Exhibition

BEFORE - 3.11 - AFTER
What the Fukushima Nuclear Explosion Did to Our Beloved Rose Garden

Photo Exhibition in Main Bar and Masukomi Sushi

March 7 - April 3, 2015

Organized by Maya Moore & Hisako Matsuda featuring photos from several photographers

As we memorialize the 4th anniversary of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and meltdown of Fukushima's nuclear plant, it cannot be denied that the general mood in and out of Japan is that of disinterest. For the victims of that tragic day, perhaps the most distressing aspect now is the lack of concern and detachment by the rest of the world. It is of vital importance, to imagine what it must be like to lose family, home, livelihood, and dreams. This photo exhibition of Futaba Rose Garden, located 8 kilometers away from the nuclear plant, gives an entirely unique, current, and personal perspective to the on-going devastation experienced by the residence of Fukushima. The contrast between the magnificent and vibrant roses blooming in their prime, and the haunting images of the present garden is nothing short of shocking. In their silent ways, the roses represent the profound anguish of all the victims of 3.11.

Maya Moore

Toshiki Sawada 'FLOWERS'

Main Bar and Masukomi Sushi
Feb. 7 - March. 6, 2015

Toshiki Sawada was an illustrator and picture book writer active in a wide range of fields, books, advertising, stage design, murals, live painting, etc. The collection shown in this exhibition consists of his 'FLOWERS' paintings dating back to the start of his career (1985 to 1990). Materials used to produce these brightly colored artworks include oil crayons, colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint, colored paper... In addition, he worked freely in a variety of techniques including silkscreen and paper-making processes to produce works in 'molded washi paper'. We hope you will enjoy this show of Sawada's 'FLOWERS'.

Toshiki SAWADA (1959-2010)
Received several awards and recognition for his artwork including the Japan Picture Book Awards for "Afurika no oto" [Sound of Africa] (Kodansha) and "Te de hanas?" [Let's Talk With Our Hands] (Sh?gakkan) along with the Children's Welfare Cultural Award for "Ok?san e no tabi" [Journey to Mother] (Fukuinkan Shoten). Toshiki died in 2010 of acute myelogenous leukemia at the age of 51.

The Exhibitions Committee

Japanese Thatched Houses
Photo exhibition by Kiyoshi Takai
Main Bar and Masukomi Sushi

Jan 10, 2015 - Feb 6, 2015

White Moment -Main Bar

White Moment (Main Bar)
photo exhibition by Yoshiro Higai
Exhibition Dec 6, 2014 - Jan 9, 2015

Higai first began skateboarding in 1978 after seeing the movie "Kenny and Company".
A few years later, he bought a single-lens reflex camera and started photographing his skater friends.

While studying photography in college, Higai was asked to take a "Snow Surfing Race"
Little did he know, this assignment was the start of a career that has spanned over 30 years.
Through the thrill he gets from snowboarding and skateboarding, along with a devotion to taking photographs in challenging places, Higai continues to stay at the top of the action.

bio
Yoshiro Higai's work can be seen in numerous snowboarding, skateboarding, and outdoor magazines. In addition he published his photo book "Cold Frame" and produces "Turn" and "gyogan zine" magazines
To see more of his work, visit his website.
http://yoshirohigai.com

The Exhibitions Committee

TOKYO POP 2014

TOKYO POP
photo exhibition by Androniki Christodoulou
Main Bar & Masukomi Sushi
Nov 1 - Dec 5, 2014

TOKYO POP is a collection of photos taken over a period of 10 years. An ongoing visual diary from the streets, the people, assignments, and sometimes just because I had my camera. Japan's unique and colorful popular culture was one of the reasons I first came and I'm still captivated by it. The mixture between tradition and new trends, uniformity and the extremes, there is space for everything. Popular culture in Tokyo isn't something that is fixed. It flows and changes faces, but there are always these special moments and people who create its highlights. I try to capture the mood of the places and situations as I experienced them in these transient moments.

the NOREN Exhibition "YURA-YURA"
producers: Kontetsu & Shin Nakamura
exhibition in the Main Bar

Oct 4 - Oct. 31, 2014

NOREN, a fabric partition, is linked to Japanese culture and tradition. Since olden days, it has been used as a facade for signage or interior partitions. The first know usage of the word NOREN were in ZEN textbooks during in the Kamakura-era. In the Edo-era, with progress of dyeing and weaving technology, it became widely used by the general public. Inside or outside, ordinary or extraordinary, NOREN fabric gently provides a separation of space. In this day and age, with a need for more global understanding and respect for diversity, we would like to take the notion of a NOREN, swinging and swaying, as an alternative to building walls of separation. This is our "YURA-YURA" concept.

Patterns: photo exhibition by Torin Boyd
Main Bar & Masukomi Sushi
Sept. 6 - Oct. 3, 2014

This series of images were taken over several years and are the result of a subconscious effort. That is, I had never sought out to create a body of work in which patterns and shapes were a common denominator. That all changed one day in 2003 when I was editing my work to build a new portfolio. In looking over my many images, I realized I'd been utilizing patterns on a regular basis for both my professional and personal work. I had developed a photographic style without even knowing it. Presented here are a selection of what I feel are my best pattern images. They span over two decades with many being taken while on assignment for such publications as National Geographic, Newsweek, Fortune, US News & World Report, Business Week, Time, New York Times, and the in-flight magazine of Japan Airlines. Several are images that never made it to print and are being shown for the first time.

"Saltwater Sky": Photography by Mitsuyuki Shibata, Main Bar Aug. 2 - Sept. 5

Saltwater Sky
Photography exhibition by Mitsuyuki Shibata
Main Bar Aug. 2 - Sept. 5

The daily view of the sea spreads before me. To capture it was the only thing that matters. Searching and hoping to meet something new in the same hours, on the same beaches. The sea had not changed or rather, it invites me with greater beauty than before. In the winter, standing on the coastline before the dawn, a deep silence takes over the place, creating a sensation of melting the camera and me into an infinitely changing space and time. Sereneness and openness, more than any words could ever say.

Mitsuyuki Shibata: Movie & Still Cameraman A dedicated surfer, the sea continues to be the center or his life and work. Shibata's romantic and emotional photographs have been embraced, not only by the world of surfing, but within the general population at large. Amongst his published works are; 'Daze' (Marine Planning), 'Lei' (World Photo Press), 'Kaimana Hila Home' (Shueisha Inc.), 'Summer Bohemians' and 'Saltwater Sky' (Bueno Books).

The Exhibitions Committee 

SUMI-E: India and Japan paintings by Yoko Koyano Main Bar and Masukomi Sushi July 5 - Aug. 1, 2014

I think of India as my spiritual home, the home of my soul. Ever since I fell in love with India 30 years ago, I have visited the holy city of Benares at least once every year. Sitting on the banks of the Ganges, I scoop up a handful of Gangajal (Holy Water) and use it to prepare my Sumi ink. I draw the people and the landscapes of this beautiful land. In addition to images of India, I also paint Japanese motifs. For this exhibition, I have artworks depicting Ojizousama (stone Buddha Statue in the shape of a child) and Rakan (achiever of Nirvana).

Profile Yoko Koyano: Calligrapher and SUMI-E Painter Based on her calligraphy and TENKOKU (seal-engraving) profession, Koyano started her SUMI-E painting career in 1977. Since her first visit to India in 1980, she has been providing Indian themed work toward exhibits held over 10 Indian cities, including the 50th anniversary of India?fs independence celebration exhibition. Her works has also been used as title logo of Japanese TV shows and plays.

The Exhibitions Committee

Unholy Matrimony - bride kidnapping: Photo exhibition by Noriko Hayashi, Main Bar : June 7 - July 4