NAKED Inc. is a company that creates interactive and immersive art events. They have dazzled many at their showcases including with their projection mapping at Tokyo Station and their interactive art exhibition FLOWERS by NAKED which brought the cherry blossom season to people early. They have even taken their work overseas in Taiwan and Beijing.
Did you know the company also has their very own restaurant in Yoyogi Park called TREE by NAKED?
You must book seats to dine there which offers a very special 2-hour course. It’s a fantastical marriage of art and dining woven through projection mapping, virtual reality, lighting, aromas, music and of course, delicious food made using seasonal ingredients.
If you’re looking to see some art while in Japan and enjoy great food then you can kill two birds with one stone at TREE by NAKED in Yoyogi Park. We visited the restaurant to witness and report back this new kind of interactive dining experience.
The restaurant is just a 2-minute walk from Yoyogi Station. When you arrive, you wait at the entrance to be seated. Once 8 people had gathered for the evening dinner we were led by the guide to dim private rooms in a Japanese rock garden with tables.
The course consists of six meals which each represent different stages in the life of a tree. We begin in the first room which uses projection mapping on the table and walls and are given an explanation of the courses.
A table made in the form of a Japanese rock garden
The table and room look like you’ve walked into an art exhibition. The guide who brought us to the other room took on the role of storyteller and led explained the story which would be linked by the sights and smells. They also this explanation in English.
An entire room uses project mapping to look otherworldly
After becoming completely immersed in the story we moved into the main room. This room uses virtual reality, project mapping and a dining experience to portray the story, exploring themes like the life of a tree, Japan’s four seasons and the blessing of life.
(There were many other fun and interesting elements too but writing everything would spoil the experience for anyone thinking of going so we’re only showing a snippet.)
The story begins by planting a seed in the soil. The soil is delicious! (Don’t worry, it’s not real soil)
The fish swim away when you touch this projection mapping. There’s much fun to be had while waiting for food.
The plates change colours to showcase Japan’s vivid seasons
But it’s not just the technological performances that are striking – the food and drinks are also out of this world. The food on the menu was created by executive chef Nagatomo of restaurant and café Hoff which is located in Hatsudai, Tokyo. He designed 8 Japanese-style dishes inspired by the seasons that are made using seasonal ingredients. Drinks come with meals and you can choose from alcohol or tea. You often see alcohol paired with meals so it’s interesting to see tea paired too. You can even drink tea made by a tea expert.
The restaurant at lunchtime. In the evening, the lights come on and the tables use project mapping.
After eating the main dish we moved to the second floor. This was home to the dessert room, the final part of the story, which represented a paradise on top of the tree where you can eat the forbidden fruit.
With our bellies, heads and hearts full, our first ever ‘art gastronomy’ came to a close. We got a fill of both art and food.
It’s a little expensive to go, coming in at ¥23,000 (tax and service charge included) which includes the full course and drinks, but there is no other place like it where you can be immersed in such an experience that combines performance and cuisine.
If you want to go eat somewhere for a special day or would like to try something you then this is somewhere you’re sure to enjoy. It’s something you have to experience at least once.
MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab Borderless will open on June 21 and is co-managed by Mori Building Co., Ltd. and teamLab.
teamLab Borderless is a collection of artworks that 'form one borderless world.' The art encompasses the entire room from the ceiling to the floor, and each piece connects seamlessly to the other, creating an immersive world where time blurs.
You'll be able to create new experiences with other people by submerging yourself into world of this borderless art and exploring it with your body.
This never-before-seen new world is created in an expansive and complex three-dimensional 10,000 square meter space by 520 computers and 470 projectors.
EPSON teamLab Borderless have created 5 worlds each with their own distinct artwork. Early bird tickets are now on sale at a discounted price. Sales end on July 31. Additionally, the opening hours will be extended by one hour from June 21 to August 31.
Dive into a mesmerising 3D world and get lost amongst the borderless art.
■InformationMORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab Borderless
Address: 1-3-8 Aomi, Koto, Tokyo
Opening: June 21, 2018
Opening Hours
Monday-Thursday 11:00-19:00 (20:00)
Friday 11:00-21:00 (22:00)
Saturday 10:00-21:00 (22:00)
Sunday & National Holidays 10:00-19:00 (20:00)
*Last entries are 1 hour before closing time.
*Times listed in brackets refer to extended opening times running from June 21 to August 31.
*Business hours will defer from season to season. Check the official website for full details.
Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month.
Early Bird Tickets (Discounted)
Sales Period: June 7, 2018-July 31, 2018
Price:
Adults, High School & College Student - ¥2,400 (*Normal price ¥3,200)
Children up to Middle School Student - ¥1,000 (*Same as normal price)
*Prices listed include tax.
*Early bird tickets admitted during the period June 21 to July 31 only.
Ticket Purchasing: https://borderless.teamlab.art/jp/
teamLab Borderless: https://www.baitoru.com/cp/teamlab-borderless/
Official Website: http://borderless.teamlab.art/jp
Teaser Trailer: https://youtu.be/y3quanO4bKw
Experience Japan’s earliest hanami flower-viewing at interactive art exhibition “FLOWERS by NAKED 2018 -Rondo-” in Nihonbashi
NAKED have unveiled that they will hold a thematic and immersive flower art exhibition titled FLOWERS by NAKED 2018 -Rondo- which will run next year from January 23rd to February 26th.
The show is held every year at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall alongside the slogan “Japan’s earliest flower-viewing is at Nihonbashi”
2018 will mark the 3rd run of the annual New Year’s springtime exhibition and it’s looking to be bigger than ever. The total number of people that have attended up to now is over 250,000, and there are more than 47,000 Instagram hashtags (as of December 1, 2017) talking about the event.
Next year’s event promises to be even bigger and better, with 10 new interactive experiences and displays.
A flower world of unprecedented beauty – flower art created by attendees A concept taken under wing by NAKED for the event is “finding a secret garden in the city.” This garden will amalgamate fresh flower arrangements, artificial flowers, projecting mapping, objet d’art, sensing art, music, scent and more to produce an enjoyable and unique experience that stimulates all 5 senses.
“FLOWERS by NAKED” in 2018 takes the best contents from previous years that focus on appreciation and revamps them to get people more involved. You will feel like a protagonist in a movie as you find yourself lost in a wondrous world of flowers and use technology to bloom your very own flower art.
Popular brand LANVIN en Bleu have collaborated with the event to produce their own art fun. You can enjoy creating your own personal flower art by taking photos of flowers around the exhibition and holding them out to a white flower object onto which the photo’s colours will be transmitted. The flower will sway and change colour.
There will even be a great photo spot decorated with bloomed spring flowers. There are 10 interactive activities planned for attendees to enjoy.
Enjoy a city-only flower-viewing experience with some sake among the flower art, musical performances and dances
The entertainment side of things are also receiving a fine update, with 2018’s theme centered around “rondo.” Dancers dressed as springtime spirits will dance right in front of you and there will be a violin performance every 10 minutes. You can look forward to watching the dancing spirits on an interactive flower bed stage.
Indulge in some cherry blossom wine coolers courtesy of popular Yoyogi-Uehara based restaurant “9STORIES” and alcoholic cocktails designed with flower beds in mind. Luxuriate in a range of original flower themed drinks and Japanese sake while giving rein to an early spring.
Experience a special ‘hanami’ (flower-viewing) only possible in the city at “FLOWERS by NAKED 2018.”
◼︎Information
FLOWERS by NAKED 2018 -Rondo-
Address: Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall, COREDO Muromachi 15F (entrance is on 4F)
Running: January 23, 2018 – February 26, 2018
*Open 10:00-20:00 with no planned closures. Last entries are 30 minutes before closing time.
*People who purchase an advance ticket with masking tape will be able to attend a special early viewing 2-days before general opening to the public on January 21, 2018 at 18:00-21:00.
<Same-Day Ticket> Available January 23rd – February 26th
Adults - ￥1,400 / Children (elementary-middle school) - ￥900
Ultratechnologists teamLab are taking their Resonating Trees digital art masterpiece to the rooftop garden of GINZA SIX, the biggest shopping complex in Ginza. It will run from August 1 to September 2.
The theme of the work is "Digitized Nature." Taking place in a 56-meter roof garden, this digital art space combines sound and lights which change and transform as people walk by. This is the first time for this piece to be held in the city and offers people a dreamy experience with the nightscape of Ginza's streets and buildings as the backdrop.
The trees lining the garden will be individually lit up with bright and colourful lights. It will seem as if the trees are resonating with each other as they fade in and out of different colour tones. As watchers walk by, the colour tone of a tree will change and transmit to the trees next to them. The changing of colours signifies the presence of people, and in turn teamLab hopes people will become aware of the existence of other living things in the same space.
Experience the latest in cutting-edge digital art technology at GINZA SIX.
■InformationteamLab: Resonating Trees in GINZA SIX GARDEN
Location: GINZA SIX GARDEN, GINZA SIX roof
Running: August 1, 2018 - September 2, 2018 (*Shops and restaurants closed on August 27)
Time: Sunset-11:00pm
Entry: Free
Event Page: https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/ginzasixgarden
Resonating Trees: https://www.teamlab.art/w/resonatingtreesGINZA SIX
Address: 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: Shops & Cafes (B2F-5F) 10:30am-8:30pm / Restaurants (6F, 13F) 11:00am-11:00pm
*Business hours different for select shops.
No Fixed Holidays.
*Shops and restaurants closed on August 27.
TEL: 03-6891-3390 (GINZA SIX Information Desk / 10:30am-8:30pm)
Website: http://ginza6.tokyo/
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Next Generation Creative Girls’ Collective bala Kicks off New Activities
The Tokyo-based girl artists and creators' collective bala has finally launched for real! The group will release its first single barla on March 8.
bala consists of MANON, SUNNY ONLY 1, DAN, and KANO, each with their own global background. The project aims to resonate with Gen Z youth culture and to be a collective of artists that connects hybrid Japanese pop culture with audiences around the world.
The debut song barla was produced by Shinichi Osawa, who has numerous hits under the name Mondo Grosso. It was co-written by Kenmochi Hidefumi from Wednesday Campanella. With Y2K culture making a comeback around the world, the track features the house sound popular in the late 90s which is showing signs of becoming the next musical trend yet again. The groovy dance tune is a perfect theme song for these girls who will lead the next generation of pop culture.
<Comment from Shinichi Osawa>
“I’m honored to be involved in bala’s debut. The members are super unique, and collaborating with Kenmochi-san for the first time was a dream come true.”
<Comment from Kenmochi Hidefumi>
“I’m happy to be able to work with the members of bala and Shinichi Osawa. Everyone is so uniquely talented, and this song is filled with everyone's energy and excitement inspired by their long-awaited debut!”
Art collective TeamLab has redesigned two exhibitions at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. The world’s first permanent exhibition from the creators, Future World: Where Art Meets Science, was opened in 2016 at the Museum of Art and Science. Guests can now enjoy three new works along with the Digital Light Canvas, a huge, interactive space inviting guests to share their own pieces of art.
Drawing Flight
Visitors can immerse themselves in these impressive new works while experiencing a complex, three-dimensional world. They can also create new worlds with others!
Future World
The Drawing Flight, part of the Amusement Park of the Future series, is based on the concept of co-creation, allowing visitors to not only draw an airplane that will fly but also allowing them to operate it from a pilot's point of view using a tablet. Whether visitors draw a butterfly or a hawk, they’ll see the world from the perspective of each creature and enter a world constructed by the creature's unique perceptions.
Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds
In Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds, guests are asked to perceive the world with their entire bodies. Visitors cross a space with sticks floating three-dimensionally in the air.
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self offers a new and abstract concept. As people touch the dots, the rhythm of the dots flickers and their hue changes and disintegrates. The picture will then change dramatically, and despite these changes, the beauty remains.
Digital Light Canvas
Graffiti Nature - Red List Digital Light Canvas
Digital Light Canvas is a space consisting of a 15-meter-diameter circular link of light and a 20-meter-high cylinder of light made up of a collection of light dots. Team Lab's interactive artwork, which changes depending on how many people are around, is on permanent display.
Yoshitaka Amano, known by international fans as the artist behind the legendary Final Fantasy video game series, is celebrating his 70th birthday with a unique art project from November 23 until December 8 at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto. On the first day of the event, the venue, decorated with autumn leaves, was crowded with visitors including foreign tourists, who marveled at the fantastic space filled harmoniously with gold and blue. The exhibition will be held at Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. This collection of works was designed to question visitors’ sensibilities and provide a new kind of art exhibition for fans to enjoy.After the exhibition, the main art piece by Yoshitaka himself will be converted to 3DCG, and a Virtual Golden World will be developed in collaboration with the Yoshitaka Amano VR Museum. By integrating traditional and modern art methods, guests will be able to engage more deeply in the art by enjoying digital works, the metaverse, and NFTs.Don't miss this curious exhibition!
The historic Nagoya Castle will hold a special nighttime viewing event for 14 days only, from November 25 until December 8, 2022. During this period, Honmaru Palace will be open to the public at night, and the Chrysanthemum Corridor inside will be open to visitors for the first time. The Ninomaru Garden will also be illuminated and will transport guests to a different place and time by showing a space only possible during dark hours.Inspired by the relationship between light and shadow, this event focuses on changes that occur over time and the creation and emergence of new ideas and things.Honmaru Palace, Typically Closed to the Public, to be Open at NightNagoya Castle’s Honmaru Palace was completed in 1615 and served as the primary residence of the Lord of the Owari Domain and as the Domain’s government office. The interior of the palace was lavishly decorated with paintings and other art pieces and was praised as a masterpiece. Sadly, it was destroyed by an air raid in 1945. Restoration work began in 2009 and was completed in 2018 with unparalleled accuracy. The Honmaru Palace gives off a completely different aura at night.
First Public Viewing of the Jodan-no-ma in the Joraku-den
The Joraku-den was added to Nagoya Castle to accommodate the third Shogun, Iemitsu, on his way to Kyoto. It is the most luxurious of all the Honmaru Palace buildings, and this event marks the first time that the Chrysanthemum Corridor on the north side will be open to the public. Visitors are welcome to admire the golden-blue paintings as they stroll through the historic site.
See Spectacular Paintings when Entering the Tsugi-no-ma Room
During this period, visitors can enter the Tsugi-no-ma room to view classical period paintings, giving a more clear idea of how people acted and dressed during this time in history.
[Ninomaru Garden Special Viewing]
~Witness a Never-Before-Seen Feudal Lord's Garden through a Spacial Presentation~Scenography for this unique show was provided by the creative label PERIMETRON. In order to show another side of the Ninomaru Garden at night, the company focused on light’s characteristics, from reflection and transmission to refraction and absorption. Light and shadow intertwine in various ways, and guests will be transfixed by this curious showing.
Yoshitaka Amano, known by international fans as the artist behind the legendary Final Fantasy video game series, is celebrating his 70th birthday with a unique art project in Kyoto. The exhibition will be held at Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. Stepping into the temple, guests will be met with colorful autumn leaves and a sea of gold and blue art pieces. “I want people to enter this world of light and experience being part of it,” Amano said. “Rather than art being something flat on a wall, I want to present something new and unique.” This collection of works was designed to question visitors’ sensibilities and provide a new kind of art exhibition for fans to enjoy.The main art piece, newly painted by Amano himself, will be on display in the Dharma Hall, which was decorated by one of Kano Tan’yu’s masterpieces. Tan’yu was an Edo-period painter. The three meter tall column features Amano’s own interpretation of Hiten, part of Mount Meru, a part of Buddhism cosmology considered to be the centre of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes. Four smaller pieces will be displayed on all four sides to create a three-dimensional mandala.
