Toru TAKEMITSU 20th anniversary

 I'm going to go to the concert of Toru TAKEMITSU 20th anniversary of death.  20 years have passed since he died.  I feel sad every time I noticed that he cannot give us new music any more.  Opera city is also called TAKEMITSU memorial.  There are the relief of Toru TAKEMITU in its foyer. The poem in the relief is;

できれば、鯨のような優雅で頑健な肉体を持ち、西も東もない海を泳ぎたい。

I'm too frightened to translate the so-called poetry but tried.  "If possible, I want to swim with the elegant and sturdy body like a whale in the sea which belongs to neither the west nor the east."

Takemitsu: Green / Arc
	Toru Takemitsu London Sinfonietta 2006-10-01 Sales Rank : 405632 See details at Amazon by G-Tools

Pitagora Switch ピタゴラスイッチ

Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora Switch) is a TV program of NHK educational channel.  Pitagora comes from Pythagoras or Pythagorean theorem.  The theme of Pitagora Switch is showing "the way of thinking" for children.  We cannot make light of this program though it's for children.  Pitagora Switch touches your science mind.  It has scientific atmosphere.

The opening of the program is the short film of a Pitagora Device.  Pitagora Device is a chain reaction device with something we all use usually.

Pitagora Devices are collected in the DVD books and published.

ピタゴラ装置DVDブック1 佐藤雅彦 ポニーキャニオン 2006-12-01 Sales Rank : 1598 Average Review  See details at Amazo Japan by G-Tools

ピタゴラ装置 DVDブック2 佐藤雅彦 ポニーキャニオン 2007-04-18 Sales Rank : 2733 Average Review  See details Amazon Japan by G-Tools

I'm not sure the above YouTube video can last in future.  The music of Pitagora Devices is provided by KURI Corder Quartet. The supervisor of Pitagora Switch is Masahiko Sato

Pitagora Switch consists of a short puppet drama, short anime, song, and so on.  Each part is simple but amazing.  My nephew likes Potegin very much.  I searched Potegin video but I couldn't hit.  Potegin is a cube.  You know, a cube has six faces.  Potegin rhythmically speak out with using six faces that is written a word.  Potegin's chat is like a humming.  Start is like that, "Pote, Pote, Pote, Pote, Potegin. I'm a Potegin.  Today,..."

10 stick anime. Silly 10 sticks. This is one anime of Pitagora Switch.


Framy anime.  It's a heart warming story.  This is also one anime of Pitagora Switch.


Pitagora Switch

An Arbitrary Point P

An Arbitrary Point P by
Keio University Masahiko Sato Laboratory + Norio Nakamura
(任意の点P by
慶應義塾大学 佐藤雅彦研究室 + 中村至男)

I don't know what name of the job is the job of Masahiko Sato (佐藤雅彦 SATO Masahiko).   He is a guest professor of Keio University.  According to Keio University web site, Masahiko Sato is specialized in Methodology of Education and Methodology of Expressing Concepts.  What degree can students get at Masahiko Sato laboratory?  Master of media arts?  Anyway, he is related to creating image or video.

His start is as a CM planner. His work expanded to making video game concepts and producing TV program.  Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora suicchi) is a TV program of NHK educational channel.  The TV program stimulates "the way of thinking" for children.  It also stimulates adult interest.  I like this TV program very much.  I think Pythagora Switch represents Masahiko Sato's works.  Incidentally, KURI Coder Quartet contributes their music to Pythagora Switch.

An Arbitrary Point P is a picture book of 3D image.  He keeps the strong impression for 3D image when he studied with a mathematical reference book.  The reference book attached a simple cardboard device for viewing 3D image in order to help student's understanding.  An Arbitrary Point P also attaches simple lenses for controlling parallax.  The mechanism is simple but interesting.  This book is a Japanese book but it includes Japanese and English description, though it's just a picture book that doesn't need any words.

任意の点P 慶応義塾大学佐藤雅彦研究室 佐藤 雅彦 中村 至男 美術出版社 2003-04 Sales Rank : 81429 Average Review  See details at Amazon Japan by G-Tools

Happy End はっぴいえんど

When I saw Lost in Translation on DVD, it surprised me that the sound of Happy End (はっぴいえんど) came out at the end of the film.

Happy End is an old acoustic band in Japan in the 1970's.  Each former member became a big musician or big producer and so on.  They work at the center of Japan music currently.  People say that Happy End is a legendary band that all members are too talented to get together again right now.  Members are Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Ohtaki, Takashi Matsumoto and Sigeru Suzuki.  Melancholic and political music like flower children flooded here and there when Happy End appeared.  Their music was light, and had dry humor.  Some people felt they were a new band, but Happy End weren't in mainstream because of their stance of staying at the cutting edge.

Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木慶一 SUZUKI Keiichi) joined Happy End as a member of backing band.  He provides his music to Takeshi Kitano's movie.  The other big musicians were related to Happy End.  Sometimes talented people interact each other at a very narrow point.  Happy End was such a place.


Digitally remastered CD of Happy End

はっぴいえんど はっぴいえんど Pony Canyon  2009-02-18 Sales Rank : 70272 Average Review  See details at Amazon Japan by G-Tools

Zatoichi sound track by Keiichi Suzuki

座頭市 オリジナル・サウンドトラック 鈴木慶一 Sound track Dreamusic 2003-09-03 Sales Rank : 15506 Average Review  See details at Amazon Japan by G-Tools

KURI Corder Quartet 栗コーダカルテット

栗コーダカルテット（KURI Corder Quartet) is relaxing music group.  The sounds consist of alto and soprano recorder, mouth organ (a kind of harmonica?), ukulele, guitar, percussion and so on.  Unplugged music.  Japanese children learn those instruments at elementary school.  KURI Corder Quartet create heartwarming music by entry-level instruments.  Their music help you relaxed.  Or, it might lead you to become too relaxed to sit up smartly again.


KURI Corder Quartet play The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme).


How do you feel it?  Do you get a body down?  Do you think you can defeat such Darth Vader?



KURI Corder Quartet play Thriller - Michael Jackson.


Somebody giggled when music started. You may well feel so.



15th Anniversry Best

15周年ベスト〈初回限定盤〉 栗コーダーカルテット ジェネオン・ユニバーサル 2009-10-07 売り上げランキング : 2668 おすすめ平均 Amazonで詳しく見る by G-Tools

All original music by KURI Corder Quartet

笛社会 栗コーダーカルテット GENEON ENTERTAINMENT,INC(PLC)(M) 2007-06-06 売り上げランキング : 18154 おすすめ平均 Amazonで詳しく見る by G-Tools

Europe Tour Live Album

巴里渋舞曲 渋さ知らズ 地底レコード 2008-11-16 売り上げランキング : 86651 おすすめ平均 Amazonで詳しく見る by G-Tools