Gizmodo: shinjuku

Tokyo Skyline Contrasts Against Grass Lawns in The Green Island Project

Elaine Chow — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:00:00 EST

The Green Island Project asks the question "what would Tokyo look like if all its pavement were grass instead?" and answers it with an amazing series of pictures.

The project is a collaboration between creative director Tag (Ryo Taguchi), photo retoucher IMKW (Imakawa), and contemporary artist Immr (Yuichiro Imamura). Doesn't the ultra-modern Tokyo skyline look a little insane behind all that well-manicured green? [006600 via Cscout Japan]

Tokyoflash Denshoku Bars It All To Tell Time

Elaine Chow — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:00:00 EST

Oh Tokyoflash, how you challenge our perceptions of what a watch should be. The company's newest item, the Kisai Denshoku, looks more like some kind of sound meter, with orange neon bars on an aluminum faceplate. Denshoku is actually one of the easier Tokyoflash watches to read, not that anyone who actually buys these things would use them to tell time in the first place.

Press a button and a number of the twelve light bars will brighten up three times—once for hours, then for groups of ten minutes, then for single minutes. Pressing the button again will speed up the time display. According to the folks at Tokyoflash, Denshoku was modeled on Tokyo's Shinjuku skyline, which glows neon all through the night. Frankly, looking at their past designs, what watch model wasn't modeled on the Shinjuku skyline? [Tokyoflash]

Astro Boy Mural Created From 138,000 Recycled Tokyo Metro Tickets

Elaine Chow — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Japan loves Astro Boy even more than we love Mickey Mouse, so it's not too surprising that the little robot boy's visage is still everywhere, even though his show and manga series ended decades ago. The most recent Astro Boy art installation is a 10 by 7 foot mural that consists of 138,000 recycled Tokyo Metro tickets. The pixel art, made to mark the opening of Tokyo's new Fukutoshin subway line, depicts Astro Boy, Uran, Professor Ochanomizu and Higeoyaji traipsing around Shinjuku along with the new Fukutoshin train. Created by volunteers from around the area, the mural can be found at the Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store. [Pink Tentacle]

35 Years of Tokyo Progress in 10 Seconds

Mark Wilson — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:45:01 EDT

Witness the progress of Tokyo's Shinjuku ward from 1969-2004 in miniature cereal box form. I feel for the guy who had to hold still with a camera for 35 years. He must have an iron bladder. [freshcreation]