japan
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Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates to “a reason for being.” It may also hold the keys to prolonging your life. At the intersection of ikigai is having a purpose—feeling as though one is contributing to society in a positive way gives them something to live for. Perhaps the best illustration of ikigai exists…
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Tokyo runs 13 billion passenger trips each year, making its train stations some of the busiest in the world. Using sound design and various other psychological nudges, rail stations are able to bring some order to the chaos. One of the most effective tactics has been its use of blue LED mood lighting to prevent suicide…
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Underground bicycle parking systems in Japan
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1 min read
The robotic system, called the Eco Cycle, stores bikes 36 feet underground. It can store 204 bikes at a time. To use it, you need to attach a chip to the front wheel of your bike that links to your Eco Cycle parking account. When you pull up to the Eco Cycle, it will recognize…
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Views of Tokyo (1913-1915)
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1 min read
[bha size=’120×120′ variation=’01’ align=’alignright’]Last week, I blogged about a trip through Golden Gate City: San Francisco (1939). This week’s archival video goes back in time to views of Tokyo, 1913-1915. Some observations: Notice the clash of those wearing modern (Western) clothing versus the traditional feudal garb A lot these kids (and their kids) probably went on…
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This hover backpack will make you jump, jump!
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1 min read
My dream of being able to dunk may come to reality thanks to the Lunativity Hoverpack. Students from the University of Tokyo developed a hover backpack that frees you from gravity’s pull so you can jump and hang in the air like Michael Jordan. The rotors in the device thrust downward, allowing humans to jump…
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Van Gogh’s fascination with Japan
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2 min read
Japanese art flooded Western Europe when in 1854, America forced Japan to open its borders to trade. Some of the prints of Japanese woodcuts made it all the way to Vincent Van Gogh in Paris. He grew obsessed with ukyio-e, or “pictures of the world,” joyful elements he copied into his own art. ‘Seeing with…
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Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai finished his most famous work, The Great Wave, at the age of 71. Upon seeing the print, Van Gogh remarked: “These waves are claws, the boat is caught in them, you can feel it.” Read about Hokusai’s great wave: a lesson in persistence