September 1, 2010 10:24 AM

Escape in Setouchi islands 3/4 : Naoshima

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By Martin Faynot

Setouchi_03.jpg

     Naoshima may be the most well known island of the Setouchi archipelago, because beside the actual Setouchi Art Festival (running until October 31st), there are three permanent museums : the Benesse House Museum (which is also a luxurious hotel), the incredible Chichu Art Museum & the Lee Ufan Museum.  Both were designed by the famous architect Ando Tadao. Other art spots on Naoshima feature some other houses from "the House Project", including two major art pieces by Shinro Ohtake. A "must see" is his public bath "I love Yu  (湯)", where you can actually bath like a regular "sento" but surrounded by an incredible decoration and atmosphere.
     I made my sketch around the area called "Honmura". I like this kind of little streets with a tiny canal aside it. It was incredibly hot at this time (37-38 C) but I could relax anyway! 


August 25, 2010 10:02 AM

Escape in Setouchi Islands 2/4 : Inujima

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By Martin Faynot

Setouchi_02.jpg     The second island I visited was Inujima, the smallest one, with only 60 inhabitants! There used to be plenty more when the copper refinery was running. Beside the ruins of the factory, an incredible underground installation called Seirensho can be visited (unlike the art festival, Seirensho is permanent). On this sketch of a little port, you can see the red roof of one of the numerous houses of the "House Project" (also in the other islands). Those old houses have been redesigned into artistic installations by some famous artists from around the world.
To know more about the various islands : http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/about/islands/


August 12, 2010 3:24 PM

Escape to Setouchi islands 1/4 : Shodoshima

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by Martin Faynot

Setouchi01.jpg

     I managed to escape from Tokyo's summer heat... to find another heat, but more artistic, in the islands of Setouchi, just between Shikoku & Honshu. It's been a while since I wanted to visit Naoshima, Inujima, Ogijima & the other islands of the archipelago, but even more since I heard about the art festival held in all of the islands from July 19th to October 31st 2010. More about the festival here : http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
     The first island I went to was Shodoshima, the largest one. There's a few very impressive artistic installations in the middle of the countryside, such as a house / palace made only of bamboo. This sketch doesn't show any of them but I really like this view from a little shrine (with delicious fresh water) above the "stairs paddy fields", typical in Shodoshima.

July 29, 2010 1:39 PM

"Shirokuro" sketches series #12

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by Martin Faynot

jibtv_hakuraku2.jpg
     I found this old rice shop around Hakuraku Station. A lot of old ladies stopped to watch us (me and a fellow illustrator) drawing.  The very kind rice shop owner came and picked up a big cat that was sleeping on the ground to put him in front of us to take a picture, but the cat walked outside of the frame twice!  He took the photo anyway, printed it out and gave it to us. A nice moment!
July 13, 2010 2:47 PM

A Classic!

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By Martin Faynot

jibtv_densha.jpg     What's more classic as a cliché of Japan than sleeping people in the train ? Classic but essential, that's why I wanted to share it!
     I noticed that I tend to become Japanese : I fall asleep very easily in the train and I wake up just before my station... most of the time!
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Kevin Cooney

Kevin Cooney is a long time Tokyo resident. He makes regular appearances on TV as a reporter. He has his own popular internet video series. He performs stand-up comedy regularly in clubs around Tokyo. In his free time he is an avid chef, and hiker.

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Claytonian lives in the countryside of Japan. A very different lifestyle to the hustle and hum of urban centers like Tokyo. He takes a look at some of the traditions and settings that make Japan a unique place to live.

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Martin Faynot

Martin Faynot a.k.a. Marutan is a french illustrator living in Tokyo since 2002. He has published many illustrated books and his passion for Tokyo keeps him always on a quest to discover and observe how the city evolves. Tokyo as seen from behind his sketch pad.

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Emily Connor

Emily is a young singer, songwriter just breaking onto the Japanese music scene. Mostly self-taught, she became fluent in Japanese and moved to Tokyo at only 18. Following her musical dream, she has already made a name for herself in Japanese entertainment. She shares in this blog her life experiences in Tokyo and a first hand look at someone already becoming "Big in Japan."

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Danny registers over two million unique users a month on his very own website and is an expert on his biggest passion: Japanese figurines. In this new Japan themed blog is all the latest from the world of Akiba-culture and society at large.