The persimmon, a lovely symbol of fall

In a nutshell, they act as toggles (fasteners), used to secure a purse or container suspended on a cord from the sash of a robe.  The museum’s labels explain:

An inro (literally “seal casket”) is a small tiered container that a man would suspend from the sash of his kimono on a silk cord. A netsuke threaded onto this cord would serve as a toggle, and a movable bead (ojime) would keep the inro closed. Inro were used not only to hold seals (sometimes called “chops”)—which function in East Asian cultures in much the same way signatures do in the West—but also to hold other small items such as medicines.

Many of our netsuke take on all manner of subjects:  flora and fauna, daily life, objects, people, and more, all ranging from charming and whimsical to hyper-realistic and creepy. They are truly a sight to behold, a must see in our Japanese galleries. To glimpse some, you can search our online collection here.

Since I love food and I love netsuke, and for many, Thanksgiving is about feasting, here are some netsuke of the food persuasion. Please enjoy, and tell us — which ones do you like? (I saved one of the absolute best for last) Have you seen our netsuke before? If so, did you have favorite?

I’d like to share my pictures from the Shanghai Municipal History Museum. It’s located in Pudong, on the less “interesting” side of the Huangpu River (more developed, boring), in the basement of the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

The museum’s name, though bland, is self-explanatory. I didn’t know what to expect, but it left an indelible impression. I loved it! Some people frown upon dioramas, perhaps because the worst kinds forsake content, quality, and depth for spectacle and cheap thrills, and they tend to be hokey. True in many cases, but not so for this particular museum. I can’t vouch for its scholarship, and maybe I’m just lazy, but I learned a lot about the rich history of Shanghai from the  amazing, elaborate, impressive dioramas.

Half the time I wore a huge childlike smile, taken by the clever methods used to tell a grand story. A lot of ground was covered in Shanghai’s tumultuous history, and the many ugly realities weren’t sugarcoated. They used frighteningly realistic figures, miniature cardboard cut-outs of real people, photo backdrops, music and ambient sounds, video installs, etc. Sure, I’ll admit, there was a teeny bit of cheesiness, but in the best way possible. Who doesn’t love a bit of cheese? (and if you want pure chintz, the Shanghai Sex Museum is around the corner from this one).

What do you think? Are dioramas ever okay in museums? Can exhibits be too immersive? What are some fine examples of terrific diorama museums? (I’ll chime in: the War Memorial of Korea has some).

And now, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves:

Clearly, this isn’t us. It’s another Asian Art Museum, tucked away in Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul. I was delighted to find another “Asian Art Museum” on my travels! Didn’t go in, but it seemed like a humble gallery in someone’s home.

Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the greatest, magical must-sees in Seoul. A historical neighborhood that climbs into the hills, it’s lined with hanok, (traditional Korean homes), galleries, cafes, and darling little boutiques here and there. Interestingly enough, some wealthy people now are having homes built modeled after hanok. And who could blame them? They are beautiful and pristine, truly a sight to behold. When you descend out the other side of the village, there are even more galleries, homes, cafes, and such. An exploring walker’s paradise.

The village is walking distance to the Blue House (for its blue tiles). You know, like the White House. Hence the security.

And since we’re talking about Seoul, I wanted to add that Chuseok — Korea’s major harvest festival and three-day holiday — was on October 3. Please let us know in the comments section if you celebrated, and how. We have our own Chuseok celebration this Sunday, perfect for the family!

NEW PEOPLE is the country’s first center dedicated exclusively to all things “Jpop” (as in Japanese popular culture, and not strictly Japanese pop music). Launched by the founder / CEO of VIZ Pictures and VIZ Media (manga and anime powerhouse), NEW PEOPLE houses a cinema, gallery, shop, food court (featuring local favorites Delica and Blue Bottle Coffee), boutiques specializing in subculture fashions (be it “Gothic Lolita” or the over-accessorized, rainbow palette of Harajuku).

Here’s a perfect example of “if you build it, they will come.” NEW PEOPLE opened with fanfare. Healthy amounts of like-minded but incredibly diverse people — all clamoring for their youth (sub)culture fix — waited in line to experience this “authentic” slice of Tokyo right in the middle of Japantown. I’ve never seen so many “lolitas” and “kawaii” gals. They flew out celebrity artist Yoshitaka Amano (most known for Final Fantasy artwork) to debut his latest works, and indie comic fave Yuichi Yokoyama (who did a live painting). There was also a lively red carpet movie premiere of 20th Century Boys, based on the manga.

As for the museum, we (including our samurai ambassador) handed out materials to the public, said hi to familiar faces, and had a great time. Couldn’t have asked for better weather.

I for one, am personally excited since this all resonates with my interests. But whatever your cup of tea may be, one can’t help but find this latest venture a fascinating one. It’s a bit of a cultural phenomenon, and a genuine effort on NEW PEOPLE’s part to foster the appreciation, preservation, and exposure of Jpop culture among the Bay Area. In addition, I’ve heard many say that this is exactly what Japantown needs, an infusion of energy and excitement. Some hope that NEW PEOPLE can help revitalize the beautiful but sometimes worrisome quiet of this charming community-minded neighborhood (also our neighbor).

Please click here for scenes from the day.

Have you been to NEW PEOPLE yet? Are you interested in going? Do you think this will bring some pep to Japantown? We’re curious to hear your thoughts.

The Criterion DVD box description reads:

…a delicate, devastating study of a woman who works as a bar hostess in Tokyo’s very modern postwar Ginza district, entertaining businessmen after work. Sly, resourceful, but trapped, Keiko comes to embody the conflicts and struggles of a woman trying to establish her independence in a male-dominated society.

This is an attractive, heartbreaking film featuring the captivating and caged Hideko Takamine as the heroine Keiko, and Tatsuya Nakadai, the cool, calm, and collected bar manager who is secretly in love with her. A story about a woman living a life of quiet desperation, it’s undramatically tragic.  Definitely worth watching, if for nothing else than the costume design and overall Japan aesthetic of the time.

And speaking of Tatsuya Nakadai, the prolific actor with large eyes and a chiseled visage, you can watch him in Kill! (Kiru) as part of the museum’s Sixties Swordplay film series on Target Sunday, August 2. If he looks familiar, it’s because he’s been in countless notable films.

He even played the aging, ruined warlord in the epic Ran!

Come check out the samurai films on Sunday, August 2. Also, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is available at the SF Main Library, right next door to the museum!

In the “sculpture garden,” there were lots of entities created from all sorts of found objects and urban junk. There was even a samurai:

Here’s another sculpture (“tortured witch,” I like to call it):

If you’re curious, you can see more photos here. As a perpetually shifting landscape, it probably warrants periodical visits. Your dog will thank you too.

Have you seen any interesting “Asian”-esque outdoor art recently?

Are you ready? Here we go…

Though the final products have strayed from the original storyboards, the overall take away message remains and echoes a major theme of Lords of the Samurai: there’s more to samurai than you think.

The star samurai is none other than our very own “Kenji,” the museum’s school programs associate.

We hope you enjoy! If you dig them, then please help spread the word and share the love. Let us know what you think. We love comments / feedback!

A special shout out goes to Sean Dana / 7G Productions, for realizing our vision on limited resources. His wicked sense of humor was right in line with our intended hamminess, and he’s super-creative!

Approaching the banner for our recently de-installed Bhutan exhibition

Rolling it up

Putting up the new one

Voila!
(beep beep beep reversing truck alert in my head)

And here’s another one just down the street. Note the different armor

May Target Sunday (our monthly free day) at the museum, around 4pm or so. Our very special guests, Lopen Netem and Lopen Gyem, are monks from Bhutan who have been here since February to protect the sacred artworks in The Dragon’s Gift. Throughout the run of the exhibition, visitors have been privy to their daily purification rituals for the objects, as part of our artists-in-residency program, AsiaAlive.

Here, the charming monks have attracted quite an inquisitive crowd of diverse folks, demonstrating the stirring sounds of an instrument (sorry, I don’t know its name!). The infectious energy, folks’ curiosity, and monks’ sweet smiles of sharing and pride all make for a somewhat poignant moment.

And some photos:

If you’re around, come by and say “Kuzu zampo” (hello!) to our special guests. The show closes on May 10.