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2011
On-site Report
Keep up with the newest cultural undertakings in Kansai as our reporters bring you first-hand accounts of the area's most passionate artists.
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Vol.13 Sakai Craftsmanship and the Crafts Fair
By Okayama TakuSituated in the southern part of the Osaka Plain, Sakai derives its name from its location on the border between the three old countries of Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi. In addition to being the site of various historical events since ancient times, and the Mozu Burial Mounds, which include Emperor Nintoku's Tumulus, one of the three largest tombs in the world, the city is also home to storied craftsmanship. Flourishing as a corporate town autonomously managed by a group of merchants and an outpost for international trade with Asian and European nations during the Warring States Period (late 15th-late 16th century), the latest technology and culture became concentrated in the city, inspiring the legend, "Sakai: Where Everything Begins." |
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Vol.12 Creating Regional Possibilities: The Endeavors of Maizuru RB
By Toyohira Takeshi"Rejuvenating the town and region." It has been some time since this phrase came to be commonplace in regional promotional campaigns. But what exactly is it supposed to mean? If you simply think of the phrase as an expression of the need to reactivate the local economy, it makes more sense. But what else is suggested by the word "rejuvenate"? In recent years, art projects and other events have been rapidly accepted as a means of regional promotion and town renewal. Isn't this in itself proof that people are seeking a new form of project with an extra added "something"? |
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Vol.11 Remembering the Future: The Legacy of the Osaka Expo
by Yagi HiroyukiLast year (2010) marked 40 years since the Osaka Expo was held in Suita, Osaka. With the latest world expo unfolding in Shanghai, it was a year of extensive media coverage of the event in print and on television. Echoing the recent wave of nostalgia for the Showa Period (1926-1989), many middle-aged people earnestly recounting visions of the future they glimpsed at the expo were presented. Having been born around a decade after the event, it was literally impossible for me to share in the nostalgia. However, as an area native for whom the park on the site of the former venue and Tower of the Sun rising above are familiar sights, I feel I can share in the memories vicariously through these abiding landmarks. |
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