Full Width [alt+shift+f] Shortcuts [alt+shift+k]
Sign Up [alt+shift+s] Log In [alt+shift+l]

Spoon & Tamago

Spoon & Tamago
The Machu Picchu of Japan—and Other Sites that Compare Themselves to World-Famous Destinations See the World Without Ever Leaving Japan There are several remote corners of Japan that have been...
2 months ago
119
2 months ago
See the World Without Ever Leaving Japan There are several remote corners of Japan that have been comparing themselves to world-famous tourist destinations. Whether it’s out of pride, a bid to attract tourists, or just a good sense of humor, their reasons vary. But that’s not to...
Spoon & Tamago
A Chandelier of 28,000 Eggs and Other Scrumptious Delights Reframe our Consumption of Food The Osaka Expo 2025 kicks off on April 13th. And while we’re excited about some pretty niche things...
4 months ago
52
4 months ago
The Osaka Expo 2025 kicks off on April 13th. And while we’re excited about some pretty niche things like Hello Kitty algae and attendant uniforms, one of Japan’s signature pavilions, Earth Mart, is shaping up to be delightfully delicious. Located within the expo’s Green World...
Spoon & Tamago
Kei Endo Measures the World Around Her Through Detailed Survey Drawings Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman who got her start by merging her hobbies of...
5 months ago
45
5 months ago
Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman who got her start by merging her hobbies of travelling and art: she began sharing her detailed, architectural survey drawings of the hotel rooms she stayed at. This wonderful side-hustle eventually blossomed into a career....
Spoon & Tamago
Tomoko Kubo is Embroidering the Entire Hiragana Lettering System Illustrator and embroidery artist Tomoko Kubo has embarked on an epic linguistic journey of...
4 months ago
40
4 months ago
Illustrator and embroidery artist Tomoko Kubo has embarked on an epic linguistic journey of embroidering all 46 characters in the hiragana lettering system. Each piece is carefully designed so that within each character are individually embroidered images that depict foods,...
Spoon & Tamago
Contemporary Nihonga Images of Hamsters Created by Otama-shimai all images by Otama-shimai | used with permission The Japanese artist who goes by the name...
6 months ago
40
6 months ago
all images by Otama-shimai | used with permission The Japanese artist who goes by the name Otama-shimai creates Nihonga-style images almost exclusively of hamsters. Nihonga is a Japanese style of painting coined in the mid-1800s to differentiate it from its Western counterpart....
Spoon & Tamago
Hermes Celebrates a Feast of Fruits with their Kaorumi Collection of Tableware Illustrated by Ryo... Japanese illustrator Ryo Takemasa (previously) has created a series of symmetrical fruit...
6 months ago
39
6 months ago
Japanese illustrator Ryo Takemasa (previously) has created a series of symmetrical fruit illustrations in collaboration with Hermes, which adorn a new collection of tableware called Kaorumi, meaning the fragrance of fruits in Japanese. Working with a compass and ruler, Takemasa...
Spoon & Tamago
Furisode Snowboarder Sumire Morino Creates Urushi Snowboarding Gear for Graduating Thesis Hailing from rural Aomori in northern Japan, Sumire Morino grew up skiing and snowboarding. She is...
5 months ago
38
5 months ago
Hailing from rural Aomori in northern Japan, Sumire Morino grew up skiing and snowboarding. She is currently in art school studying traditional Japanese crafts. And so when Morino turned twenty, 2 years ago, she celebrated coming-of-age-day the only way she knew how: hitting the...
Spoon & Tamago
The Ultra-Narrow Rakuragu Hotel Offers a Stylish Stay in Central Tokyo This 9-story Rakuragu hotel rises from an ultra-narrow site in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. If...
4 months ago
37
4 months ago
This 9-story Rakuragu hotel rises from an ultra-narrow site in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. If it’s nightlife you’re in search of, this hotel may not be right for you but if you’re looking for understated stylishness and rare outdoor space, this is a gem of a hotel. With...
Spoon & Tamago
“I saw, I cut, I applied.” Discover the Artwork of Ayako Miyawaki World War II ended in 1945. That same year, at the age of 40 and with a husband and 3 children,...
6 months ago
36
6 months ago
World War II ended in 1945. That same year, at the age of 40 and with a husband and 3 children, Ayako Miyawaki would begin an artistic career so full of vitality and creative freedom that she would go on to produce hundreds of works made from rags and other textiles stitched...
Spoon & Tamago
The Yakitorill is our Kitchen Appliance of 2025 Yakitori lovers take note. Grilling yakitori at home just got a lot easier thanks to the new...
7 months ago
35
7 months ago
Yakitori lovers take note. Grilling yakitori at home just got a lot easier thanks to the new Yakitorill: a combination of the words yakitori and grill. This beautiful kitchen appliance, developed by Fukuoka-based firm Guardner, promises less smoke and an overall cleaner...
Spoon & Tamago
Kamon Reinvented: Food-Inspired Family Crests by So Terada Japanese family crests, or kamon, are visual symbols that have represented family lineage and...
6 months ago
31
6 months ago
Japanese family crests, or kamon, are visual symbols that have represented family lineage and identity sometimes for centuries. While they are often associated with tradition and cultural heritage, their meanings, usage, and significance can vary widely. Some kamon hold profound...
Spoon & Tamago
RIP Kimiko Nishimoto: Japan’s Most-Creative Obachan We were saddened to learn that Kimiko Nishimoto, known for absurdist self-portraits, passed away on...
a month ago
31
a month ago
We were saddened to learn that Kimiko Nishimoto, known for absurdist self-portraits, passed away on June 9, 2025. She was 97. Nishimoto’s creative journey began, unexpectedly, at the age of 72 when she decided to take a photography class. She immediately fell in love with the...
Spoon & Tamago
Our Favorite Tokyo Designer Christmas Trees of 2024 If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these...
7 months ago
30
7 months ago
If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these locations where you’ll find the best seasonal yet unorthodox designer Christmas trees. Happy Holidays! Christmas Tree of Light at Omotesando Hills “Christmas Tree of Light” is a...
Spoon & Tamago
The Daruma Leather Bag is the Perfect New Year Accessory Commonly associated with the new year, Daruma dolls are a type of wishing doll considered an...
6 months ago
29
6 months ago
Commonly associated with the new year, Daruma dolls are a type of wishing doll considered an ornament but also a symbol of good fortune and the ultimate lucky charm. With its austere, rounded form, intense expression, and distinctive eyebrows, the Daruma doll was originally...
Spoon & Tamago
The New Hiroshima Jimoto Collection is a Celebration of the Electric Railway Get ready to show your love for Hiroshima. Specifically, their Electric Railway. An integral part of...
6 months ago
29
6 months ago
Get ready to show your love for Hiroshima. Specifically, their Electric Railway. An integral part of the city’s history and modern-day transportation, Hiroshima boasts the longest and most utilized streetcar network in Japan, operated by the Hiroshima Electric Railway Company and...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2025 Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that...
7 months ago
28
7 months ago
Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that represents both auspiciousness and malevolence. Snakes are revered as sacred beings, embodying themes of renewal, fertility, and the duality of nature as both protector and destroyer....
Spoon & Tamago
This Wrapping Paper Turns All Your Presents into Bread At first glance, these wrapped objects see like freshly bakes loaves straight from the bakery. With...
3 months ago
28
3 months ago
At first glance, these wrapped objects see like freshly bakes loaves straight from the bakery. With toasty brown hues, signature flour dusting, and even hand-scored patterns mimicking artisanal baguettes, this genius wrapping paper turns all your gifts into bread. Conceived by...
Spoon & Tamago
Goldwin Set to Open Expansive Nature Park in Toyama in 2027 Goldwin, the Japanese outdoor apparel company, has unveiled plans for an ambitious new project: the...
3 months ago
24
3 months ago
Goldwin, the Japanese outdoor apparel company, has unveiled plans for an ambitious new project: the Play Earth Park Naturing Forest. Set to open in the summer of 2027, this expansive nature-themed facility will be located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, the birthplace of...
Spoon & Tamago
Visit the Stunning Echigo Yakuso Distillery Where Award-Winning Gin is Produced all photographs by Koji Fujii(TOREAL) courtesy EA Research and Design Office Located in tranquil...
6 months ago
23
6 months ago
all photographs by Koji Fujii(TOREAL) courtesy EA Research and Design Office Located in tranquil Joetsu City, Echigo Yakuso is a health food company that has been researching medicinal herbs and fermented foods for over 40 years. During their production process of products, which...
Spoon & Tamago
Kodansha Launches ‘Manga Manners’ to Educate Visitors on Japanese Etiquette Kodansha, one of Japan’s leading manga publishers, has launched an innovative campaign titled “MANGA...
3 months ago
23
3 months ago
Kodansha, one of Japan’s leading manga publishers, has launched an innovative campaign titled “MANGA MANNERS” to educate visitors about Japanese etiquette through beloved manga characters. Following the success of a similar initiative at Narita Airport in 2024, this new campaign...
Spoon & Tamago
This is the Time of Year Bamboo Shoots Grow, Sometimes Wreaking Havoc a triptych by Toyokuni Utagawa depicting an excursion to gather bamboo shoots (early 1800s)...
2 months ago
21
2 months ago
a triptych by Toyokuni Utagawa depicting an excursion to gather bamboo shoots (early 1800s) According to Japan’s ancient calendar of 72 microseasons, right now is microseason 21: the time of year when “Bamboo Shoots Sprout.” Known as takenoko in Japan, these voracious plants have...
Spoon & Tamago
Artist Yukiko Suto Finds Beauty in Japanese Residential Neighborhoods “Garden of a youth hostel – Katsunuma” (2024). Pencil and watercolor on paper mounted on panel...
2 months ago
20
2 months ago
“Garden of a youth hostel – Katsunuma” (2024). Pencil and watercolor on paper mounted on panel Wielding just pencils and watercolors, and an eye for the small things in life, artist Yukiko Suto traverses Japan, capturing the nostalgia and beauty of residential neighborhoods. Old...
Spoon & Tamago
Roof That Connects Life and Nature: ROOF HOUSE by Tamada & Wakimoto Architects all photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Tamada & Wakimoto Architects Set against the soft backdrop of...
3 months ago
20
3 months ago
all photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Tamada & Wakimoto Architects Set against the soft backdrop of Tochigi’s rural landscapes, ROOF HOUSE by Tamada & Wakimoto Architects reimagines how a home can engage with its environment. Rather than enclosing life within walls, this project...
Spoon & Tamago
Haneno Suzuki Brings Playful Lines to Shibuya Tokyo-based artist Haneno Suzuki has a way of turning something everyday as paper into something...
3 weeks ago
19
3 weeks ago
Tokyo-based artist Haneno Suzuki has a way of turning something everyday as paper into something completely unexpected in her solo exhibition “Playful Lines“, currently on view at (Place) by Method in Shibuya. Running from July 4th to 19th, 2025, the show invites visitors to...
Spoon & Tamago
In a New Pop-Up Exhibition, Erica Ward Presents Tokyo as a Living, Breathing Organism all images courtesy the artist | used with permission Erica Ward is a California-born ink and...
2 weeks ago
17
2 weeks ago
all images courtesy the artist | used with permission Erica Ward is a California-born ink and watercolor artist who has called Tokyo her home for over 10 years. Inspired by Japanese designs and imagery, as well as the ever-changing landscape of Tokyo, Ward reinterprets everyday...
Spoon & Tamago
Joe Hisaishi’s ‘Summer’ Reimagined as a Short Film Originally composed as the main theme for Takeshi Kitano’s 1999 film Kikujiro, Joe Hisaishi’s...
2 weeks ago
16
2 weeks ago
Originally composed as the main theme for Takeshi Kitano’s 1999 film Kikujiro, Joe Hisaishi’s timeless piece “Summer” has long been cherished in Japan as the soundtrack of nostalgic summer memories. Now, this beloved masterpiece is reimagined as a short film. Set in a high school...
Spoon & Tamago
For the Next Month, Osaka will Transform into a Public Art Museum As the Osaka Expo draws the world’s attention to Osaka, the city is poised to add an additional...
2 months ago
15
2 months ago
As the Osaka Expo draws the world’s attention to Osaka, the city is poised to add an additional attraction. Between May 28 and June 24, Osaka Art & Design 2025 (OAD2025) will run parallel to the Expo, transforming the city’s urban space into a public art museum. The event, which...
Spoon & Tamago
Tanjiro Emerges in the Fields as Gyoda Unveils 2025 Rice Paddy Art Every summer, the city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture turns rice paddies into giant canvases,...
a month ago
15
a month ago
Every summer, the city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture turns rice paddies into giant canvases, planting colorful rice varieties to form massive works of art. Known as tanbo art, these living murals stretch across nearly three hectares and can only be fully appreciated from above....
Spoon & Tamago
Flushing into the Future: Toto’s High-Tech Health Tracker Imagine sitting on your toilet and getting a personalized health report sent straight to your phone....
2 weeks ago
14
2 weeks ago
Imagine sitting on your toilet and getting a personalized health report sent straight to your phone. No clinic visit, no awkward conversations. Just data, insight, and… well, your poop. This isn’t science fiction anymore. Toilets in Japan have long been known for their...
Spoon & Tamago
Earth, Reimagined on the Shores of Ishigaki Sou Fujimoto’s newest project, Earth, is a vacation home that nearly disappears into the landscape...
3 weeks ago
10
3 weeks ago
Sou Fujimoto’s newest project, Earth, is a vacation home that nearly disappears into the landscape of Ishigaki Island. Built for NOT A HOTEL, the circular villa is topped with a green roof and designed to feel like part of the land itself. From above, it reads more like a natural...
Spoon & Tamago
Kuroneko Delivers More Than Just Packages at Expo 2025 If you’re heading to the Osaka Expo, you need to stop by Kuroneko Yamato’s booth. Trust us. And...
a month ago
10
a month ago
If you’re heading to the Osaka Expo, you need to stop by Kuroneko Yamato’s booth. Trust us. And while they do offer baggage storage and shipping, that’s not why you want to go. Running for the duration of the Expo (through October 13), the “Dreaming World of Kuroneko” has an...
Spoon & Tamago
A Garden on Rails: Mitone Design Transforms Train Car into Monet Museum All photos by Shotaro Hamasaki, courtesy mitone design. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kochi...
a month ago
7
a month ago
All photos by Shotaro Hamasaki, courtesy mitone design. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kochi prefecture’s Monet’s Garden Marmottan, a beloved recreation of Monet’s iconic garden in France, Kitagawa Village has brought the garden’s peaceful beauty to the Gomen-Nahiri Line in...
Spoon & Tamago
Tomoe Shinohara Brings 1,300 Years of History to Life in Wearable Art all photos by Sayuki Inoue Located in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, the Shosoin is the...
a month ago
7
a month ago
all photos by Sayuki Inoue Located in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, the Shosoin is the Imperial treasure house associated with Todai-ji Temple. Constructed in the 8th century, it safeguards nearly 9,000 precious artifacts once belonging to Emperor Shomu, donated by his...
Spoon & Tamago
Marie Asaba Captures Expressions in Gentle Illustrations In her latest exhibition ‘FACE’ the illustrator points her gaze to the facial expressions of people,...
a month ago
6
a month ago
In her latest exhibition ‘FACE’ the illustrator points her gaze to the facial expressions of people, pets and even food Marie Asaba is a Yokohama-based illustrator who depicts children, animals and plants using delicate expressions and bold compositions. Raised in lush Toyama,...
Spoon & Tamago
If You’re Looking For Good Coffee (and cute packaging design) in Akita, Head to 08coffee 08coffee is a quaint coffee shop and coffee bean retailer located in the city of Akita. Set off from...
a month ago
6
a month ago
08coffee is a quaint coffee shop and coffee bean retailer located in the city of Akita. Set off from the main road, the space is as cozy as its neighborhood. It occupies a large white building with parking on the ground level and the cafe space above it, that serves up specialty...
Spoon & Tamago
Tokyo’s Coolest Cats Take Over Galerie LE MONDE Discover new artists, take home some new art and do it all for a good cause. The CAT POWER 2025...
a week ago
1
a week ago
Discover new artists, take home some new art and do it all for a good cause. The CAT POWER 2025 exhibition is back at Galerie LE MONDE in Harajuku, Tokyo—marking the return of its annual cat‑themed charity show, now in its 10th edition. illustration by Rina Yoshioka, who creates...