Anime avo

Whoop whoop for Legend of the Millennium Dragon on Sunday, one of the last films in the Barbican Centre's Premiere Japan 2011 mini-season. The anime is clearly aimed at a family audience and probably won't challenge you plot-wise. But the artwork and animation was beautiful and there's plenty of action.

Sadly I missed My Back Page (starring the brilliant Matsuken) on Saturday night. I hope both films will either be released on DVD or screened elsewhere in London soon...

(Images ultimately courtesy Sony (Japan) Inc)

A Tale of Two Cities (‘ riveting transportation systems)

Today, as I skipped daintily across Oxford Circus tube platform with my taekwondo gear, I was almost hurled under a train by the throbbing throng of Christmas shoppers.  The platform was rammed beyond capacity. Fortunately my lightning ninja reflexes prevented tragedy, but it does make you seriously question the safety of the London Underground at peak times. (And, as most Londoners bemoan:  how will it ever cope with the Olympics?)

Conversely, some years ago I went to work in Singapore, entered their clean, air-conditioned MRT, and got totally lost. Where are the platforms? Only visible was a pristine corridor with a few people dotted around it. Then, doors opened and lo: a train had almost noiselessly sashayed in behind screens - this was the platform!

As I later discovered, Singapore trains do get rammed at rush hour. And they don’t all have screens. But there is aircon, cleanliness, no foody smells, no drunks, and in general, shorter distances.

Actually, I had gone to Singapore to work on a project for their transportation provider. And what did I find? Their entire management team was agog with wonder at the London Underground! I kept reiterating – have you ever tried travelling on the tube??? (With its expense, multiple signal failures, endless closures, troublesome stairs, sweat, dirt, puke, smells?)

In fact good old TFL (Transport for London) is revered globally for its tube network. Mainly because it is so extensive, plus it is the oldest underground network in the world but still (just about) keeps up in modern times.  Running trains is no easy feat technically or financially, it turns out. And after a couple of decades the problems begin. Singapore’s new system was just reaching its ‘problem point’; London reached its own 130 years ago!

Anyway, I still think the tube is massively overpriced, unsafe and inefficient. But I guess we have to cut them a little bit of slack. And keep those ninja reflexes honed.

Phew! It has been a busy week. Below are some highlights (don’t ever accuse me of an un-varied life):

1. Weekend - Sent to Coventry…

..to officiate at the British Masters Open Taekwondo Championships.  Including:  a hotel room without phone or hot water ‘because they don’t work on the 6^th floor’ (erm?) ; setting up with my team until late Saturday night, then taking it all down again late Sunday after 10hrs of refereeing; an excellent Nando’s; great fights! I couldn’t compete this time due to injury, but hopefully next time!

2. Friday - Cross-play and pension schemes

A full day of lectures on Japan thanks to the GB Sasakawa Foundation.  They covered culture, health, economics. Cross-play (as opposed to Cosplay) generally refers to men of all ages dressing up as (in particular) cute teenage girls. There is more social and cultural complexity to it than cross-dressing, it seems, such as competition with women. In the opinion of the speaker, at least. Plus a whole raft of ‘gyaru’ vocabulary I didn’t note.

I have yet to visit / live in Japan, and realise that a lot of what we hear in the West is sensationalised or related to tiny minorities (or simply fashion, without the sinister elements we attach to it). But I can’t help finding the apparent teen-girl obsessions rather alarming.  The economics was interesting though!

3. Thursday - Gesamkunstwerk private view @ Saatchi Gallery

New German Art. I have realised unashamedly that I don’t ‘understand’ most contemporary art. But I can still enjoy or be bored by it. This exhibition was a bit of both for me, but go and see what you think. No pix allowed in the galleries but you can get an idea of the show here:  

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/germany_art/

Overall a very pleasant evening meeting old friends and having a glass of wine. Exhibition runs until 30 April 2012.

 

The Zenzai Update

My lovely friend Chika has located instant Zenzai in Japan - and will be bringing it to London soon. Woohoo! Watch this space for the yummy verdict...

... and London Korean Film Fest

Oh and let's not forget this! On until 24th November. http://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/

Sadly I missed the Ryoo Seung-Wan season of kick-aaaasss martial arts action. But I did find this (staff-made?!) collage....

NyLon @the KCC

Popped into the fabulous Korean Cultural Centre in London, and saw their exhibition NyLon (on until 26 November). It includes some of Meekyoung Shin's vases made of soap, which I missed in her larger London exhibition this year.

I first discovered KCC while doing research for taekwondo and I love their modern, interesting take on promoting Korean culture. Most recently they've been boosting Korean pop (k-pop) in the UK with huge dance-flashmobs and live appearances from the cuddlesome Shinee! I wish Japan, China and others had spaces like this in town and did such unexpected things! They certainly have the richness of cultures to do so :)

Escape!

Zenzai

Yes, readers! The search is on for zenzai (or o-shiruko): Japanese hot, sweet red-bean soup with tiny mochi floating in it. But in London purchase hasn't proved as easy as hoped. I am reliably informed that there are many instant versions, but it seems the central Japanese foodstores don't sell them. Homemade might be the last resort. But in the interim: The Hunt Continues!


Actually I used to regularly eat the Chinese version (tang shui?) in my student days. Sadly the fabulous, cheap, Chinatown canteen that served it no longer exists. But it was definitely a winter highlight and I can't wait to try its Japanese counterpart.


ps Sorry, posts have been sparse due to a marathon bronchitis plus additional bug. Two-in-a-row. It is Autumn, season of mists and airborne viruses. (All the more reason for hot, comforting soup-puddings!)