Kjell Hahn

makin’ a movie with the onishi kids.

Chiaki and his old friend Mr. Yasuda, an instructor at Waseda are in the middle of making a comedy movie where a confused japanese soldier from WWII finds himself at odds with the world around him.  the character is a bit like don quixote in his amusing confusion.  In the scenes shot so far he  battles fallen chestnuts with a wooden sword, salutes imaginary figures and runs around in his underwear searching for some nonexistant festival. 

we shot a jumble of scenes  but still have a ways to go on the project.

the first few works to come out of the Onishi studio.

more pictures of the studio/house.

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sometimes I feel like this thing home improvement project will never end. even though things have come along since some of these pictures, there is still a way to go on all this.

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as a side note, the other day I learned firsthand how wood weakens over time.  My 100 year old staircase decided to break in half under my enormous girth and as i fell forward my calf slid between the higher and lower steps, decorating my leg with all kinds of pretty designs.  I couldnt walk for a day and as the pain worsened I thought I might have fractured the bone and went to the hospital that just happens to be across the street.  everything turned out ok, but now I have a new fear of staircases.

the other day my new artist friend who lives across the street,  Horikoshi Chiaki invited Min Tanaka, Japan’s most respected modern dancer to do a private performance at his kiln at the kami izumi mura.  Min came and gave a free performance to all those lucky enough to know Chiaki.

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__ the location, Kami Izumi Mura,  is an mountain that was used for logging but converted into a kind of artist community center about 10 years ago. just as the sun went down Min began the dance.  he came crawling out of the forest into the clearing where about 100 of us had gathered.  over the course of 20 minutes he slowly made his way over to the kiln, crawling inside, yelling and flailing about.  Min then headed towards the stage area and Chiaki’s backdrop painting.  the scene took on more of a performance art atmosphere than a dance.   as he tore at his clothing and beat against the massive canvas a thunderstorm rolled in and while min yelled at the sky bolts of lighting crashed above.

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honestly, I didnt know anything about the guy before he came here but the performance was quite moving.  im willing to forgive the guy for being a complete jackass when the whole thing was over because he really was good.

many pictures to come of the studio and new work, but first.. nature photography because i love the earth.
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the sun was out the other day so I took a break from the kitchen and went cycling in the mountains around here. this is by far the best place I have ever lived for cycling. there are empty roads crisscrossing mountains in every direction.  just down the street from my house they climb over 1600 meters (5250 feet) and I can hit 3000 meter (10,000 foot) mountains in a day trip.  this time I took it easy since i almost broke my leg the day before falling down a rotted out staircase.   on the way back home I found a nice place to relax just 10 minutes from the studio.  damn the water was cold.

the parking lot connection didnt work out. some old dude came out in his underwear to chase me away a couple times so i had to give it up.

finally, i have internet at the studio.  this place has been so much work… the house is 95 years old and everything from the floor to the wiring, roof, and plumbing is either broken, rotten or covered with layers of tape, paper and glue.  I’ll make sure to put up photos soon.

everything is pretty disorganized over here. but there will be regular updates from now on.

i decided to link to a video made by sayako tsunekage (tsune) while visiting her grandfather in Himeji, Japan.

I will be without Internet for another week or so.  Tonight I have found wireless access in a parking lot near my new house so I might be able to update a few times this week.