Jordan Sievers - The Japan Times

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Jordan Sievers

For Jordan Sievers's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 11, 2014

'Architecture for Dogs'

Despite dogs being "man's best friend," we rarely design our world around the happiness of our pets.

Japan Times

LIFE / Lifestyle

Dec 16, 2013

Innovations that changed Japan: It's all in the details

"Made in Japan," can be found stamped on products sold all over the world, and as labels always do, it leads to certain consumer assumptions. It's no longer just about location of production, it implies a rich history of innovative manufacturing techniques, many of which are tied to Japanese tradition and philosophy.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 11, 2013

'Iconography of Yasujiro Ozu'

Yasujiro Ozu (1903-1963) is one of Japan's most influential filmmakers, internationally renowned for his realistic and sensitive portrayals of relationships and family drama in Japan.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 11, 2013

'Ichihashi Orie Exhibition 2001-2013'

Ichihashi Orie is a young photographer who has recently gained significant recognition for her print media and advertising campaigns for major companies such as McDonald's, Kirin and Uniqlo.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 11, 2013

'The Snowman Fantasy World'

This exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of the animated version of Raymond Briggs' popular children's book "The Snowman." Originally written in 1978, the picture book was adapted for the screen by Dianne Jackson in 1982, and it has since captivated audiences worldwide.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 10, 2013

Guitarist takes from the piano for new sound

One of the most interesting questions guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares has been asked by a Japanese fan had to do with his fingernails.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 4, 2013

'The 150th Anniversary: The Prints of Edvard Munch from the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo'

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of symbolist painter Edvard Munch's birth, this exhibition showcases 34 of the artist's prints, mostly early works focusing on life, death and love — themes that he became particularly known for.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 4, 2013

'Every Stroller Can Change the World: Contemporary Japanese Photography vol.12'

This is the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography's 12th annual show, which each year focuses on a new aspect or theme of contemporary Japanese photography.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Dec 4, 2013

'Feature Exhibition On-Matsuri and the Sacred Art of Kasuga'

On-Matsuri, also known as the Grand Festival of Kasuga Wakamiya, is a popular year-end event held in Nara Prefecture at which performers and festival participants pay their respects to the Kasuga Wakamiya Shrine deity.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Books

Nov 30, 2013

This 3-in-1 omnibus is the first time Junji Ito's late-'90s horror series "Uzumaki" has appeared bound together in English.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 27, 2013

'Raku Tea Bowls and Celebrating the New Year with Pine Trees in the Snow'

Raku (comfort, ease) bowls were considered some of the most valued tea-ceremony vessels throughout Japan during the 16th and 17th century. Originally created by 16-century tea master Sen Rikyu and tile master Chojiro, the bowls, usually made from red or black clay and hand molded, were passed down through generations. They became symbolically influential throughout Japan's history of culture and literature.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 27, 2013

'Junzo Sakakura in Architectural Documents'

A renowned architect and former president of the Architectural Association of Japan, Junzo Sakakura (1901—1969), was a Tokyo Imperial University graduate who went on to become studio chief at the modern-architecture pioneer Le Corbusier's atelier in Paris.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 27, 2013

'Koji Kakinuma: Exploring Calligraphy'

Featuring works of contemporary calligrapher Koji Kakinuma, this exhibition focuses on shodō (japanese calligraphy) style, showcasing the artist's modern twist on the classic art form.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Books

Nov 23, 2013

Sunny, Volume 1

"Sunny" is the latest manga series by Taiyo Matsumoto to be translated into English. Similar to his previous hit, "Tekkonkinkreet," the story's central theme is the melancholy of youth, and how children in difficult situations struggle to find their own self-identity.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Books

Nov 23, 2013

Precarious Japan

"Precarious Japan" is a forward-thinking commentary on the current state of Japan, detailing a progressive history from the economic collapse in 1991 to how the country functions today in a modern, post-earthquake society.

Japan Times

Events / Events In Tokyo

Nov 21, 2013

A showcase of established and new film talent

Any cinephile that may have left the Tokyo International Film Festival feeling underwhelmed by its high-profile film showings can get their art-cinema fix at this often-underrated rival — Tokyo Filmex.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 20, 2013

'Celestial Dance: The Art of Hiten'

Hiten, bodhisattvas that fly and dance in praise of Buddha, are wondrous beings, sometimes refered to as "flying angels." This exhibition focuses on the Buddhist symbols and their portrayal in various art forms, including sculptures and paintings. Ahead of the reopening of the renovated Phoenix Hall of Kyoto's Byodoin Temple, "Bodhisattva Riding Clouds" presents a special display of the temple's hiten statues. Collectively known as the only existing group of 11th-century Buddhist statues, these hiten are depicted floating on clouds while dancing or playing musical instruments.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 20, 2013

Japanese painter Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) was a prominent artist of the shin-hanga (new prints) style. After studying ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and nihonga (Japanese-style painting) under Kiyokata Kaburagi, he quickly became particularly well known for his skill at landscapes and scenic settings. This exhibition is a celebration of 130 years since Kawase's birth, and features more than 300 of Kawase's works, making it a comprehensive overview of one of the most prolific Japanese artists of the early 20th century.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Nov 20, 2013

'Ding Ware: The World of White Elegance — Recent Archaeological Findings' (Ceramics)

Subtle and creamy-white in coloration, Ding Ware has a refined aesthetic. It was created during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and became one of the most highly desired pottery forms of the Song (960-1279) to Jin (1115-1234) dynasties.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Books

Nov 16, 2013

"Light and Dark" is one of the late Natsume Soseki's longest and most famous masterpieces. Although the allure is partly due to its lack of a concrete ending because of Soseki's untimely death, the novel (sans ending) is still considered to be one of the best pieces of Japanese contemporary literature, and a prime example of Japanese society on the cusp of World War I.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.

The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

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