Latest news with #LostinTranslation
Mint
10-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Tokyo Is Missing Blade Runner Where It Needs It Most
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- From Lost in Translation to the Japanese-inspired aesthetics of Blade Runner, Tokyo's image overseas has long been one of skyscrapers jutting into the sky. But it's easy to forget that it was only recently that the capital developed vertically. In September 1964, ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games, American skylines had long been dominated by decades-old landmarks such as the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. But the tallest structure in Tokyo was the nine-story National Diet Building, erected in 1936 after a 55-year design period(1). Until the 1960s, Japan had strict prohibitions on developments higher than 31 meters (around 100 feet), a provision that kept cities dense but low. It wasn't until 1968 that the first skyscraper was even constructed, the 36-floor Kasumigaseki Building. The structure, which still stands today, was seen as a symbol of the 'city of the future,' as postwar Tokyo sought to brand itself. For over 150 years, Kasumigaseki and neighboring Nagata-cho have been the seat of political power in the country. They were chosen to house government buildings due to their proximity to the Imperial Palace, following the Meiji Restoration in 1868 that reinstated the Emperor's rule. In subsequent years, the sites of many former samurai residences were redeveloped to house ministries and their staff. But if Kasumigaseki was once the symbol of the future, the area now feels stuck in the past. Many of the ministry offices are drab low-rises thrown up in the postwar era that prioritized resistance to natural disasters above aesthetics. Compounding the matter are nearby developments that have erected a line of glass skyscrapers casting a shadow on the district, literally and figuratively. At a time when many areas of Tokyo are getting rebuilt, it's time for a rethink. To the east, the financial area of Otemachi and Marunouchi has been gradually built up into one of the world's most striking central business districts. The transformation, spearheaded by Mitsubishi Estate Co., has seen dozens of structures rebuilt since 1998. Even newer properties, such as the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. headquarters built in 1980, are already being demolished and reconstructed to keep pace, while the Hibiya business district is also changing. More recently to the south, the once-poky Toranomon has been reimagined as a glistening commercial center. In April, Mori Building Co. finally completed Toranomon Hills, a decades-long project of interconnected modern skyscrapers. A neighborhood once littered with stubby postwar architecture now boasts gleaming office blocks, luxury hotels and upmarket dining. Meanwhile, Kasumigaseki and Nagata-cho look much the same as they did two or even three decades ago. That's due in part to proposals to relocate government functions outside of Tokyo that have consistently fallen through, and the sunk cost of earthquake refittings following the 1995 Kobe disaster. The properties typically look exactly as you'd expect from names such as 'Central Government Building No. 1,' which houses the agriculture ministry and dates back to 1954. One official document accurately describes it as having 'no particular decorative touches added.' This functional design dominates the area, while some of the oldest buildings (such as the neo-baroque old Ministry of Justice) or the newest (most notably the Kantei that houses the prime minister's offices, built in 2002) are the most striking. I'm usually in favor of any redevelopment in Tokyo. The constantly shifting landscape is one of the capital's most appealing aspects, and the competition between different areas means everywhere has to up its game. But when it comes to Kasumigaseki, this isn't just a matter of aesthetics. As the home of the nation's bureaucrats, the crucial gears in the machine that is the Japanese state, it needs to be an attractive area to work to retain the best talent. This is where the government is starting to struggle. The central bureaucracy can often be a brutal place to work, with long hours, low pay and travel budgets so meager workers are reported to pay out of pocket for hotels. Nearly 15% of civil servants under 30 are thinking of quitting, and despite the difficulty of passing the exams, a record number now leave within just 10 years. It's ironic that the public servants who in many cases draft the same laws that help improve the capital's quality of life often find themselves in drab offices with little sunlight. Looking over to the sleek glass towers where their classmates who opted for the private sector work in sleek glass towers, they are entitled to have second thoughts. The government seems unlikely to sponsor a multi-billion-dollar spending spree to redo Kasumigaseki, however. The electorate tends to loathe money being spent on public servants, especially when the price of staples like rice are surging(2). Perhaps this all just reflects the inevitable shifting of power from central government to business. But a decline in quality in the civil service is something to be wary of, as my colleague Adrian Wooldridge has written. Japan, too, should avoid creating a world in which the private sector is the only place for talent to go. More From Bloomberg Opinion: (1) The 17-story New Ohtani Hotel was opened just before the Olympics took place in October. (2) One option would be to follow the example of the 2008 redevelopment of Central Government Building No. 7, a public-private partnership that rebuilt government offices into the larger Kasumigaseki Common Gate development. It hosts official functions such as the Financial Services Agency as well as private tenants, but more efforts along these lines have yet to materialize. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief. More stories like this are available on
Daily Tribune
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Scarlett Johansson wary of AI ‘threat'
Bang Showbiz | Los Angeles Scarlett Johansson doesn't think AI can replicate the 'soulfulness' of an actor or actress. The 40-year-old movie star believes AI has a role to play in the long-term future of the film industry, but Scarlett doesn't think the technology can replace the emotional core of an actor or actress' performance. She told The Sunday Times newspaper: 'I just don't believe the work I do can be done by AI. I don't believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated.' Despite this, Scarlett believes AI poses a threat to society more broadly. The Hollywood star explained: 'The bigger picture - about how we human beings, with fragile egos, can continue to have the trust that we have to have in one another, to continue as a society. It's a moral compass. 'We move around the world every day just knowing we have to trust in some basic reality that we all agree on. AI threatens the foundation of that, and that to me is very haunting.' Scarlett began working in the film industry as a child, and she recently acknowledged that child stardom can be a 'dangerous thing'. The actress - who made her film debut in North, the 1994 fantasy-comedy movie - thinks she was 'very fortunate' to come through child stardom unscathed. Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine, Scarlett explained: 'Making decisions on your own - like, adult decisions as a kid - it's a dangerous thing, right?' The Hollywood actress has seen other child stars struggle to cope with the pressures of fame and success. But Scarlett is thankful that she 'dodged a lot of it'. She said: ' I lived through that and also was very fortunate that I dodged a lot of it.' Scarlett starred alongside Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, the 2003 comedy-drama movie, and she now views the film as a turning point in her career. She explained: 'After Lost in Translation, every role that I was offered for years was 'the girlfriend,' 'the other woman,' a sex object - I couldn't get out of the cycle.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What made Scarlett Johansson say yes to 'Jurassic World Rebirth'? The actress reveals she did not have second thoughts
, the 'Black Widow' star, recently opened up about playing the fierce character, Zora, in the upcoming film 'Jurassic World Rebirth.' The versatile actress revealed that she did not have any second thoughts about the script. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why did Scarlett Johansson choose Zora? In a conversation with Pinkvilla, the 40-year-old actress stated that the one thing that sparkled the most was the interesting script by . 'The thing that struck me about David Koepp's script was how complex and compelling Zora was,' she said, before adding, 'She's not just along for the ride — she's actively choosing this mission, and that makes all the difference.' Scarlett has been a Hollywood actress who isn't afraid to experiment with the scripts and the characters, may it be 'Lost in Translation' or 'Lucy.' For years, she has always kept the actress within her alive with emotions through intricacies, the complex subtexts, and, more importantly, the layers that the script offers. In the upcoming film, Zora (played by Scarlett Johansson) has played an active role throughout the course of the film. The involvement gives her more space and agency than a typical action character in the blockbuster films. The difference between Zora and others is... What makes Zora different from other regular characters is that she is the driving force behind the story; she is not just reacting to what's happening in the plot, and she certainly isn't just a survivor. Directed by , the film is expected to bring forward the never-before-seen plot twists while remaining true to the franchise's roots. 'Jurassic World Rebirth' would be hitting the silver screen on July 2, 2025. The cast of the film includes Scarlett Johansson as Zora Benett, as Dr. Henry Loomis, as Teresa Delgado, as Duncan Kincaid, as Martin Krebs, David Iacono as Xavier Dobbs, as Atwater, and many more.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Early roles centered on desirability, male gaze: Scarlett Johansson
Actor Scarlett Johansson, known for several hit characters including Lucy, Lost in Translation, Her and the critically acclaimed Black Widow, has been noticing a shift in the roles that are being offered to women. The actor, who has been in the industry for over three decades, shared that she would often be offered roles that are centred on "desirability" and the goals and needs of her male counterparts. However, she feels that times are changing and Hollywood has been significantly shifting its gears to give better roles for women. In an interview with The Times of London, Johansson said, "when I was younger, a lot of the roles I was offered, or I went for, had their ambitions or character arcs revolving around their own desirability, or the male gaze, or a male-centred story. That is less frequent, though — something has shifted." She further added, "The messaging is different — there are many more role models, women are visible in powerful positions and the opportunities I have had to play women who don't have to just be one thing or another have increased."
The Advertiser
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Scarlett Johansson wary of AI 'threat'
Scarlett Johansson doesn't think AI can replicate the "soulfulness" of an actor. The 40-year-old movie star believes AI has a role to play in the long-term future of the film industry, but doesn't think the technology can replace the emotional core of an actor's performance. "I just don't believe the work I do can be done by AI. I don't believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated," she told The Sunday Times newspaper. However, Johansson believes AI poses a threat to society more broadly. "We move around the world every day just knowing we have to trust in some basic reality that we all agree on. AI threatens the foundation of that, and that to me is very haunting." Johansson began working in the film industry as a child, and recently acknowledged that child stardom can be a "dangerous thing". The actor - who made her film debut in North, the 1994 fantasy-comedy movie - thinks she was "very fortunate" to come through child stardom unscathed. "Making decisions on your own - like, adult decisions as a kid - it's a dangerous thing, right?" she told Vanity Fair magazine. She has seen other child stars struggle to cope with the pressures of fame and success. "I lived through that and also was very fortunate that I dodged a lot of it." Johansson starred alongside Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, the 2003 comedy drama, and now views the film as a turning point in her career. "After Lost in Translation, every role that I was offered for years was 'the girlfriend', 'the other woman', a sex object - I couldn't get out of the cycle. "It sort of felt like, 'Oh, I guess this is my identity now as an actor.' There wasn't much I could do with that." Scarlett Johansson doesn't think AI can replicate the "soulfulness" of an actor. The 40-year-old movie star believes AI has a role to play in the long-term future of the film industry, but doesn't think the technology can replace the emotional core of an actor's performance. "I just don't believe the work I do can be done by AI. I don't believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated," she told The Sunday Times newspaper. However, Johansson believes AI poses a threat to society more broadly. "We move around the world every day just knowing we have to trust in some basic reality that we all agree on. AI threatens the foundation of that, and that to me is very haunting." Johansson began working in the film industry as a child, and recently acknowledged that child stardom can be a "dangerous thing". The actor - who made her film debut in North, the 1994 fantasy-comedy movie - thinks she was "very fortunate" to come through child stardom unscathed. "Making decisions on your own - like, adult decisions as a kid - it's a dangerous thing, right?" she told Vanity Fair magazine. She has seen other child stars struggle to cope with the pressures of fame and success. "I lived through that and also was very fortunate that I dodged a lot of it." Johansson starred alongside Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, the 2003 comedy drama, and now views the film as a turning point in her career. "After Lost in Translation, every role that I was offered for years was 'the girlfriend', 'the other woman', a sex object - I couldn't get out of the cycle. "It sort of felt like, 'Oh, I guess this is my identity now as an actor.' There wasn't much I could do with that." Scarlett Johansson doesn't think AI can replicate the "soulfulness" of an actor. The 40-year-old movie star believes AI has a role to play in the long-term future of the film industry, but doesn't think the technology can replace the emotional core of an actor's performance. "I just don't believe the work I do can be done by AI. I don't believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated," she told The Sunday Times newspaper. However, Johansson believes AI poses a threat to society more broadly. "We move around the world every day just knowing we have to trust in some basic reality that we all agree on. AI threatens the foundation of that, and that to me is very haunting." Johansson began working in the film industry as a child, and recently acknowledged that child stardom can be a "dangerous thing". The actor - who made her film debut in North, the 1994 fantasy-comedy movie - thinks she was "very fortunate" to come through child stardom unscathed. "Making decisions on your own - like, adult decisions as a kid - it's a dangerous thing, right?" she told Vanity Fair magazine. She has seen other child stars struggle to cope with the pressures of fame and success. "I lived through that and also was very fortunate that I dodged a lot of it." Johansson starred alongside Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, the 2003 comedy drama, and now views the film as a turning point in her career. "After Lost in Translation, every role that I was offered for years was 'the girlfriend', 'the other woman', a sex object - I couldn't get out of the cycle. "It sort of felt like, 'Oh, I guess this is my identity now as an actor.' There wasn't much I could do with that." Scarlett Johansson doesn't think AI can replicate the "soulfulness" of an actor. The 40-year-old movie star believes AI has a role to play in the long-term future of the film industry, but doesn't think the technology can replace the emotional core of an actor's performance. "I just don't believe the work I do can be done by AI. I don't believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated," she told The Sunday Times newspaper. However, Johansson believes AI poses a threat to society more broadly. "We move around the world every day just knowing we have to trust in some basic reality that we all agree on. AI threatens the foundation of that, and that to me is very haunting." Johansson began working in the film industry as a child, and recently acknowledged that child stardom can be a "dangerous thing". The actor - who made her film debut in North, the 1994 fantasy-comedy movie - thinks she was "very fortunate" to come through child stardom unscathed. "Making decisions on your own - like, adult decisions as a kid - it's a dangerous thing, right?" she told Vanity Fair magazine. She has seen other child stars struggle to cope with the pressures of fame and success. "I lived through that and also was very fortunate that I dodged a lot of it." Johansson starred alongside Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, the 2003 comedy drama, and now views the film as a turning point in her career. "After Lost in Translation, every role that I was offered for years was 'the girlfriend', 'the other woman', a sex object - I couldn't get out of the cycle. "It sort of felt like, 'Oh, I guess this is my identity now as an actor.' There wasn't much I could do with that."
