14 Comments

Saccharine cynicism - I’m rather awestruck

Expand full comment

I have long loved the anything goes, no rules inventiveness of Japanese apartment building naming. Almost as much as I loved your take on it here!

Expand full comment

Almost anything goes in names…as well as in oddball, impossible to live in architecture.

Very glad you enjoyed.

Expand full comment

I was saving this for an afternoon when I could take my time and read. I laughed out loud.

Wicked.

Expand full comment

Oh wonderful!!! I sometimes wonder if very specific Japan humor can translate across borders. Clearly it can!

Expand full comment

Hilarious! Reminded me of my time in Asagaya Heim. Local AND aspirational! Will the use of “mansion” ever receded do we think?

I do suppose it’s all better than Central Building Three or Dormitory Ikebukuro…

Expand full comment

Very true! I was in a Sunheim once. But my favorite has to be Windbell Solo. What a shithole.

Expand full comment

The only problem was that the acknowledge applause came too late; I was already applauding at the slides and Mr. Miyamoto did not acknowledge my applause.

Expand full comment

You are right. Hah! I could have used that more as a running gag from the beginning. Good comment!!

Expand full comment

How true. I must have a few photos somewhere to illustrate this story.

Expand full comment

Sometimes a few of these names need to be photo’d! :)

Expand full comment

Exactly. The contrast between the grand name and the actual building can be quite amazing.

Expand full comment

Do you have any batcaves?

Expand full comment
Comment removed
Apr 29
Comment removed
Expand full comment

I’ve always thought it’s that they don’t care. A Japanese graphic designer once told me that wording, meaning, spelling doesn’t matter. He said, “The English we put in is graphic design. It looks good, quite cool, that’s it. It’s like colors or stripes or pictures.”

Expand full comment