I ♥ Tokyo

A hipster grooving to his shadow at the opening night after-party.

It seems silly to try make any sensible pronouncements after six days in a country, four of which were spent in an exhibition hall. Saying how wonderful the people were sounds condescending, especially as at the end of the day, they’re just like us only generally more polite. So I thought I’d sum up with a selection of superficial visual impressions, some taken on my iPhone and some on my Lumix.

And now I’m getting ready to start my 13 week beginner’s Japanese course. (Seriously.) I can’t wait to go back.

Tokyo streets are not marked by name (it’s a complicated system where a location is pinpointed by area) and so this guy was taking turns with his colleagues to hold a sign on Roppongi Street to guide people to the correct turn-off for the fair.

A hotel room begins to seem like home after a few days. Here's the view from my window at the Grand Hyatt Hotel - the best hotel I've ever stayed in.

An unusual looking dog.

The famous Shibuya crossing that seems right out of "Blade Runner".

Sign at the Mori Museum.

Two views of Tokyo from the Mori observation windows.

Louise Bourgeois' spider statue outside the Mori Museum.

The Roppongi Tower.

Armani ads hover over the escalators going into the Roppongi subway station.

Pens displayed at the Isetan department store.

Everything for your desk at the Isetan men's department.

The custom Leica display case at the Isetan men's department.

A bedside light that shines a pinpoint of light so you don't disturb your partner.

The famous Japanese toilets.

My one purchase for myself - fleece lined boat shoes made exclusively for the Japanese market by a Spanish shoe company.

Some details from Ameida, a market round the corner from the exhibition hall where I would buy my lunch.

Magazines with goodies inside at the airport.

Tokyo Photo 3.

The Sartorialist, as popular as he is in America and Europe, is not much known in Japan - but as these pictures hopefully show, not only was his work much admired, but the stylish visitors to Photo Tokyo were only too happy to pose for me.

A young photographer.

My translator, Wakako Masudo, who is writing her graduate dissertation on Madonna.

A young visitor.

A man with rolled up pants.

Shigeo Goto and Sawako Fukai from G/P Gallery.

Kind of a Harajuku girl.

A man with a black straw hat.

A tall woman in shorts.

A cool character with holes in his T shirt.

Two friends.

Two more friends.

This man's T shirt reads "Summer Madness" with a spider hanging off the "S".

A Comme des Garcons type girl.

A young man with black patent leather sandals.

A young woman with elaborate shoes.

A Japan Airline stewardess and her friend.

The fair organizer, Tomo Harada.

Weekend Video

Thanks to the anonymous sender of the link to the above video. It gives a nice sense of the magic feeling of being in Tokyo. And thanks to the film-maker, Emily Nathan. (Please note: it may take a moment to load.)

Tokyo Photo ctd.

So you walk down Roppongi Street, take the little alley (above) next to the AM/PM store, and you’ll find the Belle Salle Roppongi where Tokyo Photo 2009 is taking place.

It’s beautifully organized by our hosts Tomo Harada and Toru Fukaya, the booths are immaculately built, and the crowds and response on opening night were overwhelming.

The Belle Salle Roppongi.

Here’s a glimpse of my booth. The fair is organized with “Photo America” upstairs. An exhibition anchored by the Museum of Photographic Arts and three American dealers – myself, Rose Shoshana, and Paul Kopeikin. Downstairs are 14 Japanese dealers from whom you’ll see my highlights, below. There’s a predominance of contemporary sized urban, industrial, and forest landscapes – but I guess you could say it’s an accurate representation of the country. There’s certainly not the same amount of personally introspective or constructed work you would see in America.

But going in order round the fair, here are some of the pieces that caught my eye:

Two pictures by Naoki Ishikawa at Gallery Terra.

Two urban landscape by Yurie Nagashima at Scai The Bathhouse Gallery.

Two photographs by Taiji Matsue at Taro Nasu Gallery that turned out to be of a model of Tokyo but were striking and vibrant nonetheless.

"Life's Little Worries" by Tatzu Nishi at Urano Aratani

Two views of Mount Fuji by Ken Kitano at MEM Gallery

Also at MEM, Yasumasa Morimura's "Hand Leonardo da Vinci" from 1996.

And two fairy tale looking forests by Yoshihiko Ueda at G/P Gallery.

And last but not least, a suite of gravures by Hiroshi Sugimoto, not readily available in the U.S., at Hiromiyoshi Gallery.

That's a quick Japanese floor report. More on the U.S. floor and Tokyo life tomorrow.

Tokyo Photo

Dear Readers,

I am in Tokyo for the next week participating in the first Tokyo Photo Fair. It's also my first trip to Japan. I arrived last night.

The 13 1/2 hour flight over was surprisingly comfortable and my first taste of Japan was being faced with the above drink machine outside the airport. A difficiult choice, but as you can see I settled on the Mets grapefruit soda (delicious) before going into town on the friendly (and efficient) limousine bus.

We install the show today so stay tuned for regular updates. But if anyone happens to be near the Roppongi district, do come by and say hi. Details are here.