Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD APRIL 10. 2020Comedies won't wear masks by Kilara Sen (Formerly "Kaori" )
I am a comedian in Japanese and English. First I started as a Japanese style comedian (“Owarai-geinin” in Japanese) , and years later started English standup, then now doing standup in both languages. My job is to perform comedy and host at corporates, events, parties and so on. I love my job. There are many differences between Western comedy and Japanese comedy.
A surprise when I just started English was that comedians in Western usually had day jobs. They are rich! enough to subscribe Netflix, at least. In Japanese, although it’s getting more accepted currently comedians having day jobs, it’s been traditionally common ones surviving poor lives with multiple part-time jobs and spending most of the time in “netamise” (kinda mix of open mic and rehearsal internally held at each talent agency) and helping their agencies’ shows.
There are tons of small comedy shows costing free to 500 yen by them.. and they were my departure. I could only perform in front of very small crowds, like 10 people maximum. Sometimes 3, 2.. but it didn’t matter, we just did our best to polish my materials. But only when there was just one, it’s a problem. Because when I said, “Thanks for coming!! My name is Kilara! Nice to meet you!”, Then the audience suddenly stood up and said, “ Hi. I am Suzuki, nice to meet you, too.” ..afterwards we exchanged business cards.
On March 8th, the final round of R-1, which is the annual Japanese comedy competition for solo comedian, is live-aired on TV. Though every year the final and consolation are live-aired with live audience, this year no audience for the virus fear. I can imagine performing comedy in front of only TV crew and judgements would be shitless like doing in front of Hello Kitty: their face seemed, but silent because they have no mouth.
I’ve heard many international people saying Japanese comedy is not funny. It might be because there's no political jokes or sarcasm and they like to take off clothes, then it seems slapstick?
True, Japanese audience usually don’t welcome political and social things in comedy. The moment I told jokes about gender gap at R-1 round 2, I felt audiences’ attention distant. I believe comedy is a last stronghold to improve society so it needs to accept to be social.However, at the same time, I pay great amount of respect to seasoned Japanese comedians in different way than to Western ones.
When comedians come to criticize other, there’s an interesting difference: Japanese more focus on techniques and chemistry, Western on POV and what they talk.
Believing Japanese comedy is more about high context creativity and it’s another rich art form, I would love you to be one of audience experiencing the funniest Japanese comedians, and laugh.
Youtube:
https://www.facebook.com/kilaracomedy
Twitter: Kilaracomedy
Instagram : kilaracomedy
私は英語と日本語でコメディアンとして活動している。
最初はお笑い芸人として活動を始め、数年後英語のスタンダップコメディに転向、今では日英でスタンダップコメディをやっている。今では企業イベントやパーティー、船などでコメディをやったりMCをしたりするのが主な仕事になっている。
西洋の笑いと日本の笑いには沢山の違いがある。英語でスタンダップを始めた頃に驚いたのが、欧米のコメディアンは大抵「昼の仕事」を持っていて、みんな豊かであることだ！・・まぁNetflixを登録するくらいには。
日本のお笑い界では、最近ではそういったスタイルも受け入れられつつあるが、昔から若手芸人はバイトを掛け持ちし、ネタ見せや事務所ライブの手伝いをしながら超貧乏生活を送るのが一般的だった。
東京には彼らによる無料から五百円くらいのライブが無数にある。私もそういうライブからスタートした。初めの頃は、お客さん最大十人くらいの本当小さなライブしか出られなくて、場合によっては３人や２人..しかし関係ない。ネタを研鑽すべくベストを尽くした。しかし、流石にお客さんが一人の時はやばかった・・「ようこそ！Kilaraと申します、よろしくお願いします！」と勢いよく舞台で挨拶すれば、そのお客さんが突如立ち上がり、、、「あ、どうも、鈴木です。よろしくお願いします。」・・・しまいには名詞交換をする結果に。
3月８日、テレビでピン芸人の頂点を決める、R-1決勝がテレビで放映される。例年、決勝と敗者復活戦は、お客さんを入れてスタジオからの生放送になっていたが、今年は無観客でやるそうだ。審査員とスタッフの前だけでネタをやる・・・めちゃくちゃ怖い。まるでハローキティの前でやるようなものだ（顔は見えるが、口がないので笑い声が聞こえない）。
これまで、海外の人が日本のお笑いはつまらないと口にするのを何度も聞いてきた。
それは多分、政治ネタや皮肉がなかったり、裸芸が多かったりして、スラップスティックのように見えるからではないだろうか？（スラップスティックを批判してる訳ではなくスタンダップと比較すると、の意）確かに日本のお笑いは風刺や政治ネタを受け入れない。男女平等ランキングについてR-1・２回戦でネタにした瞬間、お客様の気持ちがすーーっと引いていくのが肌で感じられた。笑いは社会を改善する最後の砦の一つだと信じている。だから日本も社会派なネタを受け入れていく必要があると思う。
しかし一方で、私は日本の芸人達も多大にリスペクトをしている。芸人が他の芸人について話す時、日本と西洋で面白い違いがある。日本は、ネタの話し方・間・見せ方に比重を置きがちなのに対し、西洋では、「何を話してるか」にフォーカスする傾向があるのだ。
日本のお笑いは、より文脈を超えた創造だと思うし、それはまた別の芸術なのだ。これを読んでくださった方も、ぜひ、日本の面白い芸人達の「観客」になって欲しい。
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kilaracomedy
Twitter: Kilaracomedy
Instagram : kilaracomedy
Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD APRIL 10. 2020The Coronavirus Conundrum: Can The U.S. Win The Fight Against The Deadly Virus? by Patrick Hattman
As I write this article on March 22, the coronavirus epidemic is raging around the world, with more than 14,000 lives lost. While this new scourge on humanity originated in China, it is now taking its toll mostly in Europe, as Italy, Spain and France are bearing the brunt of the mortality inflicted by the disease.
However, in recent days the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. has increased dramatically, with a corresponding surge in the death toll. Leaders in local and state governments up to President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. are grappling with innumerable problems, and the solutions in many cases are not yet within their grasp.
A number of states have restricted the movement of their residents. All but five states have closed their schools, maybe for the rest of the school year. Perhaps a nationwide lockdown will be necessary very soon to limit the spread of the disease.
A lengthy recession, if not an economic depression, looms for the U.S., and therefore for the entire world. Millions of Americans will lose their jobs in the coming weeks and months. The federal government will have to send out huge sums of money to businesses and individuals soon to avoid a complete disaster.
And to think that in the middle of February, the U.S. stock market was at an all-time high and the U.S. unemployment rate was at an historic low. People were looking forward to spring, sports and school graduations. How quickly things can change.
When will the coronavirus dissipate and eventually disappear? Some experts say during the summer months. I am skeptical, though, because the coronavirus is currently spreading throughout the world, regardless of the season.
But there is one thing that I am sure of and that is China must be brought to heel by the U.S. and all other countries devastated by the coronavirus once it is defeated. Political correctness must be cast aside and China will have to provide answers and make amends for what it started.
What’s App With You?
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD APRIL 10. 2020Pause: Mindful moments:
Based on the ancient principles of Tai Chi and mindfulness practice, PAUSE brings the act of focused attention to your mobile device. Using a patent-pending technique and a unique approach to modern technology, you can easily start the journey to relaxation − anywhere and anytime. By slowly and continuously moving your fingertip across the screen, PAUSE triggers the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response, quickly helping you regain focus and release stress within minutes. The calming audiovisual feedback in the app is designed to help you keep your attention and focus in the present moment. Throughout development of the application, PAUSE has been continuously tested and validated using EEG-technology.
KRON:
Other apps offer you a bird’s eye view of your calendar, but KRON takes you a step further. Zoom seamlessly from hour view all the way out to see your entire life’s events from a cosmological perspective. KRON’s stunning holistic view allows you to easily find the patterns and rhythms of your weeks, months, and even years, and its intuitive visual presentation will help you spot the times when you’re very busy, as well as the times you have more room to plan new things. Combine and view multiple calendars without the clutter and headache of a traditional desktop calendar, zoom in and out with a simple gesture, and see the threads of your life in an entirely new way!
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD APRIL 10. 2020Step Into Spring At Planetaria Tokyo by Lorne Fetzek
As winter gives way to spring, most residents of Japan start thinking about warm days ahead, and especially in light of recent world events, we’re all looking for activities that lighten our spirts. Mixing unique experiences into our calendars can help quell the restlessness that we often feel this time of year.
Have you considered visiting a planetarium? Greater Tokyo boasts at least 20 locations where you can stargaze while indoors, but none is more centrally located than the Konica Minolta Planetaria Tokyo https://planetarium.konicaminolta.jp/planetariatokyo/ which is located on the 9th floor of the Yurakucho Mullion Building. Despite its convenient location directly above Hibiya Station and only a few steps away from Ginza, upon arrival there is an unmistakable feeling of calm and relaxation that one feels upon entering the lobby.
The planetarium is divided into 3 areas, 2 “domes” and one virtual reality planetarium. Shows run in all three areas from 10:30 through 22:00 daily (hours on holidays may differ so be sure to check the planetarium website for details). Ticket prices begin at ￥1,600 for a single seat adult ticket (about the same as a regular movie ticket). There are packages on offer as well to suit various tastes (and budgets). Dome 2 in particular has oversized, plush “Galaxy” seats (both single and pair seats). Each show is typically 1 hour and there are a wide variety of shows including live music and narrated events. Outside of the theaters, there’s a cafe´ selling quirky food items such as “Milky Way Cotton Candy” and cocktails named for planets and a gift shop with an intriguing selection of space themed items.
So why not treat yourself to some stargazing in the heart of central Tokyo? Keep looking up!!
冬から春へと季節が変わる時期、人は、暖かい日々を待ちわびるようになる。最近の世界を騒がす事情のため、心を明るくしてくれるような体験をみんな探している。珍しい体験をすることは、この時期に感じる不安な気持ちを静めてくれる。
プラネタリウムに行こうと考えた事はないだろうか？ 都内には、屋内で星空を眺められる場所が少なくとも２０カ所はある。しかしもっとも都心にあるのが。有楽町マリオン９階のコニカミノルタプラネタリアTOKYOだ。日比谷駅に直結したビルにあり、銀座にも近いというアクセスの良さにもかかわらず、ロビーに入ると紛れもなく穏やかでくつろいだ気分になれる。
施設は３つのエリアに分かれている。ドーム１とドーム２、そしてバーチャルリアリティ空間のプラネタリウムだ。どのエリアも上映時間は、１０時３０分から２２時まで、休日の上映時間は変更されるかもしれないので出かける前にウェブで確認するといい。入場料は、大人のシングルシートが１６００円からで、映画のチケットと同じくらいだ。好みと予算に合わせてさまざまなシートが用意されている。特にドーム２では、ビロード素材の贅沢で巨大な『ギャラクシー』シート（シングルとペアがある）だ。上映時間は１時間で、ライブミュージックやナレーション付きのイベントがあり内容は盛りだくさんだ。施設を出るとカフェがあり、『ミルキーウエイコットンキャンディー』のような斬新なスナックや惑星の名がついたカクテルが味わえる。さらに宇宙を意識した魅力的な商品が並んだギフトショップもある。
都心の真っ只中で星を眺めてみてはいかがだろうか。空を見上げていこう！
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD APRIL 10. 2020
Like a Princess
With people all over the world on lockdown due to coronavirus and life as we have always known it at a bit of a stand still, some are coming up with creative ways to pass the time. A woman named Danielle Askew has started an entertaining trend known as Bin Isolation Outings and it sees people dress up in over-the-top outfits and fancy dress to take the trash out. Danielle, who lives in Queensland, Australia, shared a photo of herself putting her bin out, dressed up a bit like Elsa from Disney's Frozen, with a sparkly blue dress and crown. This inspired a number of people to follow suit - with hilarious results. Danielle set up a Facebook group so that others could share their efforts and says she is "amazed" by the reaction to her idea. The inspiration came after a friend messaged her to say she was excited that it was bin day as it meant she got to go outside. Danielle then dared her friend to get all dressed up to go on the little "outing" and she accepted the challenge, with Danielle doing the same. So far more than 215,000 have joined the group to dress like princess to take their bins out!
Avoid DIY?
In the UK, doctors are urging people to avoid gardening or DIY jobs around the house during the coronavirus lockdown. They are concerned that work may result in injuries that could add to the strain that hospitals are facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Surgeons are urging people to avoid starting any task that could lead in a traumatic injury as it could divert NHS staff and resources away for the current coronavirus crisis at hand. Records show there has already been a spike in the number of power tool related injuries since lockdown was introduced. In the last week alone, the plastic surgery department at Ulster Hospital in Belfast has treated numerous patients who have injured themselves after using lawnmowers, chainsaws and bikes. Some have even needed to have their fingers amputating… So, please, be careful when you are doing any DIY jobs!
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50 Shades of Yikess
