Japanzine is about to release its "Bands of Japan" magazine as a free digital download from the iTunes store and I was lucky enough to be sent an advance copy to check out. It's great to see Japanzine moving with the times and forging into the digital publishing world, but how do the results stack up? The issue comprises 28 pages of photos, music, videos, information, reviews and links about upcoming bands from all over Japan. The app opens with a very cool video and mini credit sequence, following which you'll be deposited at a digital contents screen. A slider along the bottom of the screen allows you to swipe along and select the band you're looking for. Once you've made your selection, you can get stuck into the content. The first page of each band section is dedicated to band bio and an generous helping of beautiful photography. The second page is dedicated to comment from music critics Jean-Paul DuQuette and Daniel Ostrander, who do a measured and professional job of appraising each band's strengths and weaknesses. The last page features social links to the bands' Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud and, if available, iTunes Store links too. 1.G.K is the first band featured in the magazine and we receive three pages of coverage. The photography looks beautiful on the iPad's gorgeous screen, we have two of our tracks embedded in the app and even the music video we made for our single 'Life'. In all, the digital magazine is a joy to browse, with an easy-to-use layout that should be familiar to anyone familiar with Apple's textbooks. The amount of quality content crammed into this issue is phenomenal and the fact that this is all being offered free of charge is yet another reason to be glad you invested in your iPad. Grab the magazine as soon as it's released and give each of these bands a shot. Not only will you be pleasantly surprised with the quality of the musicianship in Japan today, but you'll be supporting a format that truly deserves to bring Carter Witt Media increasing attention and readers.
A photo from Kiyomachi Dori in Kyoto last night. The most moving part of the walk was being told by a small boy to look up into the trees, through the petals to a white bird that was sitting in a branch. Once I noticed one I realised there were dozens of these white birds, hidden and perfectly camouflaged among the white-pink sakura petals in full bloom. My jaw dropped when I realised how many of the little animals I had utterly failed to notice. The boy saw the stunned look on my face and smiled as if his work was done. He’d opened another adult’s eyes to the world around him he was failing to see. I thanked him and he moved off with parents. It’s amazing what you can learn from kids. They’re a constant inspiration. 夕べ木屋町で撮った桜の写真を「２０１３の桜」アルバムにアップしました。 皆さんは今年お花見に行きましたか？ via my professional homepage http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ofriceandzen/~3/oGb0PkUmNP8/46645617784
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