Thanks to Josh we are now all able to check out the latest Art Below Exhibit held last week in Shibuya Station.

Tokyo Made in collaboration with Biz NITE will be strutting down the red carpet at Tabelaux in Daikanyama on Monday night!

Please join us at BiZ NITE – Tokyo’s fastest growing networking event for creative business people - on Monday 8 September at Daikanyama Tableaux (http://www.tableaux.jp), 18:00-23:30, with an Australian Flavor’. The venue has a beautiful atmosphere with an outdoor courtyard, great food and reasonably priced drinks.

In addition to our regular content, BiZ NITE will host presentations about contemporary Australian music and culture, and about Australian creative business people's activities in Japan. We expect about 300 people to attend community presentations and get-togethers in three spaces for people working in an A-Z of creative communities, including ad, art, DJ, design, eco, fashion, movie, music, net, sport, success, VJ, wellness industries.

Entry: Advance: 1000 yen / Door 1500 yen, (Buffet dinner 1500 yen. Australian drinks at special prices) (To qualify for advance, please sign up as a member at biznites.ning.com

18:00-22:30 Presentations & Discussions in Three Spaces:

* AART BIZ: "Live Painting by Hiroaki Koshiba with DJ James Carstensen" Hiraoki Koshiba (http://hiroakikoshiba.web.fc2.com/)
* Ad Biz: “Outdoor advertising Aussie style” Mark Long, Charles Thirwall. (www.lookmedia.jp)
* Fashion Biz: Style from the Streets of Tokyo with Tokyomade (www.tokyomade.com) with fashion parade!
* I.T. Biz: “TangoTown - It’s like carrying a Japanese teacher in your pocket” Tracey Northcott (http://tangotown.jp)
* Net Biz: "Launch of Japan-i English/Chinese/TaiwaneseKorean Travel Media - and call for Staff and Volunteer Writers, Editors and Photographers" - Jon Lynch ( www.japan-i.jp )
* Movie Biz: info soon
* Music Biz: “Trumpet playing on the Tokyo jazz scene – an inspirational story (Presentation and live music performance)” – Neil Stalnaker (http://www.neilstalnaker.com)
* NPO BIZ: info soon
* Photo Biz: “Martine Cotton Photography: launch of www.martinecotton.com” Martine Cotton ( www.martinecotton.com )
* Performance Biz: info soon
* Sports Biz: info soon
* Wellness Biz: info soon

22:00-23:30 LOUNGE DJs: James Carstensen (Tokyo Electro) mixing electro-lounge music with some aussie classics.

Tokyo-based illustrator-turned-VJ Shantell Martin will release her first DVD, titled KOOB’S, on November 20, 2008 through the lightrhythmvisuals label. The DVD will be available for US$24.99 at selected music and DVD retailers globally and online.

Martin was last year voted among the world’s top 10 VJs by DJ Magazine and has become a much sought-after performer in Tokyo, London and New York since her appearance on the Japanese club scene two years ago. The DVD features a diverse collection of short videos that demonstrate Martin’s playful inventiveness with both the concept and tools of drawing. Each video is backed by an audio track produced exclusively for KOOB’S by a range of DJs and musicians and is accompanied by its own special guest VJ remix. Multi-angle programming allows viewers to interact for a “home VJ experience” by switching between the original tracks and their remixes in real time. Also included are Quicktime clips suitable for VJ software applications.

The DVD marks a natural progression for the artist, who trained as an illustrator but has gone on to do collaborations with everyone from fashion designers, magazine publishers, live bands and ceramic artists, as well inventing two new forms of VJ-ing that allow her to interact with other performers and audience members alike. “With this DVD, apart from it being the next phase in my plan for world domination,” she says laughingly, “I wanted to do something that allowed me to make work using a diverse mix of media and then share it easily. I also wanted to produce different tracks in a way that anybody could, hoping to inspire people to get up and do it for themselves.”

Clips can been seen and DVD purchased online at the lightrhythmvisuals site.

Eshimasa LIVE painting @ Fragment

We are warming up for another installment of Fragment; the multifaceted design, fashion and art show. The November 3rd event will be held at Super Deluxe, showcasing a diverse range of independent design, illustration, accessories, fashion and arts in addition to visual displays and musical delights.

Held on the final day of Tokyo Designer's Week 2008, the next Fragment will be a wind down to the jam packed week for many designers, a chance to meet up and mingle with other creators, friends and fans. TokyoMade is keen to support designers interested in showcasing and selling their creations at the event. For more information on how to participate in the November 3rd Fragment event please get in touch with Masao contact@tokyomade.com

CHAPTER and I @ Fragment

From the creator of the Mac Book Air Felt Case comes the latest handmade accessory from Japan, the Pod Canvas iPhone 3G Felt Case.

Available in amber and charcoal felt with soft suede interior to smoothly protect your iPhone.

Designed and created by Pod Canvas in collaboration with Buzz House design especially for the iPhone 3G.

Pod Canvas designer Atushi Yamaguchi has been developing, designing and creating the Pod Canvas range for 8 years here in Japan. Pod Canvas is an ever evolving brand, inspired by simple and smooth design.

A huge thank you has to go out to so many people for a wildly fun night last night at BiZ NITE. First to the BiZ NITE crew for inviting us to show off some of th funky TokyoMade pieces. To Tableaux and the staff of the beautiful French restaurant in Daikanyama for allowing us to strut down their red carpet. To all the vibrant audience who cheered on the models and applauded the designer creations. To the heavens for completely and utterly opening up in the most powerful way and raining buckets and buckets half way through our outdoor parade, forcing us to take shelter and continue to rock the crowd in the main lounge complete with fire place and leopard print couches.

The biggest thank you to our super hot models who worked the designs better than I could ever have hoped for! We loved every moment of it!

A few shots just before show time. All of the fab models strutted their stuff giving out TokyoMade promo pieces before darting backstage to change into the designer pieces.

Thank you so much to chief&mischief, Zoestyles, BROS WEAR DESIGN mememachine, Shojono Tomo and CHAPTER for lending their amazing creations for the show.

Some after show tom foolery.

Nani Bird creator and illustrator, Josh McKible, is making the nest nice and cozy for all little birdies. The recent release of his constructible, 3D Nani Birds sees the whole family get together, Mommi Nani and Dad Nani with their little Peeps.

The latest characters come ready to cut, construct and enjoy. There is a wonderful story of collaboration, kimono inspired patterns and shoes behind the creation of the new Nani Mommies and Dad. You can check it out on Josh's nani blog.

Something else very cool I found on Josh's Nani Bird site is this little instruction video on how to construct your own Nani Birds. Enjoy!

In the October issue, Deja-Vu International Magazine and TokyoMade have teamed up to bring you some hot picks for the season. Masao is sharing the resin pendant love created by Tiny Azure and Souvenir. He also talks about his latest and favorite reads; Howan no Monogatabi and Frankie Magazine.

Deja-vu International is an online mag available in languages offering lifestyle, art, beauty and design tips as well as some sensational Second Life creations.

We often have emails from excited travelers heading to Tokyo asking for tips and suggestions about this pulsating city. Tokyo is such an expansive, action packed and pleasure filled space that we can only ever scrape the surface with our replies.

Luckily for visitors and residents of Japan there are some up to the minute and easily navigated sites on the net that help answer the questions.

Japan Visitor is more than just a travel site. Regularly updated right here in Tokyo, Japan Visitor is a complete and concise guide for both visitors and residents. As well as guides to all of Japan's major cities, the Japan Visitor site offers accurate info on transportation (a life saver), visa information, reviews on hot spots and cultural insights; among many other things.

The recent article Tokyo Guide: Daikanyama caught our eye. Daikanyama is a fashion and style hot spot in Tokyo that is often by passed by visitors. At times overshadowed by it's neighbors Shibuya and Harajuku, Daikanyama offers some of the best cafes and boutiques in Tokyo, definitely a worthwhile adventure.

What we admire most about the Japan Visitor reviews and articles is their honest and open accounts. The lack of sugar coating tempts and inspires visitors and residents to head off the beaten track and find the real treasures that Tokyo offer.

After a month long and totally revitalizing break so it seems, Dr Sketchy's Tokyo is back with a new look website, a brand new crew and a rocking September session.

Head to the Pink Cow in Shibuya this Wednesday, September 24 for Dr Sketchy's Tokyo, Erotic Fairytale.

Princess Jasmine escapes from the oppressive demands of Jafar and monarchic decorum only to find herself in the red light district of The Enchanted Forest where she is scouted by some Thai lady boys to learn the tricks of their trade. A willing pupil, this submissive hungrily learns the art and pleasures of tantric domination. Meanwhile back in the Hundred Acre Wood Rabbit, Pooh Bear and Piglet do battle with a carrot-crusading Samurai princes-warrior who must vanquish these iconic forest creatures in order to capture The Golden Carrot, a dildo of untold allure and power that could if wielded unwisely, destroy the entire red light industry of The Enchanted Forest with a monopoly of Starbucks proportions that would threaten the livelihood of sex industry favorites like Snow “The Slut” White and Dumbo “The Tickler” Elephant. Will Jasmine have the skills to defeat the evil Samurai princess-warrior…

Come sketch Safi as she unlocks the fate of our erotic fairytale princess.

Today is the official Japan release date of the power packed book Arcade Mania by Brian Ashcraft with Jean Snow. Already available on Amazon Japan, Arcade Mania takes readers on a tour inside the buzzing game centers of Japan.

From Space Invaders to Purikura, Arcade Mania is a Japanese game center experience that packs street fighter style punches.

A launch party for Arcade Mania takes place Saturday, September 27 (19:00-23:00) at Cafe Pause in Ikebukuro. Musical selection will be by Jason DeGroot (6955), and it will mark the start of an exhibition of photos taken by Yuki Nakano for the book (the show will run until October 5).

For those of you in the US waiting to get your hands on a copy, you may have to wait for it's release on Jan 1, 2009, making it all the more exciting.

Zoestyles has released a new look Joan of Arc style jacket with short puff sleeves.

Going into battle on the field of fashion every heroine needs her finest armor. The Joan of Arc Jacket is all about assertive and unrelenting feminine style. Strong and sophisticated. Powerful and uncomplicated. Unique and victorious.

This jacket has been handcrafted in Japan using 100% cotton.

Check out the Zoestyles show at the Shinjuku Marui One building 5F from October 9.

Shojono Tomo, illustrator, set designer and costume creator has collaborated with Rodeo Crowns. The designs are based on love, relationships and drama. The inspiration of this range is Love Allergy. Featured recently in Shelter magazine.

Shojono Tomo also available on TokyoMade.

Known for their striking fashion and unique looks Japanese men and their passion for fashion have been scooped up in the latest Vogue Hommes Japan. An ode to Tokyo Wave.

A celebration of Japanese fashion on the global stage. The Samuri Fiction shoot by Hedi Slimane is a breathtaking capture of fashion from what is described by many as the most fashionable city in the world - Tokyo. A beautiful guy's story begins in Tokyo.