Because all what we have is now
I decided to change my twitter username to @document_jaakko. There are two reasons for this.
I took this photo using iPhone5. I am surprised how good and natural the colour saturation is in this image. It’s in fact amazing considering that this was taken by a phone.
I had to hold my hand to block the flare since sun was shining to the lens from about 45 degree angle, without my hand the flare was unbearable. Maybe I could construct some kind of portable hood for iPhone?
I just love Finnish summer nature. Since I’m kind of foreigner here now, I can really enjoy shooting like a tourist..
I met my old friends today in my hometown, Alavus. They are both teachers, and both have taught me in high school. It was how I first met them.
My friend taught me English and Swedish, and my friend’s (lovely!) wife taught me religion, philosophy and psychology. During my school days I was always bullied and I have almost nothing but a negative experience from school, except the classes which I received from my new friends.
Really good teacher is not a teacher actually. Really good teacher inspire, light a small spark in person’s heart. This spark can catch a fire.
When I met my friends today I understood how both of them have that natural, rare talent to inspire. They changed my life for the better. And they did it again today.
I am eternally grateful for them.
Loving takes courage. To accept love takes courage too.
It’s been really amazing to return to my green hometown, and see and smell the lake again. It’s so peaceful here, there’s almost no sound at all during the evening hours. Occasional bird cries, and neighbour’s dog barks. After ten a clock it’s like entire nature goes to sleep.
It’s rather different from life in Yokohama.
People of this town live their lives embracing the routine of everyday life, close to the beautiful Finnish nature. They have their big sadness and sorrow, and biggest of happiness. They are not afraid to take eye contact when talking to you, even though you are clearly outsider; a person who visits the town less than once than year. Even if you speak foreign language in front of them, they won’t be afraid of you.
I guess these years in Japan have changed me. It’s funny that now since I’m foreigner I can actually feel closer to the people of my hometown. I don’t care what’s similar or different with Japan. It’s truth that your hometown has kind of made you. So I must accept that I am always kind of part of this landscape, regardless of what I think, I just can’t escape that psychological fact.
Why do we always expect our hometown to stay the same, no matter how many years we are away? It’s because nothing else in our lives stay the same. Everything is changing. People get older, people fall in love, suffer, make children, divorce, grow, die. Trees are cut down, and the old road is changing. New seeds are planted.
Only thing that remains same is love. It takes courage to accept that. It’s like national water system. The supply never runs out. Knowing how my own days are limited, I decided just to let go of attachment to the old. My family says they love me. I say, “right back at ya!”
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to my home country. I went there in last November and met my now 90 years old grandma. It was one big return for me which I did alone.
Now I will be spending two weeks in the great green Finnish summer, smelling the distant forest flowers, taking sauna and swimming in my childhood lake.
It’s always almost a shock to realise how different Finland smells. The smell is so different, it’s another world.. and trees look and sound different too. The sound of leaves of birch trees make when wind touches them.. it’s the sound of my childhood. I used to climb on one of those and fell more than once.. (maybe that’s why I became like this!)
My biggest desire now is to take off my shoes and walk on the green grass, looking at the Finnish summer clouds.
Being happy might not be so complicated. It might be very simple. Just breathe, and open your arms.
This is introduction to the documentary movie I’m shooting now (It’s in Japanese, will make subtitles soon)
http://vimeo.com/71012218
I have searched my whole life for opportunity to make documentary movie like this. I am very fortunate to be able to document something what is so close to my heart. It’s exciting new journey for me and I will grow by this experience.
It might be that I use all my passion for making documentary for this movie. If that’s so, I don’t particularly mind, I might just become professional chef of Japanese fried chicken (kara-age)!
Life is exciting! Life is fun!
Fuck dreams! Let’s LOVE MAKING (MAKING LOVE) REALITY!
Fuck memories! Let’s LOVE MAKING (MAKING LOVE) FUTURE!
It’s a real miracle to be alive, don’t you think so?
Today it was fourth time to shoot Document: Jinmo. I am continuously surprised, even dumbfounded by him and his wife. Everyday is a big surprise for me..
It would be easy to picture image of tormented, difficult to understand avant-garde artist who is suffering to create. But in front of my eyes, I find a very peaceful person who lives by his words, constantly creating new art, with his lovely wife by his side. I see no torment at all. I see balance and happiness in everything. And lots of love.
He has just released his 152nd album Mayakovsky which is dedicated for Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. Quoting Mayakovsky’s poem:
Night wraps the sky in tribute from the stars.
In hours like these, one rises to address
The ages, history, and all creation.
I can imagine Mr.Jinmo picking his Jinmoid working on his new music in early morning hours, feeling vibration of ages and creation, maybe feeling these very words. Maybe Jinmo’s wife is by his side, making her delicious coffee, meditating in Jinmo’s tune, or perhaps she is sleeping. When listening any of Jinmo’s albums, I feel kind of familiar connection to the world, much like I did when I first listened Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.
Jinmo’s music is kind of celestial and cerebral, both at the same time. Cerebral in it’s artistic context, celestial in pure expression. It’s visual music but also much more.
After having delicious lunch made by his wife we headed to cafe Paulista in Ginza. It is a very special place with coffee like nectar from heaven.. I was able to shoot really beautiful sequence and interview this afternoon. In fact, best I’ve shot so far for Document: Jinmo.
I realize I must keep searching for various places with many different colors in order to capture Jinmo visually. I can’t be sure if any amount of places is going to be enough, but we will shoot in Finland and Germany too and in various places in Japan and go from there. If you by any chance are interested in sponsoring this movie, please let us know.
There are still many more recordings to come. But I will have my camera charged, locked and loaded. I will be ready.
In Jinmo’s own words:
Fuck the dream. Fuck the memory. Love THIS REALITY. Fuck the future. Fuck the past. Live THIS MOMENT.
I had great time today shooting Jinmo’s studio session. He played his custom designed Jinmoid electric guitar. It was just amazing, I really could feel his vibration. It was like his entire body became a well tuned instrument.
It is great honour for me to document his life for the next two years. I will be releasing intro video soon to give you an idea for the things to come. Stay tuned.
In the meanwhile, check out Jinmo’s official website.
I really respect and love works of Japanese director Kawase Naomi. I saw her works in beginning of 2000 in Helsinki Ateneum. I was stunned to hear about her adoption (she was adopted when she was two, just like me). It could be because of this reason that I am so moved about her work.
My personal favorite is Mogari no Mori (Mourning Forest 2007) but I also love her earlier work Katatsumori and Embracing. She is fearless and honest documentarist.
私は人間の内的なPowerを強く信じている。それは大きく、実
これらのドキュメンタリーは、人々の生活に影響を与え、個人がよ
今から私はいくつかの短編動画を創るつもりだ。どうかVimeo