Donald Richie

Donald Richie is an American-born author who has written many books about Japanese culture and cinema. Born in 1924, Richie first visited Japan in 1947 with the American occupational force, and quickly became fascinated with what he saw, and particularly with Japanese cinema. He decided to stay on and has now been in Japan for well over 60 years. Recently a friend and I were invited to play at a book launch party being held for Donald's newest book Botandoro, and hence were lucky enough to experience Donald reading some of his work, as well as view an experimental film that he had directed in the early 60's. The book is "a Miscellany" of previously published and unpublished work from 1941 through 2005. He was truly a man of elegance and inspiration and I will definitely make a point of seeking out some more of his work..

Bono in Tokyo

U2 singer, humanitarian and and philanthropist Bono Vox is in Tokyo this week, and yesterday took part in a tree planting activity with Japanese and International elementary school children. Also present were (everyone's favorite) Tokyo Governor Ishihara, designer Tadao Ando, Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mori, and ex Miss Japan Norika Fujiwara. There were environmentally orientated speeches, the kids sang, and then all took part in the initial stages of a tree planting project designed to create a forest on a man made island in Odaiba. Bono is here for the African summit, where he will encourage Japan to pledge more aid to ailing African nations. Bono was also recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in Africa.

Photos by uber photographer and friend Andy McGovern.

Don King in Tokyo..

Uber boxing promoter Donald "Don" King was in Tokyo Monday night for the World Boxing Association Lightweight title fight between Jose Alfaro and Yusuke Kobori at Differ Ariake. The infamously flamboyant ex-bookmaker took time off from being sued to watch Kobori win by TKO. Don King has been jailed for murder and sued no less than half a dozen times, more often than not by his equally famous clients. He made promotional appearance for Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, represented Satan in the South Park episode 'Damien', and wears bling like it 'aint no thing'. Don King is 77 years old!

Andy McGovern shot the fight and caught these great pics of the cigar toting legend..

Rikko Kasso: Tokyo Undresssed

I have been a fan of Rikki Kasso's Tokyo Undressed photo blog for some time now. He is a Tokyo based photographer/artist/film maker that lives in Shibuya and takes pictures of (amongst other things) gorgeous japanese models in various states of undress. He somehow manages to capture a certain kind of sexual energy that emanates from Shibuya in a way that I really admire, and for that reason I recently ordered (and just received) his book "Tokyo Undressed". Check out his blog..

Famous people buyin bootlegs..

Airs is a bootleg shop in Nishi Shinjuku, a 'must go to' for any serious music fan. From the pics that cover the walls throughout the store you can guess that some people may even end up buying their own work!