About EDGY JAPAN
Amended 02/17/2010
EDGY JAPAN features edgy talents, products, and locations from Japan.
*For the clarification of a term "edgy", please scroll down to the bottom.
EDGY TALENTS
Japan is not only a source of talents, but also a source of "edgy" talents. Japanese talents' outputs, which span from 3-d/2-d product, illustration, photography, and cuisine, are widely known. In many cases, people from the abroad expect an essence of orientalism, which its inner concept is usually described as serenity, tranquility, or silence. (Or even kawaii, or kimono-like.)
The edgy talents do attain this orient concept, but it's hybridized with Japan's sponge-like, unlimited absorbing cultures -- it's a mix of orient, occident, and sometimes, arabic and some new frontiers. Personalities and ideas that evolve from these talents are something that can only be found in Japan.
Edgy Japan features these yet-to-be-discovered edgy talents from Japan. Their profile and creative philosophy are extensively covered with some visual aids.
EDGY PRODUCTS
To many people, the image of Japanese products tends to be global brands. SONY, Honda, and Panasonic are the good examples. Fundamentally, these companies' manufacturing skills and know-hows are based on Japan's long-dated craftsmanship.
In the last decade, some of the craftsmen in rural areas are collaborating with designers in cities (or once trained in the city and returned to their hometowns.) to create products that have both top notch external and internal qualities. EDGY JAPAN refers these Japan's new wave of product making process, "new meets traditional", as EDGY PRODUCTS. Each product's design philosophy and its development background are extensively covered.
EDGY LOCATIONS
Lonely Planet, the world's most popular tourist guide, is frequently seen on the hands of Japan travelers from abroad. Surely, it is one of the most extensive guides available in the market, and I myself is an avid user of it.
But when I, personally, travel, one of the things that I enjoy most is to discover and enjoy the local beer/wine/liquor. Surely, beer is available all over the world (except some Muslim and Arab countries), but this particular beer at this particular location (perhaps, bar, pub, restaurant...) makes the only experience at this country/city that you're traveling.
The other example -- enjoying a day trip to snowboading/real sake/hot spring (onsen) from Tokyo. You have no gears? No problem, the land of sophisticated infrastructure allows you to get you there and yourself equipped with rental gears. All you need is your motivation and your wallet. What other country can you enjoy such a day trip from megalopolis? Tokyo, it is.
EDGY LOCATIONS feature the edgy destinations, which can only be experienced in Japan.
Plus, all the articles on EDGY JAPAN are action-oriented, meaning they lead to some actions. For instance, if you gain interests with some of the talents/products featured at EDGY TALENTS/PRODUCTS, you can get in touch with them via EDGY JAPAN for a possible collaborative projects.
For EDGY LOCATIONS, EDGY JAPAN coordinates EDGY TRAVEL, a personalized edgy travel tour in Japan. With your preference of edgy experiences in Japan (drinking local liquors, having a day trip to snowboarding from Tokyo, etc.) we can custom-made your itinerary to make your stay in Japan distinctive, or edgy.
Enjoy and feel new Japan with edginess.
Founder, Hiroki Yanagisawa
*For the profile of hiroki, click the name.
EDGY 101, Introduction to Edgy
What is "edgy" anyway?
"Edgy" is a key terminology to understand/navigate EDGY JAPAN.
According to dictionary.com, it states:
1. nervously irritable; impatient and anxious.
2. sharp-edged; sharply defined, as outlines.
3. daringly innovative; on the cutting edge.
The closest definition that I opt for EDGY JAPAN is 3.
EDGY talent/product/location is original, cutting-edge, and innovative.
It can only be found in Japan.
Here is a list "edgy" stuff that I think applicable. The list many change time to time, because the term, edgy is progressive, and its definition is influenced by the wave of trends, economy, and people's consciousness.
Edgy is something/someone/someplace...
... that attains multi-perspectives to re-create/create something.
... not restrained to stereotypes.
... that locals think "ordinary" but it happens to be "extraordinary" to the others.
... that attains the only-one skill/experience.
... is more like an idea, that can be understood sensuously, instead of verbally.
EDGY JAPAN features edgy talents, products, and locations from Japan.
*For the clarification of a term "edgy", please scroll down to the bottom.
EDGY TALENTS
Japan is not only a source of talents, but also a source of "edgy" talents. Japanese talents' outputs, which span from 3-d/2-d product, illustration, photography, and cuisine, are widely known. In many cases, people from the abroad expect an essence of orientalism, which its inner concept is usually described as serenity, tranquility, or silence. (Or even kawaii, or kimono-like.)
The edgy talents do attain this orient concept, but it's hybridized with Japan's sponge-like, unlimited absorbing cultures -- it's a mix of orient, occident, and sometimes, arabic and some new frontiers. Personalities and ideas that evolve from these talents are something that can only be found in Japan.
Edgy Japan features these yet-to-be-discovered edgy talents from Japan. Their profile and creative philosophy are extensively covered with some visual aids.
EDGY PRODUCTS
To many people, the image of Japanese products tends to be global brands. SONY, Honda, and Panasonic are the good examples. Fundamentally, these companies' manufacturing skills and know-hows are based on Japan's long-dated craftsmanship.
In the last decade, some of the craftsmen in rural areas are collaborating with designers in cities (or once trained in the city and returned to their hometowns.) to create products that have both top notch external and internal qualities. EDGY JAPAN refers these Japan's new wave of product making process, "new meets traditional", as EDGY PRODUCTS. Each product's design philosophy and its development background are extensively covered.
EDGY LOCATIONS
Lonely Planet, the world's most popular tourist guide, is frequently seen on the hands of Japan travelers from abroad. Surely, it is one of the most extensive guides available in the market, and I myself is an avid user of it.
But when I, personally, travel, one of the things that I enjoy most is to discover and enjoy the local beer/wine/liquor. Surely, beer is available all over the world (except some Muslim and Arab countries), but this particular beer at this particular location (perhaps, bar, pub, restaurant...) makes the only experience at this country/city that you're traveling.
The other example -- enjoying a day trip to snowboading/real sake/hot spring (onsen) from Tokyo. You have no gears? No problem, the land of sophisticated infrastructure allows you to get you there and yourself equipped with rental gears. All you need is your motivation and your wallet. What other country can you enjoy such a day trip from megalopolis? Tokyo, it is.
EDGY LOCATIONS feature the edgy destinations, which can only be experienced in Japan.
Plus, all the articles on EDGY JAPAN are action-oriented, meaning they lead to some actions. For instance, if you gain interests with some of the talents/products featured at EDGY TALENTS/PRODUCTS, you can get in touch with them via EDGY JAPAN for a possible collaborative projects.
For EDGY LOCATIONS, EDGY JAPAN coordinates EDGY TRAVEL, a personalized edgy travel tour in Japan. With your preference of edgy experiences in Japan (drinking local liquors, having a day trip to snowboarding from Tokyo, etc.) we can custom-made your itinerary to make your stay in Japan distinctive, or edgy.
Enjoy and feel new Japan with edginess.
Founder, Hiroki Yanagisawa
*For the profile of hiroki, click the name.
EDGY 101, Introduction to Edgy
What is "edgy" anyway?
"Edgy" is a key terminology to understand/navigate EDGY JAPAN.
According to dictionary.com, it states:
1. nervously irritable; impatient and anxious.
2. sharp-edged; sharply defined, as outlines.
3. daringly innovative; on the cutting edge.
The closest definition that I opt for EDGY JAPAN is 3.
EDGY talent/product/location is original, cutting-edge, and innovative.
It can only be found in Japan.
Here is a list "edgy" stuff that I think applicable. The list many change time to time, because the term, edgy is progressive, and its definition is influenced by the wave of trends, economy, and people's consciousness.
Edgy is something/someone/someplace...
... that attains multi-perspectives to re-create/create something.
... not restrained to stereotypes.
... that locals think "ordinary" but it happens to be "extraordinary" to the others.
... that attains the only-one skill/experience.
... is more like an idea, that can be understood sensuously, instead of verbally.