page where one guy has done a very good study on this. He says that there are over 5 million vending machines in Japan, with some VERY excotic articles like fresh eggs and used underwear...
check it out:
http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines/
Bubble man and Joyful vitamin inside one of the 5 000 000 vending machines offering us our daily refreshment, food, porn and 10 kg rice sacks.
Posted at 08:51 AM Read More
Tue - May 10, 2005
allergy
Especially for all scandinavian homeboys (and
gals) that are used to clean air like my self I recommend buying some
antihistamine, eyedrops and nosespray + other allergy medicine in advance before
longer stay in Japan. There is plenty of dirt and exotic dust in the
air.
Usually I'm not allergic to anything, but here my nose and eyes have started to react. Only had to suffer one night before trip to medicine-store, but it's quite hard to communicate there other than inJapanese, so buy familiar stuff from home! Using eyedrops seems to be very common among the natives as are breathing masks.
Usually I'm not allergic to anything, but here my nose and eyes have started to react. Only had to suffer one night before trip to medicine-store, but it's quite hard to communicate there other than inJapanese, so buy familiar stuff from home! Using eyedrops seems to be very common among the natives as are breathing masks.
Posted at 06:42 PM Read More
Mon - May 9, 2005
BP club @ Roppongi
Met with Tom Ohsawa who is promoting us here,
and he took us to this very fine small Japanese
restaurant.
Had lots of different small dishes - wonderful! Tom told that optimal size of a Japanese restaurant is between 5 to 15 customer seats. That way the cook can be in direct communication with customers, food does not have to be mass manufactured and stored in the fridge, so everything is fresh.
After dinner went to this wonderful small club "BP" at Roppongi of Tokyo. There is space for maybe max 20 customers, and place is filled with thousands of 70's Vinyl records, and this guy in the middle (owner, I think) plays them according to customer taste. Also the wall are decorated with album covers with changing theme. Theme changes after 2 - 3 weeks and customers must try to guess what the theme actually is...
During our stay, DJ read our minds and played Kraftwerk, YMO, Brian Eno, Bowie's Low and Talking heads - so had really good time! Someone do something like this in Helsinki, please!
Mr Ohsawa on the left
Had lots of different small dishes - wonderful! Tom told that optimal size of a Japanese restaurant is between 5 to 15 customer seats. That way the cook can be in direct communication with customers, food does not have to be mass manufactured and stored in the fridge, so everything is fresh.
After dinner went to this wonderful small club "BP" at Roppongi of Tokyo. There is space for maybe max 20 customers, and place is filled with thousands of 70's Vinyl records, and this guy in the middle (owner, I think) plays them according to customer taste. Also the wall are decorated with album covers with changing theme. Theme changes after 2 - 3 weeks and customers must try to guess what the theme actually is...
During our stay, DJ read our minds and played Kraftwerk, YMO, Brian Eno, Bowie's Low and Talking heads - so had really good time! Someone do something like this in Helsinki, please!
Mr Ohsawa on the left
Posted at 07:58 PM Read More
Astro Hall
Went to Shibuya to hang around and check our
sunday's venue "Astro hall
"
Those aluminium PAR lights give a little 80's impression, but let's not let that bother us.
Seems very good! Also lot of foreing (non-asian) people and nice looking punks around in Shibuya.
Very diverse people compared to little what we've seen in other parts of the city.
PA is very good quality, specially for venue this size. For you tech geeks out there:
Meyer Sound MSL-4 main speaker high x 4
Meyer Sound 650P main speaker low x 4
Meyer Sound UPA-1P main sub speaker x 2
YAMAHA PM-3500/40C main console
Sound craft SM-12/40ch monitor console
quite decent, I'd say?
Entry
yes yes, there we are in the posters and everything!
Those aluminium PAR lights give a little 80's impression, but let's not let that bother us.
Seems very good! Also lot of foreing (non-asian) people and nice looking punks around in Shibuya.
Very diverse people compared to little what we've seen in other parts of the city.
PA is very good quality, specially for venue this size. For you tech geeks out there:
Meyer Sound MSL-4 main speaker high x 4
Meyer Sound 650P main speaker low x 4
Meyer Sound UPA-1P main sub speaker x 2
YAMAHA PM-3500/40C main console
Sound craft SM-12/40ch monitor console
quite decent, I'd say?
Entry
yes yes, there we are in the posters and everything!
Posted at 07:49 PM Read More
T-shirt engrish of the day
"there may be it to be somewhat good today."
i agree.. Gland that the nice lady didn't mind me focusing with macro-object. As a scandinavian I've been forgiven my odd behaviour, yes?
Btw. those who haven't, check this out: www.engrish.com
Posted at 07:42 PM Read More
Oh' wireless joy!
Found a new working WLAN hotspot just 50 m
away from Nekotalo.
I must have been looking migty stupid walking slowly with my laptop open middle of night, just trying to find the sweetspot where is a good signal, but yes - I did! You might ask why I'm not using a small Wlan detector keyring .etc ? well - havent found one yet that would show is wlan is open on
crypted, and crypted = closed wlans are practically everywhere.
Wonder what all these broadband data-signals bounching around everywhere are really doing to our brains... ?
I must have been looking migty stupid walking slowly with my laptop open middle of night, just trying to find the sweetspot where is a good signal, but yes - I did! You might ask why I'm not using a small Wlan detector keyring .etc ? well - havent found one yet that would show is wlan is open on
crypted, and crypted = closed wlans are practically everywhere.
Wonder what all these broadband data-signals bounching around everywhere are really doing to our brains... ?
Posted at 07:36 PM Read More
Misc nippon links
Japanese truck tuning
http://homepage2.nifty.com/ztath/starthp/subpage11.html
Rock gardens
http://phototravels.net/japan/photo-gallery/japanese-rock-gardens.html
Abandonned Japanese buildings
http://home.f01.itscom.net/spiral/research.html
Posted at 09:56 AM Read More
Sun - May 8, 2005
m e m n o n info in Japanese - just coz' it looks so cool
Memnonはフィンランドの…¥≤Œ楽器°uカンテレ」を演奏するEva
Alkula（エヴァ·アルクラ）とサウンド·デザイナー
Ville Hyvonen
(ヴィレ·ヒュヴェネン）の二人からなる実験的なデュオ·ユニットです。「伝統楽器と現代のデザイン」、「クラシカルな演奏技術と現代のエレクトロニクス」、「アカデミックな音楽と実験的な音楽」、そして「作曲とサウンド·デザイン」のそれぞれの間をつなぎ、或いは衝突させることが彼等の意図しているところです。浮遊感のある、フィンランドらしい音空間を作っていますが、言葉では説明し尽せないので、曲のサンプルをお聞き下さい。
photo: Tuula Vehanen
read more ---->>>>
photo: Tuula Vehanen
read more ---->>>>
Posted at 10:06 AM Read More
Sat - May 7, 2005
Jazz at Kamakura
After checking out the surfers, we were literally drawn into a 12 m2 sized jazzclub.
5 people working at the bar, a trio playing jazz standards from fakebooks and
8 customers, including us. Place was full. Enjoyed a tea and one tune of
thelonious Monk and left. Nice experience.
Posted at 07:22 PM Read More
Surfers at Kamakura
Surfbike and the pasific
ocean
Kamakura is the old capital of Japan, about 1 hour train trip from Tokyo.
Pictures taken around sunset @ 19.30
Kamakura is the old capital of Japan, about 1 hour train trip from Tokyo.
Pictures taken around sunset @ 19.30
Posted at 06:39 PM Read More
first earthquake
At around 5:00 AM experienced first
earthquake in Japan. Just a little rumble
and
shake for 10 seconds. No any damage mentioned in the news.
shake for 10 seconds. No any damage mentioned in the news.
Posted at 08:52 AM Read More
Day off at Kyoto
On friday good tourist went to see the golden
temple...
and Zen garden
and Zen garden
Posted at 08:50 AM Read More
Classical Kantele
Eva had an classical Kantele concert on
thursday
Quite many Memnon CD's were sold also. Kantele fan ladies will
wonder what hit them when they listen the remix section...
Quite many Memnon CD's were sold also. Kantele fan ladies will
wonder what hit them when they listen the remix section...
Posted at 08:46 AM Read More
Fri - May 6, 2005
A toy is given and immidiatelly taken away
Last night I opened my powerbook on the tatami of Nekotalo, and to my surprise
it found open WLAN network! Yeah! no need to walk 10 minutes near Koenji -station
to get online, THIS ROCKS! checked my mail and went asleep. At the mornig it was
gone...
Surprisingly few free hotspots in Tokyo compared to other big cities. All I have been using
for now don't seem to belong to anyone...
Posted at 03:40 PM Read More
Thu - May 5, 2005
m e m n o n @ Tokyo on 15 th of May
MODERN FINNISH KANTELE MUSIC AT
TOKYO!
m e m n o n is an experimental music duo of kantele player Eva Alkula and
sound designer Ville Hyvönen.
m e m n o n will perform on sunday may 15 th at Astro Hall, Harajuku, Tokyo
http://www.astro-hall.com/
m e m n o n starts on 20:30 and the set is about one hour.
Read more...
m e m n o n is an experimental music duo of kantele player Eva Alkula and
sound designer Ville Hyvönen.
m e m n o n will perform on sunday may 15 th at Astro Hall, Harajuku, Tokyo
http://www.astro-hall.com/
m e m n o n starts on 20:30 and the set is about one hour.
Read more...
Posted at 12:12 PM Read More
click click click
Iphone is allready here
Linux gets pissed
Cat love robot. Robot can not love back.
Posted at 12:08 PM Read More
Wed - May 4, 2005
Integrated showertoilet
Totally seamless integrated "just install" instant showertoilet facility
thing designed and made by the happy people of Yamaha corporation.
@nekotalo
Posted at 10:38 AM Read More
Tue - May 3, 2005
SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE
Architect Toyo Ito
www.smt.jp
Eero Aarnio -style reception sausage
Umbrella locking system
Floor guides
Nintendo chair - these green-white furniture designed by Ross Lovegrove
Another nintendo chair to people with small butt
Nice neon lights and one of the 7 "honeycomb" slabs that
hold the place.
DVD viewing station
Nanso -chair... ?
View inside
Posted at 10:24 AM Read More
Mon - May 2, 2005
Dirty details from the lavatory!
This is a classic shot I guess - Wireless operating panel of a Japanese toilet.
No other way to flush!
There is volume control and selection of bacround sounds and music, bidee, buttwarmer and few
flus variations + extra.
It gave and warning signal and flushed by itself while I was taking this pic, so It must have an
interval timer if some foreing punks can't read the istructions...
Photo is from "Bar Eva" - had a very good dinner there after the gig. Ate takenoko wich is fresh bamboo. Tastes like quite nothing else.
Posted at 10:01 PM Read More
ramdom pictures of monday
What do cat and dog do there
excactly?
"We sell booze"
"We sell booze"
Posted at 09:47 PM Read More
Basement theatre -club
Entry of the place
Inside
Mari, who arranged everything here. big kiitos!
Gig went OK. Had some techical issues that made some clicks and made me nervous. Did a soundcheck in a little too hurry and forget to check this and that. Some 70 people bought the ticket, place holds around 85 so quite good!
More proper gig pictures coming later.
I fitted my modest setup in a speaker box.
Korg Kaospad II, Peavey PCx-1600, motu 828mkII and 12"powerbook
running logic+reaktor+reason.
Posted at 09:46 PM Read More
Mountains of Sendai
This is something we don't have back home. Still
some snow at the
top.
Posted at 09:42 PM Read More
Sun - May 1, 2005
staying in Sendai
Just came back from checking tomorrows venue
"basement theater". Seems very promising - Intimate place, just around 100 seats
around tables, and allready 65 tickets sold in advance. Our 100v > 230v power
adapter seems to work and people are very very
helpful.
Staying with a friend at very nice scandinavian-style apartment designed by her late husband
Staying with a friend at very nice scandinavian-style apartment designed by her late husband
Posted at 07:04 PM Read More
Bullet train to Sendai
... just as we we're finished carrying our 50 kg
of luggage to Nekotalo, have to get jetlagging to Sendai which is 2 hours away.
Some like million people live there - even if you have never heard of the place
Few train accidents here reacently have been becourse of overspeeding over-punctual train drivers wanting to keep timetable precise.
Few train accidents here reacently have been becourse of overspeeding over-punctual train drivers wanting to keep timetable precise.
Posted at 06:59 PM Read More
... and wich traing went to where now?
Understanding Kana + Kanji really helps to get around
Posted at 06:54 PM Read More
accomondation at Nekotalo
In Tokyoa we are living in a place called "Nekotalo" = cat house, near Koenji train station.
Not posh in any means - but very cozy - and impossible to beat the prize! For Finns only, sorry! www.nekotalo.com
Posted at 08:48 AM Read More
welcome
Our luggage attracted some attention by it's personal shapes.
What's inside? Surfboard?
Posted at 08:42 AM Read More
Sat - April 30, 2005
on the air tonight
Asiatic vegetarian meal by
Finnair.
Cute detail is the round red foil thing on left. Traditional Finnish candy that was called "negros kiss" but for obvioius reasons changed to "chocolade kiss" by the time Finland joined the EU.
Pleace note properly placed powerbook.
Cute detail is the round red foil thing on left. Traditional Finnish candy that was called "negros kiss" but for obvioius reasons changed to "chocolade kiss" by the time Finland joined the EU.
Pleace note properly placed powerbook.
Posted at 09:17 PM Read More
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Published On: Jul 24, 2005 11:30 PM
Published On: Jul 24, 2005 11:30 PM