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March 17, 2015
FEATURE | Ask the Culture Connoisseurs! Music, Books, and Films to Enjoy Long Winter Nights, Vol. 1
Entertainers Recommended by Experts Vol.1
What kind of music, books, and films do these leading figures, who are always at the forefront of their fields, recommend?──.
From singer JUJU and actor Yusuke Iseya to OPENERS' own columnists, a total of 25 experts have generously shared their most cherished, secret works exclusively for OPENERS readers. This first installment features model Nanae Ubukata, floral artist Makoto Azuma, fashion director Terumi Hagiwara, photographer Takashi Homma, and musician Miu Sakamoto. Why not take this opportunity to discover some wonderful works you haven't encountered yet?
This first installment features model Nanae Ubukata, floral artist Makoto Azuma, fashion director Terumi Hagiwara, photographer Takashi Homma, and musician Miu Sakamoto. Why not take this opportunity to discover some wonderful works you haven't encountered yet?
Nanae Ubukata
Model
──What are your resolutions for 2011?
To live each moment with care and grace.
MUSIC
"Hard Believer"
First Aid Kit
Wichita
The Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit offers wonderfully soothing harmonies. Their music videos are also charming, making them highly recommended.
BOOK
"Revolving Doors, One by One"
Authors | Hiromi Hozumi, Naoko Higashi
Chikuma Shobo
This is a collection of love dialogues between Hiromi Hozumi and Naoko Higashi. The worlds that unfold freely from these 31-character poems are striking and deeply moving. A truly beautiful book.
MOVIE
"A Single Man"
Director | Tom Ford
Gaga
Every scene is truly beautiful. A film I want to watch again and again.
Photo by Masahiro Sanbe
Makoto Azuma
Floral Artist
──What are your resolutions for 2011?
To return to my roots as a florist, to face flowers with unwavering dedication, and to bring to life every idea that comes to mind, one after another. To continuously create an immense volume of work.
MUSIC
"rock’n’roll"
Co/ss/griNDErZ /(Corpus Grinders)
King Records
Real rock music for these lukewarm times!
BOOK
"The Coffin of Bad Reputation: The Life of Ryoichi Sasakawa"
Author | Miyoko Kudo
Gentosha
Isn't a person like this needed now more than ever?
MOVIE
"Barton Fink"
Directors | Joel Coen
Geneon Universal Entertainment
Now available for rent
The overall taste is simple, yet addictively unique.
Terumi Hagiwara
Fashion Director
──What are your resolutions for 2011?
My leisurely horseback riding.
Joining a club has inspired me to improve my riding skills so I can proudly say, "My hobby is horseback riding." Neigh.
MUSIC
"THE MOUNTAIN"
Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya
RCA Camden Classics
For the Spring/Summer 2011 fashion season, a relaxed style that one can enjoy is chic. This song, "THE MOUNTAIN," evokes the feeling of a vast sunset and the air of grand mountains. It's truly healing.
BOOK
"The Seven Lamps of Architecture"
Author | John Ruskin
Kajima Institute Publishing
This book makes you pause and contemplate the nature of beauty. Ruskin's insights seem to connect even to the creation of fashion in the 21st century. He was truly remarkable, I feel.
MOVIE
"The Last Station: The Final Journey of Tolstoy"
Director | Michael Hoffman
Sony Pictures Entertainment
The elegance and egoism of late 19th-century Russian aristocratic society are depicted with chilling beauty. It's a profoundly sad love story between the great writer Tolstoy and his wife, Sofya, known as one of the world's three most difficult wives.
Takashi Homma
Photographer
──What are your resolutions for 2011?
To enjoy my solo exhibitions at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, right after the New Year, and at Tokyo Opera City in April.
MUSIC
"Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Complete"
Composer | Bach
Victor Entertainment
Because I'm currently practicing Bach's "Prelude BWV846" (laughs).
BOOK
"The Most Here-Appropriate Person"
Author | Miranda July
Shinchosha
"The Swim Team" is the best.
MOVIE
"Godard Socialist"
Director | Jean-Luc Godard
France Eigasha
In an era dominated by Hollywood and animation, it's important to appreciate alternative cinema.
(C) France Eigasha
Miu Sakamoto
Musician
──What are your resolutions for 2011?
To be serene, healthy, and light within myself.
To further promote the activities of Freepets,
and bring dogs and cats closer to happiness.
MUSIC
"go"
Jónsi
EMI Music
This is the solo album by Jónsi from Sigur Rós. It's like a rainbow of sound, bursting forth from the tranquil lake of Sigur Rós's music. Lately, I've been listening to the live album "Go Live" every night before sleeping.
BOOK
"The Little Girl Who Loved Flowers"
Author | Munro Leaf
Illustrator | Robert Lawson
Iwanami Shoten
During a location shoot for an NHK program at the Chihiro Art Museum in Azumino, which houses a collection of picture books from around the world, I happened upon this book and became engrossed, even amidst filming. It's the story of a cow who is a bit unusual but possesses her own world and is content with it. It's a simple tale, but it really resonated with me, and I ended up buying two copies.
MOVIE
"Norwegian Wood"
Director | Tran Anh Hung
Toho
A raw fantasy. Every frame is visually stunning.
(C)2010 "Norwegian Wood" Murakami Haruki / Asmik Ace, Fuji Television