Some of the beautiful landscape shots reminded me of New Zealand, but those city images were fantastic contrast. That Royksopp track suits the photography very well.
posted by dazed_one at 12:36 AM on June 7, 2010

It's nice to see stuff like this. I get pretty bogged down by the day to day living of Japan, and every once in a while, something smacks the back of my head and tells me to look up, and look around, and try to appreciate this place more. Thanks.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:58 AM on June 7, 2010

Amazing video. While I can't have any pride in Japanese politicians, it is nice to see Japan in such a beautiful portrayal.
posted by gen at 1:27 AM on June 7, 2010

Made me remember that you can watch all of Koyaanisqatsi online.
posted by twoleftfeet at 3:18 AM on June 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wow. That was fascinating. Some parts of it looked eerily unreal. Thanks for posting.
posted by misozaki at 4:13 AM on June 7, 2010

That was nice. My favourite bit was the little helicopter buzzing around in one of the city scenes about halfway through.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 4:59 AM on June 7, 2010

I want a Canon Mark II so. bad.
posted by zardoz at 5:11 AM on June 7, 2010

Really great. Thanks. I like that camera is slightly turning in many of the sequences.
posted by rainy at 5:18 AM on June 7, 2010

Yeah, hey, that was really well done. Thanks for the post, bwg.

Ghidorah writes: It's nice to see stuff like this. I get pretty bogged down by the day to day living of Japan, and every once in a while, something smacks the back of my head and tells me to look up, and look around, and try to appreciate this place more.

That's funny, because the thing that struck me most about this video is how absolutely familiar so much of it is: the train platforms, the night streets, the elevated pedestrian walkways... and I mean familiar in a very exact sense, as these are the kinds of places I photograph every day. Ghidorah, I suggest you get a camera, and keep it with you in your travels around the city: on your way to and from work, whenever. It'll sharpen your eye and your interest in the details of your environment, and I bet you'll start to look up and around and every whichaways!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:33 AM on June 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

That was terrific, thank you.
posted by smoke at 5:47 AM on June 7, 2010

flapjax, I do have a camera, a pretty decent, if point and shoot, canon. I usually carry it with me, but a couple things work against me: one, I live in Chiba. It's a suburb, and I swear all suburbs are identical. We've got Costco, outlet malls, Outback, and amusement parks. The other problem? I commute. Every day, the same train, the same time. My walk to school is the same. I see the same people. Years ago, when I worked across from Shinjuku Station, I saw things worth photographing every day. Now, not so much. I used to take pictures all the time, but I've pretty much stopped.

When I say this video reminds me of how interesting this place is, I guess it's seeing this place through someone else's eyes, someone who's still enamored with/glamoured by Japan. One of William Gibson's more recent books had a bit set in Tokyo, and it really kind of woke me up a bit. When my friends came for my wedding, and were agog at vending machines with hot and cold drinks, it shook some of the dust from my eyes and I really started to enjoy myself again. It's just that, in the every day, I commute. I work. I commute home.

I need to get out more.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:48 AM on June 7, 2010

Absolutely gorgeous. I might have turned a few shades of green with envy at the skill and equipment it took to create this, but the sheer beauty of this soothed it away. I'm always amazed at how a good eye and a camera can show you a new world - even when it's one you thought you were already familiar with.

Thanks for posting this, bwg.
posted by harujion at 7:18 AM on June 7, 2010

This was such great gaijin view of Japan. The dichotomies, the sense of being an outsider, the building Royksopp background, the feeling of being ripped out of time. Thanks so much for posting - I'm passing it on to all my ex-JET pals.
posted by ikahime at 7:22 AM on June 7, 2010

Beautiful video. It's good to see a depiction of Japan that doesn't involve anime, sex robots or crazy game shows.
posted by desjardins at 7:48 AM on June 7, 2010

In case anyone is wondering hayaku means quickly.
posted by Babblesort at 8:46 AM on June 7, 2010

Speaking of the equipment needed, I googled the Mumford Moco he had listed as extra equipment, and found this as well:

http://www.openmoco.org/ - "The OpenMoco system is an open-source software and hardware motion control system for time-lapse photographers and videographers. "

Something to add to the to-build list; possibly after the open-source CNC machine for making the parts... :D
posted by titus-g at 4:36 PM on June 7, 2010

Interesting video. Thanks, bwg.
posted by armage at 8:30 PM on June 10, 2010