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[susurrate]

I worry that living in Japan has made me too sterile, too safe for the world. I was surprised by the state of Seoul; the dirt and dust and ramshackle buildings. Japan has enough dilapidated structures to spawn a fashion for exploring ruins (haikyo　廃墟）but somehow the nonchalence of South Korea caught me off guard. The moneyed glamour of Myeong Dong

Comments

[disastrid]

I think that your article on kwaii in your zine was amazing. I hadn't yet read an article that deconstructed the phenomenon as a social behaviour, a symptom of a vague societal sickness. Keep writing on it. It's important work.

Also I think we need a Skype conversation re hopes and fears.

[susurrate]

We DO need to discuss hopes and fears, I wanted to ask you about the website and formatting a Japanese one (like I said, they'll be scared off by a completely English interface). I also want to have something to present at the next cafe chat thing I go to...

Did you mean before you read my zine you'd never read an article about it being a social disease, or that you were waiting to...? Either way some more theory coming up! x

[susurrate]

I am redeveloping the interface, there would be a Tokyo English version and Japanese version. Trying to get the input of designers who have worked in Japanese character sets before, because I sure as hell haven't! Btw put me in touch with this Snow character ... he on Facebook? HINT HINT. :D I'm really raring to get this going, in case you haven't noticed.

Before reading your zine I had never really considered the wider social meaning of kawaii, or really understood what it was in its home context. It seems like such a simple, candy coated thing that it can't possibly be insidious, but it sure is.

[disastrid]

sorry, that was me!

[susurrate]

Good good. I'd love to see the interface, and see what it looks like on a Japanese mobile phone (probably where a lot of people will use it from).

Skype soon, if not, email me what you got!

[soliloquia]

Do you know Ruy Murakami? The "Almost Transparent Blue", "Coin Locker Babies", "In the Miso Soup" Ruy Murakami? There's also a female thriller writer who produces pretty bloodcurling stuff. Damned if I can remember her name now. Filthy harsh fiction has always been my answer with Japan.

[susurrate]

Yup, I think I've read one. My bone-headed determination to nail this language though means that I'm sort of loathe to read it in English, even though it takes months and months to plough through a Japanese novel.

I think I know the female author- or one of them- that you speak about, and I've forgotten her name too. Nakane...? Kirin? God, something or other.

I am feeling a lot better about Japan, it takes me a while sometimes to remember why I like this place, and parts of its literature, art, design and so on are it.