We are happy to present the last in our series of timelapses in Tokyo– ironically the first we shot and produced. This shot began as an experiment to capture both the bustling frenzy of life in Tokyo, as well as our experience as solitary observers– outsiders with only enough resources to let the foot traffic of the city wash over us. What emerged were a set of three profound and visually stunning shorts that do more than any other single shots we captured during Season 2 to communicate our experiences in Japan.

We learned today via Korea Beat of an American hospitalized in Seoul, who is currently being denied the surgery he desperately needs because of his rising medical bills.

Matt Robinson, an expat teacher, recently had a bacterial infection excised from his leg. Now, he is struggling with complications from the medication, surgery and a pre-existing deep-vein thrombosis. The hospital has determined that closing the gaping wound in his leg is an “elective plastic surgery”, and, given his 16,000,000W medical bill (~$13,000.00 USD), they have refused to treat him without full payment upfront.

Because of Matt’s recent patella injury, we are all too aware of the fear one feels in a foreign hospital. We will divert any donations we receive toward helping Matt Robinson pay down his medical bills and raise the funds he needs for surgery. We urge you to donate here, or by clicking the green donation button at the top of our website. Please stay tuned for more updates as they become available. Click through to read the details of Matt’s predicament from his fundraising Facebook group.

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I’ve been listening to Tettix for a couple of years now — since before he was Tettix, actually.  Probably since the first time I heard Technology Crisis I wanted to animate something to his music, likely with giant robots.  That never materialized for me and I always figured he’d say “no” when asked if a no-name could use his work uncompensated.

I think his music came up in conversation at the first ever Jet Set Zero production meeting back in Seattle and we all said “yeah, it would be rad to have that on the show,” then never did anything about it.  After our success with Space Captain in Season 1 though, I started seriously considering contacting him.  I thought it was going to be a difficult process of convincing him to let us use his music so when I got an immediate “sure, your show looks cool!” the next day I was left pretty confused with all my follow up arguments dangling in the wind.

Getting his music on the show has been great, but it was all seriously just a ploy to let me use Earth’s Assault on the Central A.I. in… something.  I didn’t care how or in what context, I needed to work with that song.  So thank you Judson, and thank you to all the other groups we’ve worked with over the past year. You’ve been a big part of making Jet Set Zero what it is today.

We’ll probably be using more of Tettix’s work in the future along with our ever growing roster of new musicians, so stay tuned and don’t forget to check out the artists’ pages!

“North Korea said Wednesday it was abandoning the truce that ended the Korean war and warned it could launch a military attack on the South, two days after testing an atomic bomb for the second time.” via Sydney Morning Herald.

Judson Cowan, better known as Tettix, graciously allowed us to use his music throughout our second season. Watch Episode 3: Things To Do in Tokyo When You’re Broke to hear how his song, “The Graves of Good Humans”, allowed us to communicate the surreal melancholy of our time in Tokyo.

When Jed first approached me about using my music for JetSetZero I didn’t fully appreciate the scope of what the guys were doing. I get a lot of fans wanting to use my music for this or that – and I’m always willing – but the majority of it thus far has been YouTube dabblers and first-year film majors. Needless to say: one season later I’m glad I signed on.

I’ve always strived to tell a story with my music. I usually insert subtle hints at what the story in my mind was but I mostly leave it up to the listener to interpret. I’m always curious to see different people’s interpretations too. It really gives me no end of joy. Some people apply my music in ways that hit pretty close to the mark. Others apply it in ways I never would have imagined. I cannot think of a more flattering application than JSZ’s adventures in Tokyo. A truly remarkable story. It’s a constantly evolving beast that I think has grown into something the guys never would have expected when they embarked but I’m sure all of you viewers – like myself – have been spellbound the whole way. And as much as I hate to end a sentence in a preposition, it’s a story I’m humbled to be part of.

I would never have the balls to sell my place and quit my job. To give up all the creature comforts I’ve amassed over the years. To fly thousands of miles from my home country without an inkling of what lay in store for me. All I can do is sit in the comfort of my studio, thousands of miles away, and type “absolutely!” whenever Jed asks to use a new song. I may have only contributed music, the other great bands who have been involved may only have done the same, the viewers may only have contributed their time, but we’re all cheering you on and we’re all thrilled to be along for the ride.

Ganbatte, fellas.

To learn more about Tettix, and for a full song archive, visit www.tettix.net. You can find “The Graves of Good Humans” on Technology Crisis II.

Onwards, to Korea!  Upwards, out of the gutter!

And that’s the end of Season 2: Tokyo.  After much, much, much delay we’ll now finally be moving into Season 3: Seoul.  I could go on and on about my battle with burnout and how it has led to our mangled schedule, but one of the effects of burning out is that you’re tired all the time.  So instead of ranting, I think I’ll go to bed.

Enjoy the episode and check out the Vivian Girls, whose track “Where Do You Run?” nicely wraps up our final moments in Tokyo.

I’m working an insanely demanding job, with a long commute spread across many buses and trains, which take me a 10-hour stint of intense concentration.  Unfortunately, I’m still on our travel budget, which is still hobbling along after Japan.  So what sees me through the day?

Starts with a 900 KRW ($.75) can of coffee.  I like this brand because it’s not packed with sugar, which usually just leads to a sugar crash midday, always an awful experience at this job.  Also, I ate some instant ramen: 600 KRW ($.50). Total: 1500 KRW ($1.25)

Then lunch…

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This weekend we managed to get out of Seoul to see the beaches of Mooyi Island off the coast of Incheon.  Here are a few of the good times:

Celebrating 3 birthdays on the beach (our friend Yuyu, and two new friends)

Sunset on the beach.

More after the break…

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I apologize for my silence on the blog.  The hours for my job are absolutely insane and I have a second (third?) job of rehabilitating my knee. My knee is regaining its range of motion degree by degree  My primary physical therapist is a guy called “Cook,” and his regimen is intense, effective, and the opposite of gentle.

I was lucky enough to work near an orthopedic clinic famous for working on professional baseball players.  So they don’t mess around.

Another favorite is the massive machine they call “The Biodex.”

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From Korea Beat: Riot police training in Gyeonggi-do to battle protestors with bamboo poles and spears.