Mike Hamilton - The Japan Times

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Mike Hamilton

For Mike Hamilton's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jul 22, 2011

"Photographs of Children: The Art of Photographing Children"

While giving directions to subjects may be possible when taking portraits of adults, it can be near-impossible to do the same when it comes to taking pictures of children. To get that perfect image, the photographer has to be one step ahead, using his or her ingenuity to get the child to hold a desired pose, and with little time to figure out the best lighting or best angle.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Film

Jul 15, 2011

Three films make Japanese premiere at Sokurov festival

Acclaimed Siberian director Alexander Sokurov, will be the subject of a two-week film festival between July 23 -Aug. 5. The Cannes Film Festival regular is one of Russia's greatest directorial exports, responsible for such celebrated films as "Mother and Son" (1997) and "Moloch" (1999). However, it was the historical drama "Russian Ark" (2002) that brought him his current international prominence.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jul 15, 2011

"House Inside City Outside House: Tokyo Metabolizing"

During the 1950s a group of Japanese architects formed the Metabolism movement, which sought to revolutionize the way buildings are designed in relation to expanding cities.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jul 14, 2011

National Museum of Modern Art Closes July 31

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jul 8, 2011

"XII Biennial of Illustration, Bratislava"

Since 1967, Slovakia has hosted the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), the world's largest and most prestigious awards event for children's book illustrators. Nominees are selected by an international jury, and the awards have showcased some of the best illustrations from all over the world.

Japan Times

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

Jul 8, 2011

Best news photos of 2010 go on world tour

A monk in Vietnam calmly sets himself ablaze as a protest in 1963. A man stands defiantly in front of a tank during China's Tiananmen Square incident in 1989. Both these images have stuck in our collective minds and have won the World Press Photography (WPP) organization's top award.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jul 1, 2011

"The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece"

A visually impressive exhibition, "The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece" explores the human form through a selection of Greek sculpture from the British Museum, which houses one of the most extensive collections of such sculpture in the world.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 30, 2011

"Making of Tokyo Sky Tree®"

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Special Exhibition Closes Oct. 2

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 24, 2011

"Ming Wong: Life of Imitation"

For "Life of Imitation," Berlin-based Singaporean artist Ming Wong's video installations reinterpret famous movies. Taking on some roles himself and re-casting others with actors and actresses of different nationalities, he mimics scenes from classic films such as Wong Kar Wai's "In the Mood for Love."

Japan Times

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

Jun 24, 2011

Stars to hit charity flea market

With a clutch of Japanese and international pop artists at their disposal, the MTV Video Music Awards Japan have organized an after-party-turned-flea market to "end all flea markets."

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 23, 2011

Changing the climate of architecture

Hokkaido-born architect Jun Igarashi seems to be a bit out of his comfort zone in the stultifying humidity of Tokyo. As he chats in the Toto Gallery, where he is holding his first solo exhibition, he explains that he's accustomed to the cooler and more temperate climate of his northern prefecture, which many of his designs are testament to. His buildings protect against the heavy snowfall and bitter winds of the Hokkaido winter and yet are still comfortably cool in summer.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Film

Jun 17, 2011

Tokyo and Yokohama festival celebrates the art of brevity

Short films have traditionally been seen as a director's starting block toward making their first feature. Yet with the art of filmmaking becoming ever cheaper, many have been sidestepping the short-film format, instead heading straight for a low-budget feature film. Yet short films are an art form in themselves, an idea celebrated by Japan's annual Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 17, 2011

"Yves Saint Laurent Mis a Nu: Photographies De Jeanloup Sieff"

Fashion photographer Jeanloup Sieff, who was favored by Yves Saint Laurent, is renowned for sensual yet refined photos, many of which have now become iconic images. He was often commissioned by prestigious fashion publications, such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and he worked on many global marketing campaigns for high-end brands such as Chanel. He died in 2000 at the age of 66, and is said to have been one of the most prominent fashion photographers of his generation.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 16, 2011

Waraku Ensemble serve up some summer classics

Despite a day of torrential downpour to kick off Japan's rainy season, Junnosuke Uehara is grinning from ear to ear. He's got his shamisen with him and he says he's excited to introduce a new person to the instrument. In fact, his love for the shamisen is so strong, he clings to it as if it were his child — barely putting it down to discuss his new album, "Wa Kafe: Wagakki ni yoru Natsu no Uta" ("Japanese Cafe Music: Summer Songs"), which is a collection of J-pop songs played using traditional Japanese instruments. Any chance he gets, he starts plucking the strings. I'm tempted to ask to have a go myself, but then his manager informs me his shamisen cost around ¥2 million. So I decide to pass.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 10, 2011

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Works by the Swiss-born German painter Paul Klee have been shown in Japan several times. This time, however, the exhibiton at The National Museum of Modern Art focuses not on the actual art but on the artist's intricate creation process.

Japan Times

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

Jun 10, 2011

Fussa river is abuzz with light

While many have cursed the early arrival of rainy season this year, the moisture-loving insects such as the firefly are likely to be in heaven.

CULTURE / Film

Jun 3, 2011

Herzog movie marathon in Tokyo screens classics old and new

Werner Herzog is an acclaimed German director who is thought to be one of the best in his generation, in part due to his breathtaking filmmaking ability, but also because of what many consider his masterly visionary qualities. Tokyo readers will have a chance to see for themselves during a two-week retrospective, "Herzog Masterpieces," which opens June 11 at Shibuya's Theater Image Forum and includes films that will screen in Japan for the first time.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 3, 2011

"Visions of Fuji: A Portrait Of The Japanese People as Seen Through Mt. Fuji"

Admired by many throughout Japanese history, Mount Fuji is the subject of a new exhibition at Izu Photo Museum, which itself is located in the dormant volcano's shadow. Through photographs and illustrations, the show reveals how perceptions of Mount Fuji have evolved in accordance with artistic taste and the influence of religious and political sentiments.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Jun 3, 2011

"Making of Tokyo Sky Tree — Construction Site In The Sky"

In preparation for the 2012 completion of the Sky Tree, the world's tallest communications tower, this exhibition offers an understanding behind the construction's planning and building.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 2, 2011

Thee Phantom's genre-blending screams 'Rap Me Amadeus!'

Many hip-hop artists spend their days scouring record bins for choice samples to rap over, but rarely do they go out and find an actual orchestra. As rapper Thee Phantom, Jeff McNeill is doing just that.

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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

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