Tokyo’s beloved Nakagin Capsule Tower could be rebuilt

Aug 17 (thespaces.com) - The rights to rebuild Japan’s iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower – currently in the middle of demolition – are being auctioned off, and they include a metaverse and real-life version.

Architecture lovers were dismayed when news broke that the modular building, designed by Metabolist architect Kisho Kurokawa, had been consigned to the wrecking ball. Conversations about its demolition had been ongoing since 2006, but it was only earlier this year that a crew moved in to dismantle the 50-year-old Tokyo building.

However, the late Kurokawa’s studio is now auctioning a pair of NFTs on Opensea, which would give the owner the rights to reconstruct the tower – known and loved for its capsular apartments, which had originally been designed to be ‘unplugged’ and replaced over time.

Bids close on 20 October 2022 for each NFT. ...continue reading

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Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

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From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

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Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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Naphtha Shock Even Affecting Cheap Candy

As conflict in the Middle East drags on, shortages of naphtha — a key raw material used in a wide range of petroleum-based products — are beginning to affect even Japan's traditional cheap snacks, with manufacturers facing steep rises in packaging and material costs while trying to keep products affordable for children.

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