At Takagi's studio
photo by SHIMIZU Yuki

Part 3: The Joys of Sleeping Outdoors

■ Buckminster Fuller's Home

SuzukiAs you mentioned in your book, 'Yabai ze! Digital Nihon' (Shueisha Shinsho), you frequently travel between Hokkaido and Okinawa.
TakagiThat's right. In Hokkaido, there's a park called 'Art Park' in Sapporo, and I've built a private studio there. On a site of about 1500 tsubo, I'm in the process of constructing a 'Fuller Dome' based on Buckminster Fuller's 'Dymaxion' concept.
SuzukiYou mean the triangular Dymaxion?
TakagiOne dome has a floor diameter of about 15 meters, and I'm planning to make it a twin-dome setup with a connecting bridge.
SuzukiCould you tell me a bit more about the details?
TakagiThere's a company in America that sells Fuller Dome kits, and I'm bringing one of those directly to Sapporo. In one of the domes, I'm thinking of placing a kitchen sink and a DJ booth side-by-side, and then playing music that complements the food while I cook in that kitchen studio. Think of it as a cooler version of Martha Stewart (laughs). I want to create delicious dishes using Hokkaido's ingredients. It would be interesting if a broadcasting station partnered with me. The other dome will be an archive library for documents and other materials.
SuzukiIs that location a special zone intended to attract artists like yourself?

TakagiI suppose it must be. They likely want to attract arts and art-focused businesses. It's probably conceived as a hub for creative businesses in the region.

■ Travel, Camping, Travel

SuzukiWhere will you sleep in the twin domes, Takagi-san?
TakagiI have a temporary resting area set up, but I usually sleep outside.
SuzukiOutside? You sleep outdoors in the park?
TakagiSleeping outdoors is my default (laughs). I love sleeping outside. As I travel, when I decide 'I'll stay here today!', I just sleep there. It's the same in Okinawa. I turn off all my devices, phones and laptops, and spend five or six days island hopping, sleeping on the beach.

SuzukiEating fewer meals, snacking, and sleeping outdoors...
TakagiIt's fun. I've been a fan of sleeping outdoors since my teens. I can't live without convenience stores, though (laughs), but sleeping outside is perfectly fine. Let's go together sometime, Suzuki-san.
SuzukiNo, I'm not good with tents (laughs). What do you use for transportation?
TakagiFor the 'Hokkaido Set,' I have a HUMMER H2 with a 300W amplifier and seven monitors, plus a 12-inch car navigation system. It's big and cumbersome (laughs), but I keep it at Chitose Airport. For the 'Okinawa Set,' I have a Brabus-modified SMART at the airport, which is sequential, making it easy to navigate narrow roads.

photo by SHIMIZU Yuki

SuzukiI see.
TakagiWhen I think I might build something here, I always try sleeping outdoors first. Suzuki-san, do you know this device?
SuzukiWhat is that?
TakagiThis is called a Geomagnetism Meter.

(To be continued)