I’ve posted about World Order before – one of my favorite groups. Combine electronic music with hypnotic robotic movements to explore crass commercialism, mystic beliefs, boy meets girl fun, the power within you to change, and the newest, Last Dance. Genki Sudo, retired kickboxing champ and martial artist, is front man, singer, choreographer. Last Dance epitomizes “mono no aware” = the pathos of things, the sadness felt at the passing of an era. We see anti-nuclear protests, trees that survived the tsunami bolstered up in the midst of a massive mall, a segment on the beach with Fukishima Power plant in the background, depersonalized automated food/medicine/whatever production, and to me, most wistful telling of times in Japan, a stormy Fuji in the background showing the bare minimum view of the infamous Suicide Forest.
I love Japan, but I think most of you know this. Seeing Last Dance evokes the mono no aware in me – thinking of the Japan I knew 30 years ago and the changes but also, the things that stay the same. Knowing several engineers from Fukishima who are now based in the US, I look at this video and see the movement of the waves, the enveloping, the taking away in the dance movements. I know these men who have lost everything they hold dear.
I hope rather than make you sad, this video will remind us of how we on this Earth, are a family. From mudlides in Washinton, plane crashes, tsunamis – we all weep when we lose a loved one, are stirred to help, pray for those affected, and hope for a brighter future. The kindness of (un)strangers. Let us be kinder.
A lighter video – Change Your Life (forever) bespeaks the power within us to change, reinvent, improve our lives.
I hope you enjoy. I enjoy sharing!
Last Dance
Change Your Life (forever)
kanzen sakura 
Mar 29, 2014 @ 06:14:21
I came across World Order last year and I couldn’t get the smile off my face. I think I’ve developed an embarrassing old lady crush on Genki Sudo! 🙂
I hadn’t seen the two videos you posted here so I’m really glad you shared them. I also appreciated having a bit more background on the locations. It makes for a less superficial experience.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 10:00:25
LOL indeed. My old lady crush since mid-80s has been Hiroyuki Sanada – excellent actor and another real true martial artist. However, my real real old lady crush is Takheshi Kaneshiro. I do believe he is the most beautiful man in the world.
Glad you hadn’t seen these videos. Las Dance is only a few months old
Mar 29, 2014 @ 10:27:03
Oh yes, Sanada is nice too, but I don’t think I’ve come across Kaneshiro. Don’t give me ideas!
I’ve subscribed to World Order on YouTube now so that I won’t miss anything.
Btw don’t you think Genki is such an appropriate name for him? I wonder if that’s even his real name, it’s just too perfect {swoons theatrically}.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 10:42:07
A lot of them change their names, like our celebrities. I know Sanada and Kaneshiro both did. Since he was a kickboxer and martial artist and champion at them, because the Japanese celebrities often try to do the united mentality thing, he may have chosen Genki to promote certain aspects because it does mean healthy and energetic. and he is. Hiroyuki means widespread happiness. And he has spread wide since he was a kid acting and competing in martial arts and he is a prolific actor. My husband calls him “That guy” usually followed by “Good gravy, is that guy in everything?” I started following him in those terrible martial arts movies in the 80s but he has done some amazing and deep work as well. And Kaneshiro is just plain gorgeous. That man can make Armani clothing beyond the realm of elegant. Glad you’ll keep up with World Order. they’re doing a world tour this year, so some interesting and entertaining things may come of it. Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:27:03 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 29, 2014 @ 10:55:04
“Is that guy in everything?” LOL 😀 It might have something to do with biased sampling due to his wife’s film selection criteria… 😉
Thanks for all the info. I’m off to do some research on World Order’s tour; I’d love to be able to see them live.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 15:58:57
It could and the fact I now watch Helix on Syfy
Mar 29, 2014 @ 16:03:34
🙂 I’ve only watched the pilot episode of Helix so far. Is the show different from the pilot, or does it carry on seamlessly?
Mar 29, 2014 @ 16:11:59
Seamlessly. Lots happens, lots of plots within plots…you find out a lot about Sanada. I can,t remember if you see his weird silvert eyes in the first one or not or why he is so creepily stalking the brunette CDC person Julia. You know about Big Tall Inuit Daniel being his son but not how or why. Lots of creepy stuff. Sanada is his usual soft spoken self. I wish he,d take off his shirt so you could see how he is nothing but muscle. He,s the real deal in martial arts and keeps up his training. He,d make the younger men look like pikers. But in the latest episode, he does make one movement that is an eyeblink it happens so quickly.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 16:16:04
“I wish he’d take off his shirt” LOL Maybe they’re saving that in case the ratins take a dip. 😀
Mar 29, 2014 @ 16:16:43
I meant “ratings” sorry. Hit the Reply button too quickly.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 18:27:47
Considering the season finale was this last episode and won’t be back until 2015, I’m thinking they should have shown him doing a strip in the shower and then cutting to the end…that would be worth waiting for. I am sooooo bad.
Mar 30, 2014 @ 06:30:38
🙂
Mar 29, 2014 @ 19:03:52
Thank you for introducing me to them! I like their videos, but also listening to their music.
Mar 29, 2014 @ 19:32:51
Returning the favor for Steam Powered Giraffes! Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 23:03:52 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 29, 2014 @ 19:40:27
🙂
Mar 30, 2014 @ 10:06:56
I love Japanese music… ❤
Mar 30, 2014 @ 10:12:25
I know this one by heart – phonetically, of course! 🙂
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P.S. our son speaks (and writes!) Chinese and Japanese fluently…