FEBRUARY 2022

Chirashi sushi with a variety of ingredients

February 2022

Feb. 26 Fine

Spring is just around the corner with temperature around at 13 in Tokyo.

 

We walked around Azabu to Roppongi and stopped by Muse Tomo where Kikuchi Biennale IX ~ The Ceramic Art of the Present ~ is being held through March21, 2022.

 

The exhibition’s 54 ceramic works were selected by a panel of judges in two screenings from 279 submissions, naming one Grand Prize, one Award for excellence, three Encouraging prize and twenty-four were selected for the exhibitions. Takeshi Ikura awarded Grand Prize and Kosei Umemoto awarded Award for excellence.

 

It is amazing to see how potters brings to the craft an infinite range of expression in terms of form as well as color, material and texture. Lovers of contemporary ceramics shouldn’t miss this opportunity.


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Muse Tomo

Nishikubo bldg., 4-1-35 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

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Feb 10:  A week has passed since the Beijing Olympic Games started.  We are excited  at watching excellent performances by Japanese athletes.  Today is Constitution Day, a national holiday.  The blue sky stretched out as far as I can see, but cold weather will be back again.


"SUIREN" is a Kyoto cuisine restaurant based in Miyagawa-cho,  Kyoto and their Tokyo restaurant is in Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi. It was a quiet and comfortable place in spite of its location in the city.  

"SUIREN" (water lily) means that it is like water that flows uninterrupted.  SUIREN offers authentic Kyoto cuisine to create a feeling of the season and their cuisines feast our eyes.


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SUIREN TOKYO MIDTOWN

3floor, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Telephone: 03-5413-1881

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Feb.7: Former Tokyo Governor and author, Shintaro Ishihara passed away last week. As a nationalistic politician, he remained steadfast about what he believes in how Japan should be in terms of national security and diplomacy.  As a Tokyo Governor, he is credited with his several achievements, such as environmental restriction for diesel-powered vehicles and Tokyo Marathon. He dressed stylishly and had a detailed knowledge of literature and art, a rare person in his generation.  We often saw him walking around or jogging Denenchofu, but not recently.  We’d like to extend our sincerest condolences.  

PICASSO “The Mediterranean: Enjoying the Mythical World” is being held at YOKU MOKU Museum until September 25, 2022.

 

Picasso demonstrates his artistic talent to the fullest even in the ceramics. 


When Picasso visited the southern French town of Vallauris after achieving success as a painter in Paris, during WWII, he discovered a new mode of expression through the making of ceramics. 


This town still preserved a history of pottery production dating back to ancient Roman times. The motifs that are visible in his ceramic works were adapted from animals and sea creatures of the Mediterranean worlds.

 

YOKU MUKU is a manufacturer of Western-style confectionary whose Cigare cookies are its signature product. Mr. Toshiyasu Fujisawa, the chairman of YOKU MOKU Holdings as well as the museum director, has spent more than 30 years building up collection of ceramic and other works by Picasso.


The museum houses exhibition rooms on the basement and 2nd floor, and cafe and shop on the 1st floor.  They also offer unique educational program applying art therapy.


Reservation required in advance.

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YOKU MOKU MUSEUM

6-15-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Telephone: 03-3486-8000
Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station Exhit B1, 9 min. on foot

Open: 10:00 - 17:00
Closed on Mondays

Adult: Yen1,200
Students: Yen800
Children: Free