Archives for posts with tag: Japan

Yasujiro Ozu: Good morning…

January 11, 10 //
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Tonight was our next film in the fantastic Yasujiro Ozu season at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. Again tonight’s film was a new one for us, and somewhat unexpected after the serious nature of the Ozu films that we have seen. “Ohayo…” (Good morning…) was a beautifully realistic slice of Japanese life, set in and around the breakfast tables of shoulder-to-shoulder suburban family homes. Very funny (fart jokes abound, I’m not kidding!) and telling (the nosy neighbors with nothing better to gossip about), this tail follows the antics of two young brothers up to mischief. It’s a great film, but desperate for some restoration love!

More over at the BiteSizedJapan blog…

PS: Nachos and IPA at the Filmhouse bar = love.

Scottish Japanese Community

October 31, 09 //
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Over the last few weeks we’ve been following the Nagisa Oshima retrospective at the Filmhouse here in Edinburgh. We bumped into Atsuko Betchaku who was there to organise a film discussion group, and after the film we had an interesting chat.

Atsuko is also in the process of putting together of the Japanese Institute of Scotland. The proposed Institute shares many of the goals of Bite Sized Japan. While the focus of the Institute is focused on Scotland (where BSJ is based) I’m hoping that in the future we’re going to be able to work together on local events (such as a filmgroup). To quote their web site:

Two Purposes of the Japanese Institute of Scotland:

スコットランド日本会館の二つの目的

  • Assist to create the environment where Japanese population can live with ease in the local community as members of multicultural society of Scotland 日本人がスコットランドの多文化社会の一員として地元コミュニティの中で、安心して暮らせるような環境を 創る支援をすること。

  • Spread information about Japan and culture related to Japan in Scotland

スコットランドにおいて、日本についての情報、日本に関する文化を広めること。

Pose

October 7, 09 //
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The Vixen put together some new poses! We’re getting there. Once we have Kameko’s look finally figured out, we’ll be creating the rest of her family.

Bemused Kammy-chan

Bemused Kammy-chan

We're not done yet...

We're not done yet...

These are still prototypes… here are a few other sketches from dear Chino:

More sketches from Chino

More sketches from Chino

I really liked the “long hair” Kam, but I think we’ll maybe use this design for her sister.

Character design

October 5, 09 //
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Over the months (years?) that BiteSizedJapan has been bumping around between people there have been many, many designs for the magazine layout, the technology behind it, even the music! But by far the hardest part of the entire design has been our hostess! Kameko has gone through many generations, and as we get closer to nailing the final designs, my dear new friend Chino in Japan smacked us with a twist on our Kameko character… and we just love her!

Chino's "Kameko remix" (Isn't she cute?)

Chino's "Kameko remix" (Isn't she cute?)

Original Kameko design

Original Kameko design

This has given us a bit of a kick in the pants, and we’re going to be spending the next week or so actually sitting down to finish all the character illustrations.

Big thanks to Chino!