After 40 years, the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka (140m) in Tokyo closed in 2011 in order to make space for new constructions.
This video show how a skyscraper can be demolished without using explosives. The building is lowered slowly and disappears from the skyline. This technology increases security for the workers and reduces sound and dust clouds remarkably. Amazing!
Summing up the video: - Grand Prince Hotel was build in 1983, during the economic boom in Japan - Top floor is held in place by temporary columns while two floors are being demolished at once and the building "shrinks" approx 6m in 3 hours. - Japanese construction companies are competing in order to provide the best solution for demolishing old buildings from the 60ies that do not meet new construction standards.
Last year SÆSON won the second prize in Creative Business Cup.
This year Ayanomimi had the special honour to guide His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark to his seat at the Creative Business Cup final.
The Crown Prince is a great supporter of entrepreneurship and I was truly impressed that he knew about Ayanomimi's initiatives.
Crown Prince Frederik visited Japan only few months after the triple catastrophe in 2011 (News link) to show his and the rest of Denmarks support to Japan. Among many activities he has established a charity fund for children in Sanriku and his work is highly respected in Japan.
October 26, I had the great pleasure of giving a guest presentation at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. The course was called International Marketing Strategy and the class was filled with Japanese and foreign students. The time flew away as we discussed topics such as intercultural branding, entrepreneurship, and Danish design in Japan.
Special thanks to: the Rikkyo students, professor Adam Johns, the TA, and Mr.William Macmillan, Ms. Akiko Masuda, Ms. Mitsue Watanabe - thank you for coming.
Art pieces by Sayaka Ganz can been seen in the windows of Isetan Men's Department Store Shinjyuku / Tokyo this month! Amazing window displays that mix modern art by Sayaka Ganz and fashion by Martin Margiela. Display design: Stratcast More pictures: Sayaka Ganz Sculptures on Facebook
The 3.11 triple catastrophe has truly been a wake up call for the Japanese people.
Japan is one of the best prepared countries in the world when it comes to earthquakes. Not only did advanced technology limit the damages caused by the quake on 3.11, the mental preparation and the deep-rooted respect for the nature has been a strength in the extremely fast process of recovery after the catastrophe. As a part of the Japanese culture people accept the balance in life, and the joy and fear that come along with mother nature. Life goes on, for the human beings, as long as we take care of the nature.
In contrast to this traditional philosophy, Japanese politicians, bureaucrats, and the mass media continue to base their decisions on own interests. Japan has 54 nuclear reactors along its coasts. The Fukushima power plant is still not under control and the country is constantly hit by earthquakes. The nuclear waste problem is not being solved, and the government has restarted the reactors at Oi power plant and wants to build more nuclear power plants. Although, the private sector has presented solutions that increase efficiency in energy use and supply, the government insists that the country cannot continue without the nuclear energy supply.
It is true that Japan will suffer an economical recession from a shortage in power supply. However, what is the point of maintaining an economical standard if the air, water, soil, and all living creatures are polluted? Or if you have to live in fear for an earthquake to trigger one of the 54 ticking bombs? This rather simple question has no simple answer because of conflicting interests. This affects, not only Japan, but the rest of the world. We know that we will be able to find solutions to the economical loss that a shift in energy supply will cause, but the costs of not choosing the right path will be of an unknown scale.
It might sound very naive, but until the Fukushima catastrophe on 3.11. most Japanese people, including myself, were not informed nor interested in the nuclear power plants situation, but were manipulated to believe that it was safe and clean.
A huge feeling of regret for not taking action until it was too late, and a strong will to take responsibility is slowly growing amongst the Japanese. Political interests and greed has left Japan with unnecessary many nuclear reactors and nuclear waste that will destroy the natural life cycle, natural resources and future life. It is a scary thought and a reality that affects us all...
Every Friday, people protest in front of the prime minister Noda's house, which the government and media have done much to ignore. Last Friday 100.000 people gathered in front of the prime minister's
house, where Prime minister Noda commented that he could hear the "loud sound" from
the demonstration. The fact that Japanese politicians only hear "sound" when they
listen to the "voices" of their own people, explains the lack of political responsibility and seriousness towards the future of Japan.
I believe that there are many ways to contribute to create new solutions, discourses, and political initiatives that will lead to a better energy use and energy supply in the future. It gives me hope to see and listen to the thousands of people who stand up to create a focus on this problem and believe that this situation is a chance to change.
Mutewatch will be available at Restir Tokyo Midtown from April the 1st! Read more about the super cool Mutewatch, Mai-Li, and all about the world wide Mutewatch users in English HERE
