Just back from Kyoto, where my husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi taught an intensive course for the Doshisha Business School's Global MBA students. Great atmosphere thanks to the wonderful students from ten nations. I learnt so much! Thanks, everyone and especially, Morinosuke!
Short intro: Doshisha Business School welcomes Morinosuke Kawaguchi
Mata ne!
JK

Hi Friends:

Lots of new videos on Japanese subculture and cool gadgets are on our YouTube channel JapanTechLessons Pls check!
Some are by Polish video-blogger and Japan fan,MrJedi, with whom we met last year in Tokyo. He filmed our informal tempura soba dinner and barhopping and now you can join the party by watching the 5 short videos! My husband Morinosuke Kawaguchi opened our treasure box and explained some of our favorite Japanese gadgets. Pls check the videos in English with Polish subtitles! So cool!
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Treasure Box-special 2, part 1
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Treasure Box --special 2, part 2
Tokyo Tempura Dinner: with Judit & Morinosuke Kawaguchi :: 01 :: part 01
Tokyo Tempura Dinner: with Judit & Morinosuke Kawaguchi :: special 01 :: part 02
Tokyo Tempura Dinner: with Judit & Morinosuke Kawaguchi :: special 01 :: part 03
Here is the blog post in Polish: Thanks Pawel san! Can't wait to see you again!
Pawel MrJedi Musialowski's blog on Morinosuke Kawaguchi and me

And always check our website morinoske for new info on subculture, design, innovation and our favorite gadgets!
Also new videos from our lecture tour to Spain:
Morinosuke Kawaguchi lecturing at ELISAVA Design School, Barcelona
Thanks
xoxoxJK

Today is 3/11/2012. One year after the Tohoku quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. Thank you for your support and love in the past year. We all felt it--even those who departed so suddenly. Thank you.

Our Fukushima Project Japan's first and only crowd-funded investigative report into the nuclear disaster has been published, thanks to the over 3000 individuals who supported it. Thank you!
Please watch our videos in English on TEPCO'S criminal error and the media's responsibility in the enormous damage to Japan and the world. Thanks for watching and sharing:
Video in English: Morinosuke Kawaguchi on the media's responsibility
Video in English: Professor Eiichi Yamaguchi on TEPCO's criminal error
Thanks
JK

Hi Friends!
Minna genki? Busy, right? Our fun, short videos on Japanese innovation and subculture will sure to refresh your mind and soul! Only 1 or 2 minutes so tune in now!
Do you know my love and husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi ? Here is a 1 minute 18 second video on Who is Morinosuke Kawaguchi?
Another short & fun video of Morinosuke Kawaguchi where he
shares his Brilliant ideas on how a mobile phone can be more fun to use
Thanks to the Office of Science and Innovation at the Embassy of Sweden in Japan and the Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis for inviting Morinosuke Kawaguchi to talk and for this great video.

And the 3rd video was filmed in a Shibuya club where Morinosuke talked about subculture with Puti Puti Ambassador Ayaka Sugiyama chan. Video of Morinosuke Kawaguchi and Kawakami Industries' Ayaka Sugiyama about subculture 2minutes and 55 seconds of pure fun aboutDoraemon and more Japanese subculture!
Thanks for sharing and pls bookmark our website Morinoske as we are revamping it and looking forward to your visit there, too!
Hope you join me on Facebook, too: Judit Kawaguchi
Thanks!
JK

Working hard on some amazing designs. More soon! JK

Happy 2012! I hope this year is MUCH BETTER FOR ALL OF US! My keywords for the year are: flexibility, discipline and guts. And yours? xoxoxJK

Hi Friends:

Would you like to know the TRUTH about the Fukushima nuclear disaster? If anyone lied to the public, who was it and exactly when and why did they lie? What did really happen at the Fukushima nuclear power plant? You wanna know the TRUTH, right? Then please support the Fukushima Project . Like it on Facebook, pls! Fukushima Project on Facebook
This is Japan's first crowd-funded book about the tragic events at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Why crowd-funded? Because to tell the truth, it has to be!
Please read about the project and support it by donating money--small change is great, too! Books need to be printed and funds are short! The 504 page report is ready and will be available on Amazon for only 900 yen, a lot less than its printing cost, thanks to your donations! We would like many people to read it ! Please share info about the Fukushima Project with others and pls alert media outlets to interview the brave writers. We also need volunteer translators. All helps! Thanks.
My husband Morinosuke Kawaguchi is one of the writers who volunteered his time and energy to this worthy cause. I'm so proud of him. The other writers are experts of the nuclear industry and their investigation is digging very deep into the Fukushima nuclear disaster and TEPCO's handling of it. Connect to Morinosuke Kawaguchi on Facebook
This grassroots effort needs to bloom and you can make it happen by supporting it. Thanks
Connect to Judit Kawaguchi on Facebook where I add articles and more info! Thanks
xoxoxJK

Just back from a lecture tour of Spain and the UK where my love, Morinosuke Kawaguchi whom some of you already know from his funny TEDxTokyo Toilet Talk, gave brilliant presentations at universities and Asia Geek events on his book, Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subculturist's Guide to Technology and Design
Go Geeky-Girly! xoxoxJK

We all have some fantastic women in our lives. We love them! We cherish our moms, grandmas, teachers, friends and relatives. We love and appreciate our neighbors & coworkers. We like the woman we buy our groceries from and the cashier who rings up the sale. Now is the time to show we care about them by bringing their attention to the fact that October is breast cancer awareness month.

Wearing a pink ribbon is a reminder of that and it might be a good trigger for striking up a conversation about the topic. Then we can encourage them to get a breast cancer exam. Men & women, let's make sure that all the women in our life get a breast exam this month or at least reserve one for the next. Some men also get breast cancer so doing self exam is a good idea and consulting a doctor is, also.

I am passionate about this topic as I lost someone I loved very much, to breast cancer. Tragically, no doctor could save her. I promised that I would do something so fewer women would die of breast cancer. One is way to talk openly and often about breast cancer awareness with everyone because silence is not helping. Many women get breast cancer and the longer it goes undetected, the more likely that it might be too late. Often it takes years of suffering before they succumb to the disease and die. This is what happened to my wonderful mentor and friend, whom I adored. I miss her. If we can prevent another death, let's do it. The way is simple:

All women need to get a breast ultrasound as it might save their life. Ultrasounds are painless, quick and can detect some abnormalities. They are recommended for women of all ages, but they are especially fit for younger women in their 20's, 30's. Mammograms are also recommended, especially for women in their mid 40's and upwards. I think it is our duty as family, friends and acquaintances to encourage them to go for one. And of course, we must be the first one to go. I did today. I had a mammogram and a breast ultrasound. Hope I am OK!

The doctor told me that while in the USA women in and after menopause have a higher rate of breast cancer, in Japan, there is a huge increase of breast cancer among women who still have their periods. Japanese women in their thirties and forties are falling victim to breast cancer. Even more reason to talk about this topic with them! Ask, recommend, invite and treat women in your life to a breast ultrasound as it can be the first step to survival. Now is the time! The test might not feel good but having it done does!

And while you're talking and walking to the clinic, make an appointment for a Pap-smear, too. A Pap-smear is a test for uterine cancer. It is quick, simple and painless so go for it. Again, it can save lives! Because when a woman dies of uterine cancer, the family and friends also die in some sense...cancer kills more than one person. Don't let it be the person you love. Don't let it be you. Once again, early-stage uterine cancer survival rates are excellent so catching it quickly is crucial. Yearly tests are in order.

I had my first Pap-smear in my teens as my mom, an OB-GYN has seen plenty of young women with uterine cancer. Some died. And women don't need to die as a woman with an early stage cancer has a much better chance for survival.

Thanks for reading my interview with Doctor Hiroko Tsunoda-Shimizu, Director of the Department of Radiology at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo. A great woman working hard to save lives.
Let's make sure she has less work, except for routine tests that come back negative.

Show your love with action! Reserve your breast cancer and uterine cancer tests tomorrow. No, TODAY!!! Thank you! xoxoxJK

We are building our website Morinoske
We create subculture-inspired geeky-girly innovation in technology and design. Hope you like us! Pls support us by clicking the like button on all our pages! Thanks
Our books fanpage on Facebook
Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subculturist's Guide to Technology and Design
Geeky-Girly Innovation
Morinoske
Morinosuke Kawaguchi
Judit Kawaguchi on Facebook
Thanks ! JK

I'll B @ 'Up All Night' Programme on BBC Radio 5 live today @ 12:35 PM Tokyo time so in @ 4.5 hours: Pls tune in here! I'll talk about Japanese nuclear policy and more!
BBC Radio website

Hi Everyone:

Mariko Bando sensei has many fans. Yes, I'm one of them and I think you'll know why once you read
My interview with Mariko Bando sensei

I was at two of her public speaking engagements recently and this lady packs in the crowds. The auditorium at Nikkei Hall was full of her main audience: women of all ages. They clearly admire her and many were taking notes during her speech, something I rarely see at lectures. Bando sensei's funny and smart so she received many laughs and a big applause.

On a Wednesday night at Maruzen Oazu bookstore in Marunouchi, near Tokyo station, men and women in business suits rushed in to hear her talk. Bando sensei is a brilliant speaker, just like she is a brilliant person: never taking herself too seriously, yet paying lots of attention to others. Her fans made a beeline for her autograph, and she shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with each one. She might consider herself a simple worker but she is beloved like a Queen !


I took this photo of her in her room at Showa Women's University This university in Sangenjaya, near Shibuya, was established by the Hitomi family based on the ideas of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, the Russian novelist and philosopher. In a nutshell: have compassion, study and work hard, and always help others!

Bando sensei is the perfect president because this is exactly how she lives her life. She's an inspiration because she proves that one can be nice and also very successful. Of course, she is super-smart and hardworking, too. As Bando sensei would say, live your life with dignity and everything will work out fine.

So everyone, ganbarimashou!
JK

Japanese innovator and technologist --and love-love husband!--Morinosuke Kawaguchi has a lecture in Ebisu on September 1st, from 18:30-20:20 PM.
Hope to see U all there! Topic: Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subculturist's Guide to Technology and Design

Link to the lecture is here, only in Japanese: Morinosuke Kawaguchi lecture info for September 1st

Hope to see U all there!!! JK

My husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi on NHK TV's new show セカイでニホンGO! Sekai de Nihon GO!
The whole show is uploaded here, MK is on from 30 minutes, talking @ puti-puti, the bubble wrap, and the added value of products. FUN!
NHK TV's Sekai de Nihon GO!
Pls check blog entry below for more! Thanks
JK

My husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi, whom many of you already know from his Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Toilet Talk @ TEDxTokyo (in Japanese) and Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Toilet Talk @ TEDxTokyo in English is on the cover of the Tokyo Weekender magazine.
Tokyo Weekender magazine cover with iGeek Morinosuke Kawaguchi
Thanks to Stephen Parker for the brilliant interview and article and to Jake Hodgkinson for the fab pics! Very geeky and fun!
Here is the whole article & don't forget to check out MK's gadgets! iGeek, an interview with technologist Morinosuke Kawaguchi

Another great article is by Fernando Ramos san who came to Morinosuke Kawaguchi's lecture @ DIJ, the German Institute of Japanese Studies in Tokyo and wrote this wonderful piece for Otaku USA magazine. Thanks, Ramos san!
Notes from Nippon: Method to Moe


ALSO*****set your TV to June 21st, 20:00 hour, NHK sougou, as Morinosuke Kawaguchi will be ON!
This new TV show, called セカイでニホンGO and MK will be sharing his ideas @ the direction Japanese brands must GO GO GO to REACH THEIR GOALS!
Thanks! xoxox
JK

Monday, June 13th, hope to see you all at our fantastic lecture at the German Institute of Japanese Studies
My husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi will be talking about Geeky-Girly Innovation and you would not wanna miss his genius presentation.
Hope to see you all there, pls register asap!
Mata ne! JK

May 14th is my birthday! I'm so thankful to be alive, genki, happy and surrounded by so many wonderful people. Thank you for your support and love!
xoxox

Judit

Thanks for stopping by!
Check out our new videos on JapanTechLessons Most are in English, a few in Japanese, all are great fun! Also, pls scroll down here a bit to read the summaries of our two books and to see some shots of itasha!
Thanks! xoxox Judit

I hope to see you this Saturday at Gokokuji Temple, Tokyo!

Special Prayer Meeting for victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami

Tibet House Japan is organizing a special prayer gathering at Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo. This prayer is for the victims of the recent natural disaster in North-Eastern Japan and to console the relatives of those victims. We hope to encourage people, to lift their spirits and to show them solidarity so that the nation is not thrown into depression.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently said that as a monk used to reciting the Heart Sutra prayer everyday, he recommends Japanese Buddhist to recite this Sutra at this difficult time. Recitation of Heart Sutra will not only help the victims but also ease the pain of every living thing.
In Dharamsala, the Heart Sutra was recited hundred thousand times. Keeping this in view, we would like to initiate the recitation of the Sutra in Japan.

Japanese and Tibetan monks, and the general public will participate in the prayer gathering. Below is the detail information of the schedule. We're looking forward to seeing you all there.

Date: 2011, March 26, Saturday 13:00 ~ 16:00

Venue: Gokokuji Temple
www.gokukuji.or.jp
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Sen, Gokokuji Station, Exit No. 1

Organizer: Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Tibet House Japan)
http://www.tibethouse.jp

THANKS A MILLION PEOPLE FOR MAKING OUR BOOK A BESTSELLER! It was 6th place among all shinsho and126th among ALL books on Amazon Japan on Saturday! You all rock! Please keep it up! Morinosuke Kawaguchi's book Sekai Ga Zessan suru "Made by Japan "
Thanks, xoxox
Judit

Hi Everyone!

Happy 2011! Thanks to your strong support, the first printing of our newest book "Sekai ga zessan suru "Made by Japan" is selling like hot cakes! So happy. Thanks for reading our books!
Our video about our 2nd book--in Japanese!
Our video about our 2nd book--in English!
In both of our books we write our ideas about the connection of subculture and innovation, technology and design. The kawaii cover of our two books:

LOOKING FOR FOREIGN PUBLISHERS INTERESTED IN TRANSLATED VERSIONS OF OUR TWO BOOKS*****
Pls contact me if you know of any because I hope to have both of our books available in ten languages by the end of 2011. Thank you!
OUR FIRST BOOK***** is Otaku de onnano ko na kuni no monozukuri subtitle: Neon Genesis of Geeky-Girly Japanese Engineering was published in Japan by Kodansha in July 2007 and is already considered both a business book classic and a subculture guide not only in Japan, but also in South Korea and Taiwan where translated versions were published in 2009. Its Thai version will be published in Thailand in the summer of 2011. English version is on its way, also! You can order the English version here:
Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subculturalist's Guide to Technology and Design
BOOK SUMMARY*****
From the Japanese super-toilets called washlets to the infinite variety of cute character stationary goods, from Kabuki masks to manga and anime, from bikes to robots, this book not only gives readers a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, but also supplies a road map for the future of international technology and design. Its message is universal: one can leverage the power of subcultures, especially the childish and feminine aspects so characteristic of Japanese otaku (geek) culture, in developing top-tier products for the world market.
Japanese contemporary subculture such as manga, anime, TV games and girls’ fashion are full of unique functionalities. Through a myriad of examples that people in any country can understand, Kawaguchi explains how to translate the anthropological features into industrial product specifications.
Photo: Rei Ayanami chan in ready to take off in Rei Densetsu's itasha. My interview here:

OUR BOOK AWARDS AND TRANSLATED VERSIONS*****
In JAPAN, our first book "Otaku de onnano ko na kuni no monozukuri" was awarded the prestigious Nikkei BP BizTech Book Award 2008, given to books that contribute to the advancement and development of technology and management.
In 2009, it was translated into Chinese in Taiwan by Business Weekly Co. Ltd. and into Korean by Korea Price Information Co. Ltd. It’s a major hit in both countries.
In TAIWAN, it’s been listed among the top ten in the “ Great Technology Management Books 2010” contest sponsored by National Chenchi University NCCU, which is one of the most prestigious book contests in Taiwan, launched in 1996. http://tinyurl.com/2eqa9qn
Thank you, kam shia Taiwanese fans!

In SOUTH KOREA it’s an even bigger hit: by March 2010, Kawaguchi’s book was the number-one best-selling book at Interpark, the third biggest online bookstore in South Korea, in the category of Japanese Language and Culture. In the category of History and Culture, it was 65th.
As of September 2010, it’s become even more popular: The ranking varies daily, but it’s between the 30th to 36th best selling book in Korea in Japanese History and Culture, at Interpark: http://tinyurl.com/2dwbrpx
Thank you, kamsa hamnida, Korean fans!
PHOTO: To celebrate 2011, I created 3 dekoden designs--yes, I actually made these 3!!! Dekoden is decorated mobile phone. One is dekoden, another is sweetsden( mobile phone decorated w sweets) and the third with the bunnies is himeden ( princess phone) Do U like them?



OUR SECOND BOOK*****Sekai ga zessan suru "Made by Japan" was published by Softbank Creative on December 18th, 2010. The first printing of 10,000 copies were SOLD OUT so quickly that by February 15th, the book was its in second printing! Thanks, fans!!!

AUTHOR*****
Morinosuke Kawaguchi has been advising Japan's biggest technology companies on their R&D strategy and their MOT (Management of Technology). He is recognized as Japan's top expert on its world-class technology. His unique approach is to connect monozukuri (excellence in manufacturing and design) and emotional design to bring product development to a new level. His search is to recognize the future of technology and artifact design. For that it is essential to understand human nature in great depth, since any future design is bound to require more than mere efficiency and purpose. Subculture has always reflected human nature, and Japanese subculture, like few else today, is a great indicator of what the future of technology is going to be like. And, more importantly, how people will use and relate to electrical artifacts. 
In this sense, the future car will not be inspired by Knight Rider, but by Kokuo-go. And the mobile phone will have better chances to succeed if it can transmit a feeling comparable to Linus’ security blanket.
Morinosuke Kawaguchi on Wikipedia
Articles about Morinosuke Kawaguchi in German
Article about Morinosuke Kawaguchi in Germany's Die Welt newspaper
Article about Morinosuke Kawaguchi in Italy's Il Sole de 24 Ore on 2011.2.12.
LOOKING FOR FOREIGN PUBLISHERS INTERESTED IN TRANSLATED VERSIONS OF OUR TWO BOOKS*****
Pls contact me if you know of any because I hope to have both of our books available in ten languages by the end of 2011. Thank you!

OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: JAPANTECHLESSONS*****
Many of the cool ideas and gadgets from our books are on videos on our YouTube channel
JapanTechLessons Please tune in and leave us comments on YouTube, please! 
Thanks and Peace and Love, Always
Judit

Happy Holidays! Our new book is out from Softbank Publishing! All about Japanese the wonderful territory where technology and subculture merge. Best gift for everyone on your list!
Written by my husband, Morinosuke Kawaguchi 川口盛之助 and inspired by Japanese gadgets and me!
Our second book:世界が絶賛する「メイド・バイ・ジャパン」 (ソフトバンク新書) [新書]
Our first book:オタクで女の子な国のモノづくり (講談社BIZ) [単行本] Neon Genesis of Geeky-Girly Japanese Engineering

Book review in English: Japanese Subculture Inspires Innovations

Peace and Happiness to You All! Judit

Thanks for your visit! Please see my post about this important event on my blog morinoske.com
Thanks, see you there! Peace and Love Judit

Today I spent the day in Kawagoe city, Saitama prefecture, at Aiai, a special art school where a wonderful woman, Chieko Awata sensei teaches young adults with autism and other challenges how to paint. Their artwork is amazing! This is the lovely Awata sensei standing by a rack full of postcards made from Aiai's young artists.
Aiai website
My interview with Awata sensei--her Words to Live by

Awata sensei has been teaching challenged people for over 40 years and she is running Aiai as an NPO ( not for profit) and she clearly could use some serious help! She is working 24/7 to make sure autistic young people have something nice to do, to create art and to have an income which comes from sales of their artwork. Please support Aiai! Come this coming Sunday to buy some great art for yourself and your loved ones while supporting Aiai and its truly talented artists!
Mark your #Tokyo calendar & bring your #XMAS money: this Sunday, 10/31st these talented artists will paint live at a Bunkyo-ku event. See their fantastic art, watch them create and bid for the paintings at an auction held there and then. You can also buy their small paintings for 1200 yen, large ones for 18500 yen! Look at all these great postcards! Each is printed from an original painting by one of the Aiai artists.
How about buying a bunch and use them as thank-you cards, birthday greetings ? Each one is 150 yen

More great cards, some are Kawagoe city's landmarks:
and some with amazingly colorful fish: how supercool!

And some more with parsimmons and other delicacies:

Three of these tall, dried lotus flowers filled with tiny bits of silk from kimonos are just 1200 yen! They make a fantastic room decoration and are perfect gifts, too!

Their great paintings can be also ordered on custom T-shirts. You choose the painting, the color of the T-shirt and for just 3000 yen, it is yours in a few weeks!

Here's a wonderful way to make your home and/or your office beautiful while supporting autistic artists: for just 36,000 yen a year, you can rent 6 original paintings with four changes a year so you get 24 beautiful original artworks for just 36,000 yen a year. You don't buy, only lease them. Cheap & fun! How about giving this wonderful gift to yourself and to your loved ones? Xmas is just around the corner!
Aawata sensei with her talented artists inside Paub Aaron in Urawa city, where the owner kindly supports Aiai and autistic artists by displaying and selling their art in his British pub. Go get a beer, a snack and see the art!
Pub Aaron is just a few blocks from Urawa station, tel number is 048-832-5388
Pub Aaron in Urawa city

Sunday Party and Auction for Aiai and their great artists! Come to spread love, to support art and autism and to do all your holiday shopping! Cu all there! Thanks a lot!
Time: 10/31 from 11 am till 13:30 PM
Place: Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, 文化シャッタBXホル　(Bunka Shutter BX Hall)
文化シャッターBXホール ご案内 Map in Japanese to Bunka Shutter BX Hall
Nishikata 1-17-3 telnumber: 03-5844-7700
How to get there: Mita and Oedo lines Kasuga station, A5 and A6 --about 3 minute walk
Namboku line Korakuen station, exit 8
Marunouchi line, Korakuen 4B exit
JR Sobu line Suidobashi, exit towards Ochanomizu
Hope to see you all there! Love Judit

Hi Everyone, super news:

Morinosuke Kawaguchi's brilliant book on Japanese technology and subculture was introduced on South Korean TV! Thank you Korean fans!
일본을 말한다 is the Korean title of our book and here are the links to the TV show: NATV National Assembly Television in South Korea
Here you can watch the Korean TV show on Morinosuke Kawaguchi's book:
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's book on South Korea's NATV show
Please check below for Morinosuke's upcoming lectures in Sapporo, Tokyo and Osaka. Hope you can make it! Thanks JK

HI Everyone: Beloved hubby and genius Japanese technology, innovation and subculture expert is in the prestigious Nikkei Veritas weekly newspaper, on sale September 19th, 2010. Sold at bookstores.
Nikkei Veritas
Nikkei Veritas Headline
日経ヴェリタス　9月19日　第132号 世界が買うＣＯＯＬ ＪＡＰＡＮ
Nikkei Veritas Headline: Morinosuke Kawaguchi on What the World Buys from Cool Japan!
Here are links on Morinosuke Kawaguchi, including his brilliant Toilet Talk video for TEDxTokyo!
Wikipedia on Morinosuke Kawaguchi
TEDxTokyo on Morinosuke Kawaguchi (in English)
TEDxTokyo 川口盛之助
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's YouTube channel: JapanTechLessons
Please follow him on Twitter: @japantechlesson
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's lectures open to the public:
October 22nd, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Sapporo Lecture 10.22nd from 15:15--16:45
October 26th, Tokyo
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Tokyo Lecture 10/26th 18:45-
October 27th
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Tokyo Lecture 10/27th 10:10-11:40
October 28th, Osaka
Morinosuke Kawaguchi's Osaka Lecture 10/28th 13:30015:00
Thanks for checking him out and hope you join his lectures!
Judit

HI Everyone:

Today's Words to Live by features Shinno Yamasoba, vice head priest of Daijyoji Temple in Hyogo prefecture,home to a huge collection of amazing Buddhist paintings.
My previous blog post on Maruyama Ohkyo's paintings and more treasures at Daijyoji Temple
Words to Live by Buddhist priest Shinno Yamasoba
Please also see another previous blog post on Buddhism and Tibet, including my interview with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama!
Undercover in Tibet
Thanks
Judit

I'm so lucky! Yesterday I spent the whole day in culinary extravaganza heaven magic wonderland! Yes, I was at Pierre Gagnaire's amazing restaurant in Tokyo. I ate his surprising, wonderful dishes and when I was fully in love with the man who created such wonders, Pierre arrived to greet his guests. He is charming, handsome and unique, none surprising after tasting his creations.
After lunch I interviewed him and fell even more in love with him! His fantastic personality is well reflected in his art: his beautiful cuisine.
The plates are designed by Pierre and made into form by Sylvie Coquet @ Limoges porcelain. Your table is ready***

I asked manager Michel Delepine san, who is Pierre's trusted confidante and who opened many of his restaurants around the world, to give us a close-up of the lovely plate--and Michel's moustache! Super!

Michel is the best person to explain the details of each dish as he loves and knows Pierre Gagnaire and the food he creates.
See the appetizers?

Start with the most exotic of them all in the center: Watermelon mousse with chorizo, accented by red pepper. Magical fun! Is this food? Not what we usually eat but it's so interesting, delicious and surprising that you will enjoy every morsel immensely. Intense & gentle emotions are expressed with and through these dishes and I think that's exactly how their creator, Pierre is.
On the left: Beetroot ice cream, grilled eggplant caviar! Whatever one anticipates is not what one gets: reality is more magical at Pierre Gagnaire.
You have to go to savor them and know the rest...

Pierre Gagnaire in the kitchen, where he's happily at home.

Grilled and marinated scallops with Amontillado, avocado, lime and cucumber gelee.
Guess what is under the scallops? It's not on the menu. It will be a perfect surprise. My friend and I guessed and we were both far from the truth. That's typical of Pierre's cuisine: surprise, awe, amazement.

Executive Chef Olivier Chaignon is in charge and he runs the smoothest and quietest kitchen I have ever seen. I was waitressing for many years in the US and have never been to such a calm and nice kitchen as this one. Very impressive!!!
Olivier is very young but a veteran Pierre Gagnaire chef and Pierre clearly loves and trusts him completely.

Roasted sea bass with potato cake and zucchini mousse. This is the perfect dish! I could eat it very, very often. Simple and each molecule divine. Top-to-bottom mixed with bottom-up home cooking. The potato is comfort food of great-grandma's home cooking, the zucchini is the essence of the greenest, freshest zucchini and the fish is grilled to perfection: crispy, juicy, not salty! Pierre's cooking is intense and brave so you have to be, too. Your reward? Taste fantasy!

Pierre overseeing the work of Sous Chef, Yosuke Akasaka

Yosuke and Olivier, both cute, young and talented. Pierre considers them his "sons". When Pierre is not here, Olivier is in charge and next in line is Yosuke.

Roasted lamb, Paimpol beans fricasse with coriander. Meat-eaters will absolutely love this dish. I'd love to have a little container of the beans in my fridge as I adore them! So so delicious with such wonderful texture and accented by mystery spices. As I ate Pierre's dishes, with one bite I was in Hungary at my great-grandma's house, next in Fez in Morocco, then in a ryokan in Japan but again, the whole time I was with Pierre. Eating at his restaurant is like a trip through one's culinary history and exploring new territories. Very exciting and very fun. Lots of pleasure. I am so thankful! Merci beaucoup, Pierre Gagnaire!

Pretty, cute, one of the many desserts one is presented with. Apple compote & jelly with chocolate hazelnut sponge cake & much more! These gifts of nature and men are created by Takahiro Moriya san who worked with Pierre in Paris. Look at Pierre and Moriya san, old friends:

Pierre Gagnaire's restaurant is on the 36th floor of the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Tokyo:
ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo
Pierre is in town NOW so reserve and experience one of life's great surprise pleasures: eating food that has a narrative you might have never thought of: the Pierre Gagnaire story. I can tell you that it starts out with a bang and continues with even more bangs. Pure fun! The end: you gotta find out for yourself! One thing is certain: this story has a happy ending!
Pierre Gagnaire's website in French
Pierre Gagnaire Info @ Starchefs.com
Once you take the elevator to the 36th floor, you're in design heaven. From the darkness of the elevator hall you step into light and happiness. Pink flowers, sunshine and an interior fit for kings and queens--us, the guests -designed by Ilya Corporation. Gorgeous!
Ilya Corporation
Junko Koshino
The staff wear supercute uniforms by Junko Koshino: black with subtle red details, smoking vests with tails and really nice attitudes. Oh, and the chairs are comfortable! Gosh, I'd like to have them in my home.
My interview: Pierre Gagnaire's Words to Live by
As a special treat for readers, those who mention The Japan Times when booking a dinner reservation for August or September at Pierre Gagnaire's Tokyo ANA InterContinental Hotel restaurant will receive a glass of champagne with their meal, compliments of the chef.
Please see the ANA Intercontinental Hotel website below to reserve:
Pierre Gagnaire @ANA InterContinental Hotel, Tokyo
The ANA hotel used to be a pretty drab but nice & polite business hotel managed by ANA, but now it's a hip international hub since the InterContinental group took over. Yesterday, Friday, the lobby was full of people & music. 80's hits--e.g. Sade's Never as good as the first time--, gave it an atmosphere of traveling excitement. I liked it!
More later!
Judit

Tibet is an occupied nation. In 1949, Mao Zedong's People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet, killed as many Tibetans as they could and never left. Yes, even today, Tibet is occupied by the Chinese. Illegally, of course. For every 5 Tibetans, one Chinese soldier/policeman is installed. Since 1949, over 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed. Today, the population is around six million Tibetans and shrinking, due to the forced sterilization of Tibetan women.
Please watch this video to see what is happening there to the Tibetans. What terror they must endure daily:
Undercover in Tibet
Thank you and please share the video with as many people as you can. More truth about Tibet here:
http://tibettruth.com/
And here is Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman's site, with great info & videos: (yes, he's Uma Thurman's dad)
Why the Dalai Lama Matters
July 6th is His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday. Happy Birthday and please live very long in great health!
His Holiness' words to live by in the Japan Times newspaper--my interview
You'll find the article here:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's words to live by
The Huffington Post on His Holiness, in an article by Bhuchung K. Tsering:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Role Model

Thanks for checking them all out!
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Thanks!
Judit

Although His Holiness, the Dalai Lama already left Japan, his spirit is certainly still here.
I took this photo from inside Nagano city's Zenkoji temple, waiting for His Holiness to arrive on June 27th.

Ten Tibetan monks worked for 16 days to prepare this wonderful sand mandala: Mandala definition on Wikipedia
This link explains the meaning and creation of the mandala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrates sand mandala at Zenkoji
It says: "Traditionally, sand mandalas are created in exquisite geometric designs to generate compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and the cosmic healing of the environment, and then destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of all existence." However, this Gonpo O-pa-me (Amitabha Buddha or Buddha of Infinite Light) mandala will be saved so visitors can see it anytime. Just another reason to stop by Zenkoji temple!



Please watch this great video on Tibet: Undercover in Tibet. It is 48 minutes long and worth it! Thank you for making time for it and sharing it :
http://www.tibetcustom.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20080807203727898