Pycon Ireland is one of the conferences on the Python programming language that is held by their respective regional chapters around the world. These events are attended by Python enthusiasts, who come to learn more about Python by attending talks and engaging with each other. I was fortunate to be selected as one of the…
Searching for Kurosawa – Why I took 38 Years to Release His Footage
Akira Kurosawa made film history with masterpieces like “The Seven Samurai.” Naturally, his filmography has inspired the next generation of filmmakers. Mitsuhiko Kawamura is one of them. He picked up his camera as soon as he saw Kurosawa, and fate would guide him to the film set of Kurosawa’s life work “Ran.” There, he captured…
Juggling Rookie Floors World Championship
Strolling through the park, one occasionally comes upon the sight of jugglers practicing their acts and honing their skills. Although the jugglers appear to be easy-going and performing leisurely, they actually take their crafts quite seriously. Among the members of this guild is an upcoming youth who recently floored the world competition; Ryosuke Ubukata became…
Sweeney Todd Returns for Another Fearful Shave
Run for your life, the demon barber’s coming back! With its black humor and wicked tempo, Sweeney Todd has established itself in musical lore. To take a peek into its revival in Japan, we called upon the devil himself, Masachika Ichimura. What memories of Sweeney do you have? It was 30 years ago when…
For Norwegian Entrepreneur, Berlin is the Next Silicon Valley
Berlin’s former governor once declared his city “poor but sexy”. A city remembered more for its political division, Berlin is now becoming a booming center for European startups, à la Silicon Valley. As one of the entrepreneurs who early on saw opportunity here, Espen Systad developed a personalized radio dubbed Capsule.fm. Yuki Sato, a startup…
Beat Goes On for Final Fantasy Composer, Nobuo Uematsu
Final Fantasy has amassed a global following ever since its launch in Japan nearly 30 years ago. Shipping over 100 million copies, the endearing series provokes hype and excitement whenever a new installment is released. The fantasy franchise is not only acclaimed for its grand narrative, but its accompanying music also attracts fanatics. Nobuo Uematsu,…
Mozart Revisited! Amon Miyamoto takes a Fresh Look at “Magic Flute”
When the curtain rises, a different world unfolds. Welcome to the world of opera, where the conflicts presented still remain relevant as the plot resonates with the audience. Ever since introducing myself to Mozart’s Magic Flute, I have regularly attended local opera. Now, that the Magic Flute is coming back under the direction of Amon…
Dropbox founder on ‘Growth’ and ‘Recruiting’ in Silicon Valley
In conjunction with his trip to Tokyo, Dropbox founder Drew Houston took the opportunity to speak at the Globis Business School. After Drew’s discussion on stage, I had the opportunity to ask him for comments about Dropbox’s values and strategies, as well as his experience in the Silicon Valley. I must confess I’m also…
Drew Houston: I started Dropbox for myself
As a part of its international expansion, online storage giant Dropbox recently announced a partnership with Softbank, a Japanese telecommunications conglomerate. In conjunction with his trip to Tokyo, its founder Mr. Drew Houston took the opportunity to speak at the Globis Business School with its founder-president, Mr. Yoshito Hori. Mr. Hori: Tonight, I’d like to…
‘Shibuya Valley’ not ‘Silicon Valley’ for this Japanese Venture Capitalist
Shibuya, or literally “Bitter Valley”, is the Japanese epicenter of youth fashion and culture. It is also becoming the hotbed for startups. In his office here, venture capitalist Yoshihiko “Max” Kinoshita discusses how he took inspiration from Silicon Valley to transform Shibuya into its Japanese cousin “Shibuya Valley.” How did you start investing in…