Third Places in Tokyo with Chris Palmieri

Follow the Rabbit is a (video) podcast that invites you into the messy, interconnected world of cultural research. In Season 1 we used Toby Shorin's essay Life after Lifestyle to explore cultural rabbit holes, connect unexpected dots, and uncover insights that shape our world, all while working with the garage door open. In Season 2 we go even deeper into the current re-emergence of the third-place concept.

This episode of Follow the Rabbit features Chris Palmieri, co-founder of AQ, a design product studio based in Tokyo and Paris. The episode focuses on exploring third places in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, where Chris has been living since 2001.

• Key points of the discussion include:
• Chris's observations on the evolution of third places in Tokyo, presented through a detailed map of various types of spaces and their functions.
• The post-war trend of co-opting public functions (like bathing) into private homes, and how this affected traditional third places.
• The concept of “privacy as service” in dense urban environments, including unique uses of spaces like car-sharing vehicles and love hotels.
• The idea of “companionship as service” in various types of cafes and social spaces.
• The role of convenience stores in Tokyo as an extension of home and part of the city's “operating system”
• A case study of the film “Perfect Days” by Wim Wenders, illustrating how third places are portrayed in cinema and how they reflect social dynamics in Tokyo.
• Comparison of Oldenburg's characteristics of third places with the reality of contemporary Japan, noting differences in social leveling, conversation as the main activity, and anonymity.
• Discussion on how Tokyo's long-standing density and financial restrictions might foreshadow trends in Western cities.

The episode provides a rich exploration of how third places function in a dense urban environment like Tokyo, offering insights into cultural differences and potential future trends for urban spaces globally. It highlights the adaptability of spaces in Tokyo and how the entire city can be seen as an extension of one's home.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4It1SaFkclc