Autumn Swordfish Issue 7: The Evolution of Beauty

*Autumn Swordfish* Issue 7: The Evolution of Beauty When visiting a city, I find joy in observing the smallest details. Listening to the sounds of the streets, the differences in language paradoxically offer a sense of ease as one eavesdrops on the tones of conversations. Each region's subway system possesses its own unique melody; the warning chimes as a train approaches and whether the carriage is quiet or boisterous, all imprint themselves as the city's soundscape. The characters and architectural exteriors on the streets then form the city's colors. Accompanied by the patterns of people's lives, the appearance of a city gradually takes shape. Thus, I cannot forget the first time I visited Tokyo. The moment I stepped off the plane, I was met with fresh air, immaculately clean streets, and a dazzling visual impact. Verdant greenery coexisted perfectly with towering buildings, signs with vibrant yet harmonious color schemes, and concise yet captivating train advertisements. Even the packaging for microwaveable convenience store meals was a feast for the eyes... Many say Japan has the potential to be Asia's design hub, boasting world-class architects, graphic designers of legendary caliber, fashion designers who have captivated even Europe and America, and curators of major international art festivals. However, I believe the beauty of Japan owes less to the skillful hands of designers and more to a cultivation of aesthetic sensibility. This "aesthetic sensibility" isn't about learning art in a rigid, formal setting; rather, it's about making beauty an integral part of life. The cleanliness of Japanese streets stems from the "Civic Movement" initiated for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which promoted waste recycling and street beautification. This also included not speaking loudly on trains, warmly welcoming foreigners, and maintaining good sportsmanship during competitions, even cheering enthusiastically when Japan lost. While seemingly unrelated to "beauty," this movement profoundly transformed post-war Japan. To this day, one can see suited office workers sweeping the entrance of their businesses before opening hours, preparing for the coming workday while maintaining street cleanliness. Waste is always meticulously sorted in residential areas; on trains, there's no loud chatter, only passengers engrossed in reading paperback books. Japan's beauty is not merely superficial; it is a more profound inner strength. A high quality of life precedes the aesthetic enhancement brought by design. As master graphic designer Taku Satoh stated in his book *Whale Spouts Water*, "Design is not something special; it exists in the everyday." Beautiful things are woven into the fabric of life, hidden within the urban planning of every Japanese city, the arrangements in every home, the attire of every adult, and the boundless imagination of every child. It is akin to a large-scale national education, where "beauty" becomes an "evolution." Because people have learned to appreciate and enjoy it, they live more beautifully. With the second Tokyo Olympics approaching in 2020, differing from the previous Civic Movement, this time Tokyo aims to transform the city through design. *Autumn Swordfish* shares aesthetic experiences through 8 design fields and 18 Taiwanese and Japanese designers, focusing not on design theory but on the "evolution of beauty" within them. At the start of the year, in addition to this immersion in beauty, *Autumn Swordfish* also introduces traditional Japanese New Year's cuisine during the Japanese New Year period. We invite culinary instructor Atsuko Kobayashi to personally share recipes for Osechi-ryori (traditional Japanese New Year food). We also invite the Yoshimoto Kogyo comedy duo, the “M Tsai,” to discuss Japanese New Year customs, allowing us to experience a joyful Japanese New Year together and welcome all the wonderful things 2016 has to offer.