478 And Take Off

I sometimes go to airport and look at airplanes taking off and landing. At the large international airport the departure and arrivals are so frequent (about every 2 minutes) that the scene should look like nothing special --- like taxis at jammed traffic circle --- but it still looks special. I think we cannot deny our feelings of excitement when we see something flying. I don't say "I don't believe that 300tons of metals flying up." I'm always surprised at the fact but I know it's a physical truth that they do so I believe it. Yet I cannot help admiring the beauty of the combination of technology and natural science, every time I see the jet starting to float in the air so gently and lightly. 

Also I love to see how wonderfully everyone and everything function, from pilots, flight attendants to airport control tower, mechanics, customs officers and working dogs. What is marvelous about this business is that they share, and have responsibility for one simple, clear mission. Fly airplanes safely.

477 Beard

From The Sartorialist, January 27, 2009

It's been a while since I last met my father. He showed up with a grey beard and looked very different. It was kind of cool but in his opinion it shouldn't be such carefree to grow beard. He said that "the beard will stand out so I'll have to take more care of my outfit." I wonder if, a beard is a part of style or something that requires style? 

476 Human Nature

Human being is originally created so functional, precise, and highly efficient just like a precision machine. Also it has the amazing power of spontaneous cure. Furthermore, it's designed to have a learning power and growth potential. Even though we are not designed to fly, swim fast or run at 100km per hour, we should sometimes stop to think that we are natural-born gifted in many ways. 

475 Guardians of the Galaxy

MARVEL、PixarやDisney、米国のクリエイティブ＆エンターテインメントの質の高さにはいつも驚かされます。「銀河の守護者」なる大げさなタイトルのこの映画も例外ではなく、派手で子供っぽい外見とは対照的に、実に趣深く、気分よく笑って泣ける傑作でした。会話は冴え、ギャグも痛快、宇宙戦の造形は質が高く、ストーリーは「古き良き」と表現したいくらいに実にオールドスクールなところ、そこにいまどきの軽妙なコメディが組み込まれ、しかも荒唐無稽な主人公達が見せる思わぬドラマには大人も唸らせる力があり、欠点のない映画といってもいいくらいです。
I've been amazed by the high quality of the creativity and entertainment of the studio like MARVEL, Pixar and Disney. "Guardian of the Galaxy"---what a grandiose title--- but this is no exception. Contrary to the loud and childish appearance this comic movies is one of the masterpieces deeply interesting and full of brisk laugh and sympathy. There're skilled dialogues and jokes, fine creation of the space action, as well as the good old-fashioned story with today's witty comedy, and furthermore the drama shown by the nonsense heroes is powerful enough to be beyond expectations of the grown-ups. I should dare to say this is flawless.  

474 Life is...

人生はチョコレートの箱だったり、冒険であったり、旅であったりします。航路を定め、目的地を定めて人生に乗り出す人もいれば、まだ見ぬ目的地を求めて進む人も、目的や航路も定めずその旅の過程を生きている人もいます。人生は実に様々なものです。どのような旅を歩むにせよ、好い風向きを探し、進む力を得、発見を楽しみ、自分なりのストーリーを生み出す航路を続けたいものです。
Life is sometimes a box of chocolate, or an adventure, a journey. Someone will depart with setting their course and destination beforehand, and others will embark on with hoping to find the destination unforeseen, or will just live the course of the journey without setting the object or the route. Life is so diverse. I'd wish to go on searching for comfortable wind, gaining a power to move on, enjoying the discoveries, to keep my own course with its own story, whatever the journey might be.  

473 Contemporary City of 3 Million People

Le Corbusier, "Ville Contemporaine" 1922

I have been a huge fan of Le Corbusier since I met his work in my teenage. I was so inspired by his masterpieces that I chose his early achievements as my graduation thesis (I didn't major in architecture --- I majored in the history of science and technology, which was somewhat in line with the world of architecture.) I adored modernism, especially functionalist skyscraper. To me Corbusier's vision of "City of 3 million people" was an invincible mix of my favorites. Now I'm living in a city whose popuration are far beyond 3 million and just amazed by the foresight which Le Corbusier had when he described the imaginable metropolis.

I still very much like architectures and skyscrapers but with a bit different kind of passion from the past. I used to look at these buildings and only think of how cool and decent the design was, or what kind of theory they had, and how 'modern' they were. I don't lose these aspects and still think it's worth thinking of, but gradually I get more and more impressed by how these cool skyscrapers can harmonize with humanity and environment, and entertain people by its disciplined sense of beauty. I notice that I like architecture in the moment I am impressed by the fruit of knowledge, technology, physics and aesthetics. 

When I look at this Corbusier's famous picture, the simple but handsome buildings surrounded by lushly green never fail to attract me. I always adore not the intensity of the buildings that become a signature of modern cities, but the expansive open sky. I imagine we'd be able to enjoy comfortable atmosphere among these sharp skyscrapers.

472 Attire

For the first time in my life I was invited a small fashion show at an Italian brand. I knew for the first time why some people become crazy for fashion. The show is real and the reality is all about. I felt how I had been ignorant of the difference between watching real person (really beautiful person) walking in fine outfits in front of me, and looking at a magazine photo. The clothing is living and shining in the show. The color, the texture, the cutting, the sense of humor, the fabrication, the decoration and the movement along with human body. Each one made unforgettable impression of how far the cloths look gorgeous and attractive. The fine clothes makes human look better and the human makes the same to the clothes. I felt happy to recognize this beautiful interaction, mutual action with my eyes. That's why I'm convinced that there should be a good reason for people to be a fashionista. 

In any case I was amazed how much expression we have to say clothes --- attire, dress, outfit, garment, habiliment, wardrobe, garb and getup. I just wonder if the unnecessarily enriched vocabulary means our interest and obsession for our clothes that we cannot let go for a moment in our life.