Choked up: The tears falling down her face, Gaga struggles to compose herself
She will be performing at the awards, which take place on Saturday, which have been renamed Video Music Aid Japan and will raise money for the Japanese Red Cross.
Today Gaga broke down as she spoke about her love for the country.
She said: 'I am always so inspired when I come to Japan, inspired by the spirit, the passion, the love, the absolutely infectious joy of Tokyo.'
Hello, Tokyo: Gaga arrived at the press conference in her new aquamarine wig and black Aladdin pants
And she encouraged people from all over the world to visit the country, which has seen a huge plunge in tourism since the disaster, the nation's biggest recorded earthquake struck.
It created a tsunami that caused widespread destruction and set off a crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant about 140 miles (220 kilometers) north of Tokyo.
It killed almost 20,000 people, tens of thousands more were left homeless and thousands of others were forced to leave homes near the plant because of the radiation danger.

Please visit: Gaga urged tourists to come to Japan declaring it 'beautiful' and 'safe'
Wearing a long aquamarine wig, she said: 'I can't say enough to people all over the world that the majority of Japan right now, Japan in general, is very safe. It's fine to come here. It's beautiful.
'The most important thing, and the best thing, we could do for Japan right now is to boost tourism.
'I would like to use my position here today and all week long to run around Tokyo enjoy the beautiful city and kiss all the beautiful little monsters and scream at the top of my lungs that everyone should come visit this beautiful place.'
Thirsty work: Gaga sipped from a china tea cup which had Japanese characters that read 'Pray For Japan' across it
For luck: The singer kisses an Okiagari-Koboshi, a traditional Japanese doll
During the press conference, she sipped tea from a china cup that was painted with Japanese characters that read 'We pray for Japan'.
She was also presented with an 'Okiagari-koboshi' - which means 'getting up little priest' - a Japanese traditional tumble doll that is considered a good-luck charm and a symbol of perseverance and resilience
GaGa arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, days in advance of her performance on Saturday's Music Aid Japan benefit concert which will be broadcast live to an estimated 30 million households in Japan, Korea, Singapore and China.
For her Little Monsters: Gaga stopped to sign autographs as she left a restaurant last night...
... and kept her faithful followers happy as she stopped to greet fans at the airport
Last night she was bombarded by fans as she left Shabuzen, a popular restaurant that specialise in a common Japanese dish called Shabu-shabu, which is a Japanese hot pot, in the trendy night life area of Roppongi, in Tokyo.
But ever gracious to her 'Little Monsters', she happily stopped and signed autographs for them, just as she did when she arrived at Narita International Airport.
Just put your paws up: Gaga gives her trademark claw-hand sign and then waves to her fans as she heads out of the airport
Lady Gaga at the MTV Video Music Aid Japan press conference (june 2011)

source: dailymail

VIA An emotional Lady Gaga wipes away tears as she remembers Japanese earthquake victims

The heart-breaking images of families desperately searching for loved ones amid the rubble of their homes sent shockwaves around the world.
Now, three months on, these images show the Japanese people remain undaunted by the havoc nature has wreaked on their homeland as step by step they rebuild their nation.

A Shinto shrine gate and surroundings in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture three days after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and the same spot on June 3
But despite their progress, stark reminders of the work left to do means the resilience of this Asian country is still being tested.
Headway in the clean-up has been made in the town of Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture where the pleasure boat ''Hamayuri'', which was remarkably washed up on the rooftop of an inn, has been removed, along with a building shattered by the the wall of water.
Further down is an image of a Shinto shrine gate in the town three days after the March 11 disaster.
The same spot on June 3 which shows thousands of tonnes of rubbish, which had lay smouldering in an almost post-apolcalyptic landscape, has been cleared, roads re-laid and power lines restored.
Civilisation appears to have returned in Natori in Miyagi prefecture too. The first image shows a towering wall of ocean crashing through trees devastating homes and businesses lining the coast, tearing down power lines and drowning anything in its path.
A residential area being hit by the tsunami in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, top, and the same area, with only one house remaining on June 3, bottom
A parking lot of a shopping centre filled with houses and debris in Otsuchi town, Iwate prefecture two days after the earthquake hit and the same area picture on June 3
Astonishingly just one house survived the wave and a lone digger is pictured having cleared away the once thriving community reduced to rubble. Hundreds of cars parked in the foreground remain abandoned and appear to be the only reminder of the devastation.
Similarly, the striking image of a ship atop tonnes of rubble in the Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture on March 20 was projected around the world and became a symbol of the disaster.
The photograph shows grey smoke filled skies above a path of destruction, but three months on, much of the debris has been cleared, power lines restored and hope is on the horizon.
A car park in a shopping centre, filled with houses and debris in Otsuchi town in Iwate prefecture is also back on its feet and signs of life are returning. Parking spaces are clearly visible where piles of wood, bricks, and vehicles lay strewn just a few weeks ago.
A view of earthquake and tsunami-hit Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture on March 15, top, and the same area pictured on June 3
The final image shows local people walking through debris on a street in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture to get water 48 hours after the disaster. The same image on June 3 shows the massive tank which lay in the road has gone and a damaged house on the left side of the street has been cleared and restored.
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused the worst crisis in Japan since the Second World War and left almost 28,000 people dead or missing.
The clean-up bill is expected to top £184 billion and radiation fears from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant are still growing after four of the reactors were damaged leading to radiation leaks.
This week, an earless bunny was born near the reactor in north east Japan raising concerns the radiation could have long-term side effects.
Following the blast and initial leaks Japanese officials told people living near the plant to stay indoors and turn of air conditioning and also to not drink tap water.
High levels of radiation are known to cause cancer and other health problems but scientists are not yet clear if the defect in the rabbit is linked to the blast.
Local residents walking through debris on a street in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, to get water 48 hours after the disaster, top, and the same area on June 3 where a large tank and a damaged house on the left side of the street have been cleared away
Japan's economy slipped into recession following the devastation and new data shows it shrank 0.9 percent in the first quarter of this financial year but experts say a recovery later this year as industry kicks into action.
Industrial output rose one per cent in April from a record decline in March.
Manufacturers are making progress in restoring supply chains and ecnomists are predicting Gross Domestic Project to begin expanding again between July and September.

A view of earthquake and tsunami-hit Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture on March 20, left, and the same area after the building and debris was removed on June 3
Australian Red Cross - Japan Earthquake and Tsunami devastation

source: dailymail

VIA Back from the dead: Astonishing pictures show how Japan is recovering just three months after tsunami

Here are the 23 contestants forMiss Earth Japan 2011
#1 Sato Fuyumi, 20, 170cm

# 2 Ayaka Takahashi, 22, 171cm

#3 Nami Kasuya, 23, 171cm

#4 Yukimi Kawanaka, 20, 172cm

#5 Kyoko Tamura,25, 175cm

#6 Kana Usami, 24, 176cm

#7 Tomomi Takano, 24, 177cm

#8 Yu Kojima, 24, 175cm

#9 Rika Takuno, 18, 174cm

#10 Chiaki Hirabayashi, 24, 170cm

#11 Hitomi Sakata, 26, 170cm

VIA The 23 contestants of Miss Earth Japan 2011

Crushed: Perry looked distinctively melancholy without Brand, who had been deported by the Japanese authorities due to a criminal record
And she looked distinctly melancholy, although she gamely signed autographs and chatted to fans.
Earlier in the day, Brand had been deported by Japanese authorities due to his criminal record.
He had arrived with Perry to watch her perform a show on the Asian leg of her California Dreams tour.
Perry wrote on her Twitter account: ‘So... my husband just got deported from Japan. I am so. sad. I brought him all this way to show him my favourite place #tokyodreamscrushed.'
Brace face: Perry managed to raise a smile as she chatted and signed autographs for waiting fans
She earlier expressed her indignation at Brand's treatment, tweeting: ‘It was for priors from over 10 years ago! #mamanothappy!'
Perry then campaigned to her followers to try and get her husband released and said: ‘#FREE@RUSTYROCKETS! RT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
But she later seemed to accept the situation. 'But of COURSE I ♥ my Japanese fans & the show #MUSTGOON no matter the daily aftershocks or husband kidnappings! #it'snotrightbutit'sokay,' she wrote.
Brand had earlier tried to see the funny side of his situation as he was held at Tokyo airport.
Fan love: Perry gamely posed for pictures with fans in Japan, which she says is her 'favourite place'
He tweeted: ‘Planning escape from Japanese custody. It's bloody hard to dig a tunnel with a chopstick.’
The actor then posted a picture of himself with a chopstick and the caption: ‘Alcatraz! Shawshank Redemption! And now this! Ah, sweet blue bird of freedom!’
Russell, a self-confessed former heroin addict, was arrested in 2001 charged with criminal damage and indecent exposure when he stripped naked while covering the May Day protests for MTV, the charges were later dropped.
The comedian, who has been arrested 12 times, was arrested on suspected battery charges after he allegedly attacked a photographer who was taking pictures of Perry last year, he was released after posting $20,000 bail.
Bit bored? Russell Brand tweeted a picture of himself after he was denied entry into Japan. He posted that he was planning to escape from Japanese custody

I'm over it: Brand spotted out and about in Beverly Hills on Sunday after being deported from Japan
source:dailymail

VIA Look what you're missing Russell! Katy Perry sports sexy suspender skirt and stockings...

Here are the 23 contestants forMiss Earth Japan 2011
#1 Sato Fuyumi, 20, 170cm

# 2 Ayaka Takahashi, 22, 171cm

#3 Nami Kasuya, 23, 171cm

#4 Yukimi Kawanaka, 20, 172cm

#5 Kyoko Tamura,25, 175cm

#6 Kana Usami, 24, 176cm

#7 Tomomi Takano, 24, 177cm

#8 Yu Kojima, 24, 175cm

#9 Rika Takuno, 18, 174cm

#10 Chiaki Hirabayashi, 24, 170cm

#11 Hitomi Sakata, 26, 170cm

#12 Kayoko Ohkawa, 22, 170cm

#13 Maya Sato, 19, 157cm

#14 Maiko Tanoue, 23, 163cm

#15 Misaki Tanabe, 23, 167cm

#16 Megumi Wada, 25, 165cm

#17 Yuiko Kan, 26, 167cm

#18 Tomoko Maeda, 24, 169cm

#19 Shiho Watanabe, 23, 166cm

#20 Ikumi Yoshimatsu, 24, 171cm

#21 Erika Kiyota, 21, 171cm

#22 Mai Yukawa, 20, 162cm

#23 Saori Naito, 19, 161cm

The finals will take place onJuly 3.
Courtesy ofMiss Earth Japan
source: (Thank you and credits to
ClubEarth:
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

VIA Meet the 23 contestants for Miss Earth Japan 2011 Photos & Profile

Oldest Kabuki Theatre (Japan)

If you wish to stylize a room interior in the Japanese stylistics — use own experience is priority, because only you know what you want. Don't use the global brain! It's possible to apply imagination and to decorate an interior with the several bright Japanese accessories designating certain Japan style. But in Japanese stylistics it's necessary to adhere to minimalism rules.

For zoning of the area of a room in Japanese style easy parting walls (glass, a tree, a bamboo) or painted screens are actively used. It gives a special glamor to an interior and allows to use the areas effectively.
Are excellently allocated the walls decorated by pictures on a rice paper with landscapes of the country of a rising sun, or portrait engravings of geisha.

Minimalism — the Basic Line of Japanese Stylistics

The Japanese Minimalism

For refinishing of walls, a ceiling, it's better to select colors neutral and light: white, gray, color of a tree. But if would be desirable brightness — experiment with saturated green (colors of a fresh grass). In refinishing pertinently to use bamboo: panels of wall, a track bed of parting walls, floor mats on a floor, bamboo regiments, armchairs, chairs, vases…
Furniture in Japanese style low enough, steady, correct geometrical forms. With such configuration of furniture always the modern technics well harmonizes.

VIA «Room Interior in the Japanese Style»

Rain chain — made in Japan

VIA «Rain chains instead of drains»

The Banana Man

People change their hairstyles with a cut or dye when they want to reinvent themselves. Complice, our hair salon, is the best place for these people. We respect the wishes and opinions of customers and are confident we can give them great satisfaction with our expertise. In the posters, we refer to change not only on the outside but also on the inside by using the image of carving or peeling fruit on a plate. The idea of using fruit makes our brand concept more impressive and appealing to people.

Geo: Japan;
Category: Professional services;
Brand: Complice Hair Salon;
Advertising Agency: Three & Co., Japan;
Copywriter: Hiroyuki Hayashi;
Art Director/Designer: Masaki Fukumori;
Photography: Keisuke Nishitani;
Artists: Masaki Fukumori, Mitsuhiro Minamitsuji;
Stylist: Mitsuhiro Minamitsuji.

VIA The Hairdresser Salon

All white? The white fringed jacket was created by Lady Gaga's own fashion designers
The outfit complemented an armful of colourful tattoos, socks pulled up to the knees and the face paint. The 26-year-old claimed that was actually a couple of anti-glare patches.
Miss Mattek-Sands had already turned heads with an equally bizarre tennis ball outfit at a pre-Wimbledon party last week, which was designed by one of Lady Gaga's own dressers.
Ball-girl: Mattek-Sands arrives for her match against Japan's Misaki Doi
British designer Alex Noble had again been commissioned for yesterday's outfit.
Unfortunately for Miss Mattek-Sands, it failed to inspire her to victory.
Despite going into the match as the firm favourite and 30th seed, she lost in three sets to Japan's Misaki Doi. And her decorum appeared to desert her as she refused to shake the umpire's hand at the end.
The tongue-in-cheek number is just another example of how players are working around the rules to make fashion more prominent on court.
Skin art: The tennis player shows off her tattoos in a one-shouldered top
On Monday, Venus Williams wore a Greek-inspired romper suit by her own brand Eleven. And high-end label Ralph Lauren have designed new uniforms for the ball-boys.
Mattek-Sands said last month: 'I don't think I can really challenge the colour rule right now. You know, I got to figure something out. Obviously the white, you got to work with a lot of the cuts.
'Obviously I'll be wearing my high socks. But yeah, it's always challenging to think of new things for Wimbledon.
When fashion meets function: Serena, left, and Venus Williams are trendy sisters at the tournament
source: dailymail

VIA What the deuce is she wearing? Bethanie Mattek-Sands plays at Wimbledon in another Lady Gaga-inspired outfit

The Egyptian-style pyramid-shaped tomb of Gaius Cestius, an Augustan era general, reopened to the public this week following an extensive restoration initiated in March 2013. Japanese fashion mogul Yuzo Yagi who funded the project said "It is extraordinary to return it to the white city like [it was] two thousand years ago. It was a great job with an incredible team led by two women", referring to Rita Paris and Maria Grazia Filetici, Italy's archaeological superintendency directors who oversaw the project.

The 120 foot-high pyramid, according to Paris, was constructed in 330 days, made of white Carrara marble. The 21st century restoration of the 2000-year-old tomb took a cumulative 327 days, 75 days less than projected.

Yagi donated two million euros to the innovative internal and external restoration that required a mix of traditional and non-tradition conservation in areas such as vegetation removal, marble facade protection, marble panel stabilization and damage prevention, and a handicap-accessible entrance ramp.

The restoration was much needed after centuries of wear and tear, which included, as Paris detailed, the tomb's incorporation into the 3rd century AD walls, looting in the Middle Ages, mid-17th century restoration, and use as a meeting spot in the 19th century.

Present at the invitation-only inauguration was Umberto Vattani, president of the Italy-Japan Foundation, cultural and foreign affairs undersecretaries Francesca Barracciu and Benedetto Della Vedova, Rome Cultural Heritage superintendent Francesco Prosperetti, and Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino.

Barracciu said that the restoration was "a brilliant best practice that strengthens our belief that the public and private collaboration is a way to go again with more determination. And since last July's Art Bonus, we are very confident ".

When asked if Yagi would finance future heritage projects in Italy, the fashion mogul said "we have a long list of aid to Japan, for the tsunami-affected areas. But I would be happy to return in the coming years".

Author: Erica Firpo | Credit: ANSAmed [April 21, 2015]

Time is now growing worldwide popularity of so-called a rain chains, which are much more beautiful option for accumulation rainwater than conventional gutters. Among the many original ideas for the house, they are quite ancient, their motherland is Japan.

Usual Chain, but Unusual Look

The rain chains are spread all over the world, presenting an opportunity for all people to use the unusual design of the usual things. Such chains rain — offer many opportunities for developing imagination and realization of creative ideas. It can be like a normal chain of traditional weaving, mounted directly below a roof of house.

Also, the accumulated rainwater can be used for watering house plants. Functional and beautiful rain chains will be real gem of country house and garden plot. They will help make the exterior of house as something incredible.

Simple mounting makes easy fixing to any system for effective rainwater accumulation. And sending the water directly into beautiful bowls, vessels, bright colorful barrels for water will be directly to the target.

The rain chain may consist of a variety elements in the form of funnels, bells, fish, tea cups and saucers, teapots, umbrellas, flowers, flowery different weaves, etc. Just look what a beauty!

VIA Simple Chains Magic

Copyright by Y-3 | Creative Direction Lloyd & Co | Photography Pierre Debusschere | Styling Jay Massacret | Hair Esther Langham | Make-Up Adrien Pinault | Models Juliane Grüner, Guerrino Santulliana
In 2013 adidas and Yohji Yamamoto celebrate ten years of Y-3, a collaboration based on seeming opposites combining adidas’ sports technology and Yohji Yamamoto’s style aesthetic. the communication campaign for Spring/Summer 2013 captures the essence of Y-3, led by photographer and director Pierre Debusschere, the campaign explores the partnership of the opposed – the transmission of ideas from the two worlds of Japan and Germany.
Pierre Debusschere’s photographs are a celebration of motion and exploration of movement that draws on the bold colors and graphic lines of the collection. Through the use of visual effects, the photographs have been distorted to provide a palpable sense of kinetic energy to the images.
The Spring/Summer 2013 campaign film is an evolution of these themes - study of movement, distortion and transformation. Through a cutting edge interactive online interface located on the Y-3 website, the user will be able to engage with the video content and through manipulation of sound and image will create their own video clips to share online with others. In addition, Y-3 commissioned Tim Hecker, noted as one of the most preeminent figures currently making ambient music, to compose an original work exclusively for the Spring/Summer 2013 interactive video. As with much of Tim's work this piece plays with notion of variations on a theme, resulting in individual loops which shift and pulse in time with the visual effects of the campaign film.
Y-3

VIA Y-3 Spring/Summer 2013 Collection Campaign

VIA UNEARTH turns Darkness Into Light