Yukikuni - Blog

Another Fresh Re-start

The flow of time has changed the form of my diary, from descriptive passages back in the last century to the most recent set of photo diaries, and has now undergone another 'metamorphosis' into a blog.

This is a recording of memories known as 'fragments of time'. Futher fragments will appear as time passes by. Please click on the panels on the top / side to move the timeline forward / backward for navigation.

• Jacky Nie

I am turning into a ... chocoholic

4th May, 2006.

Dad is fond of chocolate and we often have a stock of it at home. A few munches of it gives very relaxing effects. I tend to prefer not too sweet ones. Recently I seemed to have picked up this addiction and have just contributed further stock piles today.

Chilling Out

5th May, 2006.

Work finished at 4pm today and went shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui. Bought a few items and had a drink in cafe. Also saw a Burberry hooded jacket that matches well with the recently bought army pants. Looks cool but a bit too pricy. May need to think about it later.

The first dose of sunshine

7th May, 2006.

Went to the beach with friends to catch the first tinge of tan of this year. Everything here starts with the letter "S" including the spells of sunshine, sea, sand, and the shifts of crowds during this sunny sunday morning. Still a very long way away from the tan achieved last year.

Clazziquai x Lee Jun Ki

9th May, 2006.

I am fond of music especially those which are not usually well known by others. I have been listening to the Korean Group "Clazziquai" since about 2 years ago when I bought their first album during vacation in Korea. The very first song that was introduced to me was called "Sweetie", which was a very relaxing tune and is still one of my favourite songs stored in the MP3 list in my mobile phone. The MTV of this song was also very interesting talking about the relationship between two youngsters.

Whilst watching this MTV again today, I suddenly noticed that the actor's face is getting more familiar - that's apparently Lee Jun Ki, the currently popular Korean star that was mentioned in the newspapers. Seems that whoever who shot the MTV had a very avant-garde view on actors choice.

Clazziquai Official Website - www.clazziquai.co.kr

The best that you can do...

10th May, 2006.

1. Day off today (at last!). Very sunny just as previous few consecutive days. Went to catch some sunshine again and added more hints of tan. A lot of people in the swimming pool. Seems that a lot of people are off during weekdays as well.

2. Starting to feel the building up symptoms of the common cold with the whole package of cough, throat irritation, myalgia and light-headedness etc. Took a cough tablet and fell into an instant coma just before dinner, still very drowsy now. I am not a fan of medications anyway and I hate taking drugs. I believe that "the best medicine is water", and it surely is. Cough mixtures and cold drugs etc are for those who insist of using them.

3. Listening to a song called "Arthur's Theme". It is a very famous one but this is a reprise version by the japanese group Paris Match. I like the classic chorus "when you get caught between the moon and New York City, I know it's crazy but it's true. If you get caught between the moon and New York City, the best that you can do is fall in love."

Paris Match Official Website - http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/parismatch/

4. Finished playing the game "Gensosuikoden" this morning. Took 80 hours in total to play according the save history. Better not be too addicted with RPG games anymore. Lucky that my favourite "Final Fantasy" is not on the PSP platform or it would be big disaster to me, ho ho...

Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami (村上隆) = Alice in Wonderland ?

11th May, 2006.

I like collecting neat-looking video clips, and one of my favourite is a LV promotion video created by Takashi Murakami in the name of the 2002 Superflat Monogram series. As a fan of japanese animated films, Takashi Murakami revisits the myth of Alice in Wonderland and transposes it into the universe of Louis Vuitton. The animated film is in keeping with a new artistic venture, an event that is all the more important since it concerns the artist's very first work on film. This extra-dimensional artistic development opens up new horizons for the house of Louis Vuitton.

One of the best elements in this clip is the background music by Fantastic Plastic Machine. I have tried hard but cannot find it anywhere though.

And finally, just as a point for clarification... I am not a fan of LV but I am a fan of catchy designs.

(Murakami-san's works are found everywhere as well. The last time I came across it was during the last Tokyo trip in Roppongi Hills)



Official Website of Takashi Murakami - www.kaikaikiki.co.jp
Official Website of Fantastic Plastic Machine - www.fpmnet.com

Fever Strike

12th May, 2006.

The flu progressed and ended up with chills during work last night. The nurse took my temperature and I got fever up to 38.4C. I felt too ill to do anything at all and ended up taking the very first sick leave ever.

A day of hard work at home

15th May, 2006.

The flu symptoms have almost weaned off and have taken the whole rest day to get a presentation done. Feel quite rewarding by the upcoming period of peace before the presentation works next month. So by now... there are 2 whole sets of completed presentations in stock. Phew~

Typhoon Number 1

16th May, 2006.

As shown in the weather forecast, we are approached by "typhoon number 1". This may mean good news or not so good ones. Usually in bad weather days, work is less busy.

Weathernews - http://weathernews.jp/

The Japanese Tradition

16th May, 2006.

Being a fan of the japanese culture, I have come across a highly hilarious video clip today about "the japanese tradition". This clip is called "the Japanese Tradition - Sushi" which produces itself as a guide of the Japanese sushi-ya (sushi shop). In fact, despite the perfect Japanese pronunciation, I have a hard time believing this is a Japanese video: it is so radically different from typical Japanese humor… and it is exceptionally funny.

The "Video Victim 2" DVD
- http://www.digital-voice.net/vv2/whats/index.html

For Real?

19th May, 2006.

The online order had arrived by post. It is the latest CD of Toshinobu Kubota, "For Real?". The music is as cool as usual and is again highly credible.

Technology Upgrade, Skills Downgrade.

20th May, 2006.

Just bought a new camera to replace the old one. The Canon IXY Digital 800IS. An upgrade of technology and a downgrade of skills. Less skills required to produce the same good old pictures. This camera is currently the latest in the series and now in promotion by the Japanese football star, Hidetoshi Nakata.

The Official Canon IXY 800IS Promotional Advertisement

Canon Japan - http://canon.jp
Hidetoshi Nakata - http://nakata.net

Final Fantasy X2

21st May, 2006.

If PSP is going to remake RPG games from previous releases, the very top of my wish list would be the "Final Fantasy" series, especially Final Fantasy X2 International. It was a very well designed game in terms of game play and graphics. What impresses me most is the "dresssphere" system in the game, of which the players who bear different "dressspheres" can activate them to change their outlook, afterwhich the players will gain the ability of the dress sphere. My favourite sphere is the "Psi-Kicker" ability that poses the ability to levitate in air and to use psychic powers to fight. Very cool ideas. In fact, Yuna's outlook of the "Psi-Kicker" have some ressemblence of the Fujiko.F.Fujio cartoon, "ESP Mami" (Fujiko.F.Fujio is famous for Doraemon).

Psyche Up!

21st May, 2006.

Another favourite RPG game series of mine is called "Mother" (or in the US version, also known as Earthbound). The characters of this game also fight with style, they use psychic powers as well. The latest version "Mother 3" had just been out in the GBA platform last month and it also seems to worth a test play.

A Glance Towards the Past

25th May, 2006.

It has really been so long after leaving high school in England and came back to Hong Kong for further studies. Kind of missing the time being there. Life in England was much less complicated comparing with that in Hong Kong. Much less problem with money, relationship and stress. It is virtually impossible to turn back time of course, but at least the internet can do the trick to provide a glance at the past.

Rugby School - http://www.rugbyschool.net

Untitled

26th May, 2006.

Untitled

26th May, 2006.

Nauseated

27th May, 2006.

Yesterday was a tiring day off. Long time without properly picking up a textbook and do readings, feeling quite nauseated seeing the bunch of words. Progress was slow and hope to move in better speed soon. Still, it is good to have a chance to revise with some long lost basic concepts.


Went out to buy take-away dessert in a nearby stall after dinner. Sweet beancurd had always been my favourite and should still remain so for the many years more. My favourite is the normal classic ones served nice and cold. The best kind of food to soothe a muddled mind after one whole day of mental workload.

1000Lights

28th May, 2006.

Listened to one of the latest songs by 245 called "1000lights" (from the Globe's Album : "Maniac"). It is a french song with very beautiful lyrics. I could not resist taking up the dictionary and started off with some translation works. The more I understand the words, the more I am in love with it.


245 - 1000Lights (French Version)

Du noir au blanc, premier eclat lumineux... inimitable
Dans ce monde pale. Une ombre qui commencait sur ton sourire
1000lights... l'horizon rougissait brisant les cris nocturnes
On s'aimait tant. Dans ce long soupir eternel

Douleureux... Je n'oublierai jamais les belles soirees
Dans les reves... les beaux jours d'hiver... Jusqu'a l'horizon
Venimeux... L'amour va doucement reouvrir ta plaie
Lentement... du cote de ton coeur... tout seul dans ce monde

Memoires epuisees et puis dispersees... Souvenir lointain
Je me repetais un peu, forcement... Je ne suis plus rien
Partageant tes larmes, moins triste.... les souvenirs de bonheur
Dans mon coeur, Viperes et couleuvres... qui pleuraient un peu

Perdu trop longtemps... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
Dans mes mains, dans mes yeux... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
Nageant dans le verite... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
Ce vent qui nous emporte...

Du noir au blanc, premier eclat lumineux... inimitable
Dans ce monde pale. Une ombre qui commencait sur ton sourire
1000lights... l'horizon rougissait brisant les cris nocturnes
On s'aimait tant. Dans ce long soupir eternel


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Lyrics Translation:
(done by myself... sorry if this is inaccurate)

From darkness to light... the first luminous glare.... inimitable
In this pale world... a shade that started on your smile
1000lights... the horizon reddened breaking the nocturnal screams
We liked it so much. In this long eternal sigh

Painful... I will never forget the beautiful evenings
In the dreams... beautiful days of winter... to the horizon
Poisonous... love gently will re-open your wound
Slowly... from the dimensions of your heart... all alone in this world

Memories exhausted and then dispersed.... as a remote souvenir
I repeated myself a little, forcing... I am nothing anymore
Dividing your tears, less sad.... the memories of happiness
In my heart, Vipers and grass snakes... which cried a little

Lost too long ago... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
In my hands, in my eyes... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
Swimming in the truth... I'm sorry sorry oh oh oh
This wind which carries us...

From darkness to light... the first luminous glare.... inimitable
In this pale world... a shade that started on your smile
1000lights... the horizon reddened breaking the nocturnal screams
We liked it so much. In this long eternal sigh


Globe, Official Website - http://www.avexnet.or.jp/globe/