From the primitive ages, the human body has been linked with nature as a member in which water and air circulate. People today are equipped with an electronic body in which information circulates, and are thus linked to the world through a network of information by means of this other body. This virtual body of electron flow is drastically changing the mode of communication, while the primitive body still craves beautiful light and wind. The biggest challenge for us is how we can integrate these two types of body. The same applies to architecture today. The question is how to integrate the primitive space and the virtual space. People, when clad in a mechanical suit called an automobile, have their physical bodies expanded. People clad in a media suit have their brain expanded. Architecture as media suit is the externalized brain – Toyo Ito

*(From album inlay for SYSTEMS/LAYERS by Rachel’s)

Last night
was one of those nights
When the demons creep
through the hollow of your bones
To mine your marrow
and toy with your strings;
making your muscles dance, like puppets
waltzing, on and on
in neverending circles
across a lonely theatre stage

After Dark                   Spilled Paint              City of Flowers

Five thirty am and daylight finally penetrated the heavy cloud, conjuring a misty grey morning. The typhoon hit Fukuoka that night; rain pounded the streets and unpredictable winds threatened the decency of the city’s many skirt clad youth. But we hardly noticed. Tucked up as we were in our karaoke booth, our little womb; with only a phoneline connecting us to the outside world and the promise of more beer. Friends sharing their last few weeks in Japan together, strengthening their bonds and building new ones.

We emerged, still dark – we headed for downtown and a good spot to catch the festival – the Yamakasa – Fukuoka’s equivalent of Pamplona’s Bull Run. Teams of men shouldering two tonne shrines in a race through the city streets in honour of Buddha, while crowds of thousands gather to urge them on. Clutching beers and soaked through we watched the darkness melt and the streets fill and throng with festival goers. We were part of it, we were all together – fewer moments in life are more beautiful.