For some reason or other, I always wanted a desktop cigarette lighter (probably from seeing Sam Spade use one in THE MALTESE FALCON) but never got around to buying one. Until I found this beautiful little thing. And yeah, I may have quit smoking 13 years ago, but a.) I like being married, and b.) it's a GODZILLA cigarette lighter, which goes a long way towards soothing those 13 years of longing.
The grass may seem neater on the other side, but Japan's clutter tells a different story. It's one that reveals a far more complex and nuanced relationship with stuff, one that suggests minimalism and clutter aren't opposites, but two sides of the same coin. For the nation of Japan is filled with spaces that are as meticulously cluttered as minimalist ones are meticulously simplified. These packed places, which are every bit as charming as the emptied ones, force us to question our assumptions and worldviews. What if we've all been wrong about clutter?
This piece, a 1969 page from Jiro Kuwata, marks the first (of many, I hope) manga piece in my original comics art collection. While I'm not saying that I chose this page of all Kuwata pages because it featured a ferocious-looking German Shepherd stalking our protagonists, I absolutely did.
đź”— Japanese Kit Kat Flavors: The Complete List | Japanese Candy Store (via the Japan or Die newsletter)
via SoraNews24:
Located near Islam Yokocho (“Islam Alley”) in Shin-Okubo, the bar is called “Fushigi no Heso” (“Mysterious Belly Button”), and it allows you to experiment with the magical world through tarot card readings as well.
The main draw here, though, is the chance to be hypnotised by Endo, a veteran hypnotist who previously astounded patrons with his powers at the bar’s previous locations in Kitasenju and Ikebukuro. Prices for hypnosis are 1,000 yen (US$6.46) per person, with people between the ages of 20 and 40 able to take part, and for groups of 10 or more, if one of the participants fails to fall into a hypnotic state like the kind commonly seen on T.V., they will receive a prize.
(*****+ / *****): Everything I love about the emotional possibilities of comics in one perfect package of beautiful art, wonderful characters, and a moving meta-narrative of purpose and the act of creation. Hooked.
