METHOD  NO. 39  OCT 1, 2004

Email-Bulletin "METHOD" is a free monthly, being published
by the three Methodicists in Japan, Nakazawa Hideki
(artist), Matsui Shigeru (poet), Miwa Masahiro (composer).
Manifestos of Methodicism:  aloalo.co.jp/nakazawa/method/

"The Method Machine," launched in June, will give their
first public performance soon.  Please read "A LETTER FROM
THE METHOD MACHINE OF THIS MONTH" for more information.


>>>METHODICIST'S TEXT OF THIS MONTH:

The Present Japanese Poetry
by Matsui Shigeru, poet

      As this bulletin has readers also from abroad, I am
going to give an explanation of the present Japanese poetry.
Speaking of Japanese poetry, many people will call up haiku.
However, there are different kinds.  Generally, Japanese
poetry can be classified into two categories: poetry with a
fixed form and free verse.
      Poetry with a fixed form has a traditional verse form.
Here, the tradition means the history before 1868 (the Meiji
Restoration).  Poetry with a fixed form can be classified
into tanka* and haiku*.  Hoewever, haiku has been
flourishing only after 1890s.
      Free verse is non-traditional poetry.  For example,
poetry using materials other than letters such as sound
poetry, visual poetry or concrete poetry are also included
in free verse.  Furthermore, the term "modern poetry" also
exists.  In a broad sense, modern poetry has the same
meaning with free verse.  In a narrow sense, it means the
free verse after 1945 (Japan's defeat in World War II).
      There are three categories in the present Japan:
tanka, haiku, modern poetry.
      In the newspapers, there are regular technical columns
of one full page per week for each tanka and haiku, while
one eighth page for modern poetry.  On TVs, the public
broadcasting has weekly programs for each tanka and haiku,
while only one special program for modern poetry per year or
so.  About magazines, over ten magazines for each tanka and
haiku are being published even by the biggest publishers,
while five or so for modern poetry by special publishers.
      There is hardly any interchange between these three,
in spite of the changing circumstances in recent years*.
      I sorted out and reported the present state as a
generalization.  By the way, I dare to have been doing
poetry readings in the circles of tanka, etc., as a
criticism against the present state.
* Tanka is poetry with 31 syllables, "5, 7, 5, 7, 7."
* Haiku is poetry with 17 syllables, "5, 7, 5."  There is a
rule that a season word in the glossary must be included.
* The population of Japan is about 130 million.  According
to one report, there are 3,000,000 haiku poets, 500,000
tanka poets, and 50,000 modern poets, including Sunday
writers.


>>>METHODICIST'S WEB PIECE OF THIS MONTH:

Tele-Matari
by Miwa Masahiro, composer
http://www.iamas.ac.jp/~mmiwa/TeleMatari.html
Finally I can introduce a virtual playing room specially for
the Matarisama called "Tele-Matari" on the internet!  You
can play Matarisama with your friends or robots at any time
and at any place on earth, if you are connected to the host
computer "Matari-Server" at IAMAS in Japan.  Please come
together with your friends to "Tele-Matari" and play or
rehearse Matarisama through the night like the people in
remote Matari valley.
The first version of "Tele-Matari" was developed by Mr.
Shibata Yuki.  With this version you can play up to eight
human or robot players, and a robot umpire is always
watching your play (checking mistakes).  Some other
expansions such as modification of user interfaces are
already being planned.


>>>METHODICIST'S GRAVURE OF THIS MONTH:

"The 13th Hachinohe Art College"
by Nakazawa Hideki, artist
- Attached file's name: method39_nakazawa.jpg
I read my art work, "Sentence No. 1 Which Consists of 903
Palindromic Coined Words" at Hachinohe City Museum of Art on
Aug 8, 2004.  Courtesy: ICANOF


>>>A LETTER FROM THE METHOD MACHINE OF THIS MONTH:

From Tsurumi Sachiyo, representative
http://method-machine.com/
We "The Method Machine" will finally unveil ourselves and our
mystery.  Algorithm delights bodies.  Bodies delight algorithm.
With whom will you come to meet us?
"The Computing Bodies"  Tickets are now on sale!
- October 16 (sat) @ 17:00 & 17 (sun) @ 15:00
- Kanagawa Kenmin Hall (small hall)
- www.kanagawa-kenminhall.com/dt1112/ (only in Japanese)
"The First Solo Performance of The Method Machine"
- December 5 (sun) at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
For more information, please email us to
info@method-machine.com
(We are always inviting people to join us, The Method Machine.
For more information, please check the above URL.)


>>>METHODICISTS' WORD & INFO OF THIS MONTH:

Nakazawa Hideki, artist:
nakazawa@aloalo.co.jp
http://aloalo.co.jp/nakazawa/
- Base Gallery's "OPENING EXHIBITION AT THE NEW GALLERY: ZAI
SHOKU KEN BI - ART & MONEY."  Starts on Nov 1, the day of
introduction of new Japanese Yen bank notes.  Located in the
financial district of Kabutocho.  www.basegallery.com
- I will participate in "Yatsuo Slow Art Show" in Toyama.
The 1st "Night Art Meeting" will be held on Oct 29.
www.cty8.com/slow-art/ (from Oct 4, only in Japanese)
- "VOCA 1994-2003 Exhibition of Winner's Works of 10 Years"
at Ohara Museum of Art, Okayama.  www.ohara.or.jp
- The Method Machine will realize my "Money Amount" (above).
- I am writing a book "Contemporary Art History: Japan."  I
am preparing for my retrospective solo exhibition featuring
1980s acrylic paintings (Gallery Cellar, November).

Matsui Shigeru, poet:
shigeru@td5.so-net.ne.jp
http://www008.upp.so-net.ne.jp/methodpoem/
- I am writing serially on the webpage of the magazine
"Tanka Versus" (Fubaisha).    www.fubaisha.com/
- I will hold my solo exhibition in November 2004.  Details
will be announced another time.

Miwa Masahiro, composer:
mmiwa@iamas.ac.jp
http://www.iamas.ac.jp/~mmiwa/
- 9/26: The first performance of a new piece called
"ShiShiKuriKou" for organ(s) was successfully and perfectly
performed!
- 10/2: Corner "Landscape Where I Am" in Yomiuri newspaper.
- 10/8, 9, 10: A Matarisama-Doll will be exhibited at "dance
today 11" festival at Kanagwa Kenmin Hall.
- 10/9: "Reverse Simulation Music" Festival by IAMAS-Team at
Nagoya University.
- 10/13: Participating in the symposium "ICC | SIG_SOUND" at
InterCommunication Center (ICC), Tokyo.
www.ntticc.or.jp/Schedule/2004/reactivity/Events/event03.html
- 10/16, 17: Matarisama will be performed by The Method
Machine at "dance today 12" festival at Kanagwa Kenmin Hall!


>>>POSTSCRIPT:

- METHOD Website:  http://aloalo.co.jp/nakazawa/method/
- To read the back numbers, visit the above website.
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Bulletin  METHOD  NO. 39  English Version
Published on October 1, 2004
(C) Nakazawa Hideki, Matsui Shigeru, Miwa Masahiro, 2004