| Rosemary Ling investigates the change at Selfridges and the new exhibitions at the Barbican. |
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Since the beginning of May Selfridges in London has transformed itself into a Japanese emporium entitled "Tokyo Life". All sorts of things from Japanese culture is in the store and on sale. An electrifying mix of fashion, interesting homeware, Japanese foods, arcade games, vending machines and elevator girls have been brought together to help Japan promote itself this year, despite its decade of recession.
Also the ultimate convenience store has opened on the corner of Oxford and Orchard Streets. Open for 24 hours you can find Japanese merchandise from Hello Kitty candy to toiletries. Japanese fashion labels have been imported for the occasion and are being sold exclusively at Selfridges.
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Bright pink vending machines dotted around the store are selling items for a variety of needs, including rice crackers, Hello Kitty products, palm pilots and even condoms!Japanese elevator girls have been flown in to help customers to the right floor whilst keeping the lifts immaculate. |
| Also among the merchandise artists are exhibiting their works. |
| On the third floor Masato Nakamura explores the aesthetics of Tokyo’s architecture with neon tubes. |
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Koji Mizutini has photographed over 200 smiling Japanese youths. Brightly clad in kitsch clothes, they have also written a short message about what makes them happy. Mizutini is now trying a similar stunt in London. |
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If you fancy yourself as Karaoke Royalty, then have a go at the interactive installation by Hiroyuki Matsukage. By singing your voice will activate the screen to show a crowd of screaming Japanese girls.
In live performances during the month electric musical instruments based on fish skeletons will feature a fish keyboard and fish harp. Magwa Denki is a cult company styled on an electronics firm producing artworks or rather "products". The exhibitions is on the lower ground floor.
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If you missed the live performance of the Bread men last week, where 10 men were covered in bread and paraded through the store and onto the streets. The installation is on the first floor.
Masato Makamura is head of a group of artists participating in command N which investigates the relationship between art, systems and society. Tokyo Rabbit Paradise is an installation investigating how Tokyo dwellers live in little spaces.  command N have created an instore landscape with virtual estate agents and show homes. Visitors may buy of the forty virtual rooms which will be connected to live webcams in Tokyo "microcosms".Today there is the chance to win a Suzuki scooter between 4-8pm, take part in a karaoke contest between 4-9pm, and listen to an instrumental band between 1-4pm. Put on your dancing feet and have a go in the Konami Dancing Stage Euromix Challenge, follow on-screen steps in your fastest feet. Running until May 21 there will be many youths having a go at a craze which took Japan by storm, the finals are on May 26.
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