2009 Video Collections (Filmed & Edited by Junko Ishikawa)

Video Test - Richard Aborn (Petinioning Walk 1)

What we need to do with the current economic crisis

What we need to do with the current economic crisis:

Who is responsible for the record breaking worst financial crisis in recent history, which has hit not only the U.S. but also the rest of the world ? Should the U.S. government draw the line on whom to help? Are regulation and government take-over the ultimate answers for the current crisis?

This week, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other prominent policy makers asked Congress to pass a bill that bails out the financial firms in the securities and credit business. The cost of this bail-out will be over 700 billion U.S. dollars, and this will weigh down tax payers for many years to come should it take effect.

If small businesses and individuals have to face the consequences of their own financial mistakes by going out of business or filing for bankruptcy, why should these mammoth financial institutions be spared the consequences of their own actions? Surely, the impact of big corporations failing can have a fiercer impact on our economy compared to the one of small companies. For instance, when a big financial company fails, the stock market becomes volatile, resulting in a credit crunch, as we now see in the recent financial market. This credit crunch can directly influence our daily lives in many ways: not being able to get a loan for business or school, unemployment, fewer home sales and foreclosure. However, in the long run, helping big corporations may not be the wisest and most effective way to regain good health in the financial market.

Firstly, if big companies are rescued by the government, then the result may undermine their sense of risk management among corporate executives and social corporate responsibility. Also, if the government ignores small businesses in contrast to rescuing big companies, the only market survivors will soon be big corporations instead of small business owners. This can cause some serious imbalance in our economic market and could cause the collapse of true “capitalism”.
Capitalism in this country has steadily grown and became solidly rooted in the country’s economy largely with the aid of small business owners. If the new financial rules push away the demographics of small business owners, the capitalism practiced by this nation in the last 60 years either needs to reshape its definition and form or gradually may even disappear.

Secondly, there is no way that the U.S. government can help all the big corporations that are on the verge of collapsing. Where does the government draw the line? How does the market define the word “fairness”? Why didn’t Lehman Brothers get any rescue package, while Bern Stern, about the same size as Lehman in financial assets, was helped by the government earlier this year? Just because Bear Stern was run by executives who had closer access to the government than those at Lehman Bro., it does not mean that Bear Stern should be given special privilege or different quality rescue ?

These haphazard decisions made by the government, as if trying to fix the hole of a sinking boat with band aids, are not only unfair but also dangerous. Although the world financial market probably will not wait for the U.S. government to rectify its economic situation to reassess their upcoming strategies and to implement programs when the credit market is on the verge of collapsing, we still should not rush into a hasty solution. Understanding the fundamental new connection and emerging tendencies in the world financial market is crucial. Without in-depth analysis on what exactly lead us to this historic financial crisis, we cannot get through recession or possible upcoming depression.

In the midst of turmoil, we still do not know if simple regulation and government take-over of big corporations is the ultimate solution. Now is not the time for government and many private companies to simply panic and grab at straws. Rather, they should carefully focus on building long term strategic plans to fix this failed financial market.

Barack Obama - The President Elect

This week, we have witnessed a truly significant moment in U.S. history - the first African American and genuinely universal citizen, Barack Obama having been elected as the next president of the United States.

This striking victory in the U.S. presidential election has inspired not only the people in this country but also the rest of the world. Indeed what characterizes Barack Obama as a world leader is the unprecedented inspiration that he brings to the people as a community organizer not only in the Southside Chicago but throughout the world. In Kenya, they had a national holiday yesterday, closing all the schools and companies and celebrating the astonishing triumph of the son of a Kenyan man. In Japan, there is a city called "Obama". There, people had a massive celebration all day long, dancing, marching, and selling Obama T-shirts on the street. Yesterday, all the major national newspapers ran out of their morning print editions. The NY times was sold out at many New York City stands before 8:30am. On Tuesday night, I saw very many people on the street of midtown and the village, jumping up and down, sharing their joy & uncontrollable excitement for and with the president elect "Barack Obama".

When was the last time we got united like we did last Tue around the world: New Millennium, New Years Eve in 2000 or Olympics? Or, was it the celebration of another newly elected president, John F Kennedy, in this country in the late 60's? It was astonishing to see this much excitement and optimism among the people who supported him or the people, who have voted for the Republican party for all their lives until last Tuesday, changed their position by voting for the Democrat.

One of the strong reasons that people in this country chose him, while the rest of the world cheered Obama as the next U.S. president, was due to his extraordinarily passion and belief towards people. He is very different from 99% of conventional politicians in this regard. He typifies his campaign with a motto of "from Bottom to Top", not “from Top to Bottom". His life itself reflects this campaign theme because he came from a modest background that did not have any special family connection in the world of politics or was known by any prominent Washington establishment until he started his campaign two years ago.

Having started his career as a community organizer in Chicago, he seems to really understand how to organize and harness the energy of a community, the power of the people. Sometimes we forget this fact, but politicians are supposed to serve their nation. They are public servants. Their job is to create a better society that enables their citizens to maximize their individual potentials, while advancing the quality of society for its members. Barack Obama seems to be committed to these fundamental missions as a public servant and has always been appeared steadfast when it comes to a better form of government. After eight years of political regression in this country, led by a divider in chief, time has picked someone like Barack Obama, who genuinely cares about the future of this country. This time people consciously or subconsciously made the choice of taking progressive risks to re-direct this country, betting on a truly honorable new politician. That is why Obama will become the next president.

As many of us are painfully aware, which Obama himself repeatedly addressed in his victory speech, there are many challenges that we face with our new president coming to office in two months – two wars, the worst financial crisis in a century, and a broken healthcare system, just to name a few. What’s going on in this country or elsewhere in the world don’t look as shiny as gold. However, with the new leader carrying universal visions, intelligence, and extraordinary talents to inspire and organize the world community, we are on the right path. As the president elect Obama has orchestrated, now is our turn to shout and act – “Yes, We Can!”

Japanese Kiku Festival

Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum Festival (October 18–November 16, 2008 )

The chrysanthemum, known as kiku, is perhaps the most revered of the fall-flowering plants in Japan. For centuries the secrets of its cultivation were carefully guarded. But during a five-year cultural exchange, The New York Botanical Garden learned the time-honored growing techniques and display styles to become the first garden outside of Japan to showcase the art of kiku in the Imperial style.
Discover for yourself the exquisite beauty of kiku—cascades of flowers, single plants with hundreds of flowers, and others with an enormous flower atop a single stem—as Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum, an elaborate flower show and art exhibition, returns to the Botanical Garden.


Tradition Comes to Presence - What It Teaches Us -
New York, NY - Written by J. Ishikawa

What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Sushi? Green Tea? Sake? Bunch of High-Tech Electronic products? Fuel Efficient Car? Or, Crazy looking Tokyo girls with 20 inches of secret boots and sandals? No matter what comes to your mind, Kiku Matsuri (Festival) at the Bronx Botanical garden has ensured us that the old Japan never has faded or never will fade away from its traditional position.

Kiku Matsuri has surely reminded us of the very core spirit of “Japanese-ness” - a caring culture and beauty within, well described with a word like "Yamato nadeshiko": Kenkyūsha's New Japanese-English Dictionary (5th ed., 2003) translates Yamato-nadeshiko: "a Japanese woman (with all the traditional graces); an ideal Japanese woman." Also known as an ideal Japanese woman, it revolves around acting for the benefit of the family and following instructions or acting in the best interest of patriarchal authority figures. Virtues include: loyalty, domestic ability, wisdom, and humility. The name is believed to originate from the willowy Dianthus superbus or the Japanese Nadeshiko flower.

In a modern society, where many people are globally connected and so little things differ from nation to nation in business, technology and heavily interactive economy (as we all know now that the foreclosure in Miami now can bankrupt the nation like Iceland – 4000km away from each other), traditional identity of a single culture can often be left behind. As a result, the border of nation and traditional culture gets blurred at times. An event like Kiku Matsuri ensures us that each culture has a distinctive tradition and custom, and we live our modern lives built through centuries of history and the transformation of human civilization. The kimono show and Shinto wedding during the event took us back to the time when we were wearing kimono on a daily basis in Japan, and allowed us to explore and appreciate the beauty of tradition as well as a sense of a distinctive culture within it.

Japanese, especially Japanese women, in the current society have many more options in their lives, whether it is in career, interests, or lifestyle in general. Since the beginning of the 20th-century, many things have been considerably westernized in Japan. Whether you are in Japan or here in the U.S., the fundamental lifestyle seems to be identical nowadays. It is amazing when we remember that we are the nation, which had closed its door to any other countries for over two centuries, not so long ago (untill the mid 19th-century). Now, how did Japan adapt itself to the western world so quickly and nicely?
We see many things in Japan which are interpreted or tried out through the concept of "Zen" philosophy. Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan. Chan is itself derived from the Sanskrit Dhyāna, which means "meditation". Zen emphasizes dharma practice and experiential wisdom—particularly in the form of meditation known as zazen—in the attainment of awakening. Zen means waking up to the present moment. That is, perceiving this moment exactly as it is, rather than through the filter of our ideas and opinions about some things. According to Zen, existence is found in the silence of the mind (no-mind), beyond the chatter of our internal dialog. Existence, from the Zen perspective is something that is only happening spontaneously, and it is not just our thoughts.Japan has adopted western culture and its influence nicely, while keeping its own cultural flavor. I personally believe that this is because the "Zen" concept has been rooted and well exercised in every scene of Japanese life. Accepting things as they are and finding one’s "self" while being surrounded by the outer world - those are the things that many Japanese naturally learn and adapt to in their lives.

In this modern era, it has been ever challenging to feel tradition and live with our cultural identities. Yet, it is possible and can be even fulfilling to live in a modern society with the historical wisdom of the history. Kiku Matsuri may remind us of the balance between living in the present and past, and nurture our relationship with tradition and cultural philosophy.

New Features
A fourth kiku style, shino-tsukuri (“driving rain”), on display in the Courtyards of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory along with the three traditional styles presented last year: ozukuri (“thousand bloom”), ogiku (“single-stem”), and kengai (“cascade”).

A new exhibition, The Chrysanthemum in Japanese Art, in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library gallery, depicting the use of the chrysanthemum as a visual motif in paintings, prints, textiles, and more. The 32 objects on display from October 18 to January 11, 2009, include a kimono, hanging scrolls, folding screens, and an array of household treasures and are on loan from exceptional collections of Japanese art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art, and several private dealers and collectors.

A new bamboo sculpture by artist Tetsunori Kawana, who created the popular towering bamboo sculpture in the Conservatory Courtyards last year.

A chance to wind down and view the exhibition in the evening with Kiku and Cocktails

Back and Better than Ever

Bonsai in the Conservatory’s Seasonal Galleries (through November 2) and in the Conservatory Courtyards (through November 16). An autumnal display of Japanese maples, conifers, and bamboo in the Conservatory Courtyards. Kiku for Kids, hands-on activities for families including a child-sized tea house, in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.

New Features

A fourth kiku style, shino-tsukuri (“driving rain”), on display in the Courtyards of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory along with the three traditional styles presented last year: ozukuri (“thousand bloom”), ogiku (“single-stem”), and kengai (“cascade”).
A new exhibition, The Chrysanthemum in Japanese Art, in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library gallery, depicting the use of the chrysanthemum as a visual motif in paintings, prints, textiles, and more. The 32 objects on display from October 18 to January 11, 2009, include a kimono, hanging scrolls, folding screens, and an array of household treasures and are on loan from exceptional collections of Japanese art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art, and several private dealers and collectors.
A new bamboo sculpture by artist Tetsunori Kawana, who created the popular towering bamboo sculpture in the Conservatory Courtyards last year.
A chance to wind down and view the exhibition in the evening with Kiku and Cocktails

Kiku Matsuri, a range of cultural programming, including dance and music performances, demonstrations, workshops, and lectures as well as courses celebrating the chrysanthemum in Japanese art, life, and culture.