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Spoon & Tamago

Spoon & Tamago
Keisuke Oka’s Arimaston Building in Tokyo, Made Entirely by Hand all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in eastern Tokyo, a young architect named Keisuke Oka began to construct a tower of concrete entirely by hand. Located just a short walk from Mita Station, the Arimaston Building (蟻鱒鳶ル) is...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Jimi ‘Mundane’ Halloween Costumes of 2024 Happy Jimi Halloween to everyone who celebrates. It’s that wonderful time of year when our favorite...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
Happy Jimi Halloween to everyone who celebrates. It’s that wonderful time of year when our favorite Japanese festival, Jimi Halloween, is on full display. Mundane Halloween, as we coined it back in 2018, is when people dress up in costumes so mundane they have to be explained....
Spoon & Tamago
Five Things To Look Forward to at the 2025 World Expo Japan Pavilion The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the expo aims to be a participatory, experiential, solutions-oriented exposition, offering the world an opportunity to come together in one place to...
Spoon & Tamago
The New 12 Kanda Co-Working Space Supports Small Businesses all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new co-working space dedicated to supporting small businesses and startups. A visually eye-catching building, it features multiple stories with different forms and functions stacked on...
Spoon & Tamago
An Exhibition of Plushie, Small Disappointments An onigiri smushed at the bottom of your bag. Water splashing off a spoon. Burnt toast. Life is full...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
An onigiri smushed at the bottom of your bag. Water splashing off a spoon. Burnt toast. Life is full of small disappointments. But helping us see the humor in it all is Makosun, a Japanese maker of weird plushies—their words, not ours—who renders all these small disappointments...
Spoon & Tamago
In an Appeal to Young Workers, a Manufacturing Company Steps Away from Obscurity all photos by Takumi Ota courtesy Schemata Architects For decades, Japanese manufacturers have...
3 months ago
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3 months ago
all photos by Takumi Ota courtesy Schemata Architects For decades, Japanese manufacturers have worked in obscurity, churning out parts for the world’s biggest automakers and smartphone brands. And for the most part—largely owing to the confidential nature of their work—they have...
Spoon & Tamago
This Halloween, a Zombie Shinkansen Will Travel Between Tokyo and Osaka Want a taste of the frights but too busy to go to a haunted house? How about a haunted train? This...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
Want a taste of the frights but too busy to go to a haunted house? How about a haunted train? This year, a Tokaido shinkansen, in what is being called the world’s first zombie bullet train, will travel between Tokyo and Osaka. The stage will be set in car 16 of the “Nozomi 435”...
Spoon & Tamago
Artists Summon Mythical Creatures of the Echigo Region for the 2024 Wara Art Festival photos courtesy Wara Art Festival Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days,...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
photos courtesy Wara Art Festival Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days, brighter moons and bountiful harvests. Niigata prefecture, in Northern Japan, is known for its rice paddies and rice production. Around this time of year the rice harvest becomes a...
Spoon & Tamago
150-Year Old Florist in Yanaka Blossoms with a New Cafe all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has...
4 months ago
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all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has served Tokyo’s Yanaka neighborhood for over 150 years. The flower shop is located near the entrance of Yanaka Cemetery and is surrounded by traditional homes and businesses, including...
Spoon & Tamago
Tentacle-Inspired Leather Accessories Handcrafted by Cokeco Cokeco are a Fukuoka-based design duo who create leather accessories inspired by the natural...
4 months ago
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4 months ago
Cokeco are a Fukuoka-based design duo who create leather accessories inspired by the natural curiosities of the world around them. Lately, their attention has been focused on sealife: specifically, our multi-limbed mollusc friends whose tentacles provide endless inspiration for...
Spoon & Tamago
Craft Your Own Salt From Over 600 Varieties at this New Salt Specialist in Tokyo unless otherwise noted, all photos by Takeshi Shinto This summer, a unique store opened in Tokyo....
4 months ago
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4 months ago
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Takeshi Shinto This summer, a unique store opened in Tokyo. Located just a few steps away from Tokyo Sky Tree is “Guruguru Shakashaka,” a salt specialty store that lets you explore 600 varieties of salt and then blend your own. Equally unique...
Spoon & Tamago
Abstract Paintings by Yuna Ogina Depict Intimate Human Connections Tokyo-based artist Ogino Yuna creates semi-abstract paintings using motifs of living things that are...
5 months ago
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5 months ago
Tokyo-based artist Ogino Yuna creates semi-abstract paintings using motifs of living things that are familiar to her, such as flowers and people. But for her latest exhibition, which just opened in Tokyo, the artist has pointed her brush at one of the most basic yet intimate...
Spoon & Tamago
Minimal and Tranquil Charcoal Drawings by Masahiko Minami “TRYST” (2021) by Masahiko Minami. Charcoal and mixed-media on wood panel Masahiko Minami works with...
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“TRYST” (2021) by Masahiko Minami. Charcoal and mixed-media on wood panel Masahiko Minami works with charcoal and graphite to create minimalist landscapes in dramatic contrast. At once both familiar and foreign, the landscapes present a tension between absence and depth,...
Spoon & Tamago
Isometric Drawings of Sento, Kissaten and other Japanese Establishments by Honami Enya rendering of the Takara-yu sento in Tokyo Japanese illustrator Enya Honami uses a style of...
5 months ago
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5 months ago
rendering of the Takara-yu sento in Tokyo Japanese illustrator Enya Honami uses a style of architectural rendering known as isometric drawings to faithfully recreate cross-sections of Japanese public bathhouses, or sento. Honami is a skilled draughtswoman by trade, having...
Spoon & Tamago
Tomohiro Inaba Invites Viewers to Complete the Story of His Sculptures “To the promised land” (2024) | installation view at YukikoMizutani Tomohiro Inaba is an artist who...
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“To the promised land” (2024) | installation view at YukikoMizutani Tomohiro Inaba is an artist who creates sculptures that engage the viewer through their own imagination. Depending on your point of view, Inaba’s works look like they’re either disintegrating into mid-air or or...
Spoon & Tamago
Manga Artist Hirohiko Araki Pays Tribute to Osaka Station’s History and Culture with New Public Art... Osaka Station just got a little more bizzare. Manga artist Hirohiko Araki, known best for his epic...
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Osaka Station just got a little more bizzare. Manga artist Hirohiko Araki, known best for his epic saga Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, has installed his first-ever public art piece at Osaka Station’s West Gate. Titled “Fountain Boy,” the circular, back-lit sculpture pays homage to the...
Spoon & Tamago
New Rent-Free Apartments Aspire to Support Budding Manga Artists a rendering of Manga Apartment VUY, for which occupancy will begin in March 2025 For many years, a...
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a rendering of Manga Apartment VUY, for which occupancy will begin in March 2025 For many years, a model has existed in Japan in which subsidized housing supports manga artists who are early in their career and have not yet established an audience. One of the earliest was the...
Spoon & Tamago
An Ethereal Bubble Emerges from a Japanese Townhouse in New Art Installation by MAD Architects photos by Osamu Nakamura In Niigata prefecture’s Murono Village, a surreal scene has unfolded…or...
6 months ago
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photos by Osamu Nakamura In Niigata prefecture’s Murono Village, a surreal scene has unfolded…or should I say, inflated? From the rear of an abandoned townhouse a colossal, semi-transparent bubble has emerged, immediately transforming the quiet village into what could easily be...
Spoon & Tamago
Tenohira Hanabi Let’s You Enjoy Sparklers in the Palm of Your Hand Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed...
6 months ago
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6 months ago
Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed with about 10 seconds of delicate pyrotechnics. Typically sold alongside other handheld fireworks, the unspoken rule is that senko hanabi are reserved for the grand finale....
Spoon & Tamago
Tamiya’s New Plamodel Factory in Tokyo is a Model Maker’s Paradise Photos by Daici Ano and Tomoyuki Kusunose, courtesy Torafu Architects Tamiya, perhaps the most...
6 months ago
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Photos by Daici Ano and Tomoyuki Kusunose, courtesy Torafu Architects Tamiya, perhaps the most recognized brand name in the modeling industry, recently opened a new flagship facility in the Shimbashi Toranomon area of Tokyo. Dubbed the Tamiya Plamodel Factory, the shiny new...
Spoon & Tamago
Forest Crayons Derived Solely From a Different Species of Tree Native to Japan Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of...
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Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of tree native to Japan such as cedar, hazenoki and katsura. Designed by Saki Maruyama and Daniel Coppen of Studio Playfool, the crayons manage to repurpose Japan’s otherwise wasted...
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Lito Celebrates Tanabata with Handcut Leaves Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the...
6 months ago
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Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh...
Spoon & Tamago
Hyper Realistic Pencil Drawings of Metallic Objects by Kohei Ohmori Something must have come over me, says Kohei Ohmori, reflecting on the 280 hours or roughly 5 months...
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Something must have come over me, says Kohei Ohmori, reflecting on the 280 hours or roughly 5 months spent drawing a hyper realistic composition of a metallic bolt and nut using just pencils. The 30-year old artist, who has publicly discussed his struggles with OCD (obsessive...
Spoon & Tamago
Keep Cool This Summer With the Komorebi Uchiwa Komorebi (木漏れ日) is one of those uniquely untranslatable Japanese words. It means “sunlight filtering...
7 months ago
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7 months ago
Komorebi (木漏れ日) is one of those uniquely untranslatable Japanese words. It means “sunlight filtering through the tree leaves” and embodies a poetic appreciation for nature and its changing seasons. Capturing that aesthetic, and embedding it into a beautiful handheld fan (uchiwa),...
Spoon & Tamago
Fukutake Tres is an Art Space Dedicated to the Fukutake Family, the Visionary Force Behind the... Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm...
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Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm Benesse Holdings, and his family have spent $250 million of their fortune to transform Naoshima and roughly a dozen neighboring islands in the Seto Inland Sea into a global art...
Spoon & Tamago
The Asuke II Cruise Ship is a Floating Museum of Traditional Craftwork Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for...
7 months ago
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Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for a project organized by the Japan Kogei Association, a Tokyo-based group comprising artisans nationwide, and Anchor Ship Partners Co., a shareholder of the company that operates...
Spoon & Tamago
Hokusai-Inspired Erasers Reveal Mt. Fuji the More They Get Used      Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder...
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Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder to hold. By nature, they are not fun to use. But Japanese stationery fim PLUS is on a mission to reverse that mentality with erasers inspired by the iconic woodblock prints of...
Spoon & Tamago
Photographer Meticulously Recreates Images of Chickens Painted by Edo-Era Artist Ito Jakuchu Edo-era painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) excelled at capturing the flora and fauna of the natural...
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Edo-era painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) excelled at capturing the flora and fauna of the natural world, a skill that extended to remarkable depictions of birds. In particular, chickens were a common theme for the artist and it was said that Jakuchu owned many of them, and allowed...
Spoon & Tamago
The Watermelon Kimono is the Perfect Summer Outfit Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to...
7 months ago
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Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe with some playful pieces that celebrate the season, as well as festival-appropriate outfits, look no further than the watermelon kimono – a juicy take on a...
Spoon & Tamago
Three Art Festival to Visit in Japan in the 2nd Half of 2024 Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and...
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Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and international tourists out of popular destinations and into rural parts of Japan they would have otherwise not visited. The poster child is perhaps the Setouchi Triennale, whose combination...
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)...
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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
The 2024 Toyama Kei-Truck Gardening Contest The 2024 Kei-Truck Gardening Contest took place over the weekend. In what is perhaps the...
8 months ago
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The 2024 Kei-Truck Gardening Contest took place over the weekend. In what is perhaps the most-Japanese contest, professional gardeners and landscapers compete to create a beautiful, seasonal, and unique landscape , all within the bed of their kei-trucks. This contest originated...
Spoon & Tamago
‘Puddle’ Are a Series of Flower Vessels Inspired by Puddles of Water Simple and common acts of nature often inspire brilliant design. Such is the case with “Puddle,” a...
9 months ago
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9 months ago
Simple and common acts of nature often inspire brilliant design. Such is the case with “Puddle,” a series of flower vessels that mimic a puddle of water. Using properties of transparency and surface tension, these whimsical vessels create the illusion of a single plant growing...
Spoon & Tamago
Five Unique Experiences at Harajuku’s Latest Development Harakado Harakado, opened on April 17, 2024 at the Jingumae intersection along Omotesando Street in central...
9 months ago
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9 months ago
Harakado, opened on April 17, 2024 at the Jingumae intersection along Omotesando Street in central Tokyo. The shiny, brand new facility was designed by architect Akihisa Hirata, whose interest in tangled, organic structures, is on full display in his rendering of the facade and...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Quietly Shines at Milan Design Week Milan Design Week—Coachella, but for furniture—is running this week from April 16-21. All the...
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Milan Design Week—Coachella, but for furniture—is running this week from April 16-21. All the biggest names and brands in the design world descend upon the Italian city, which sees its population swell by nearly 25%. Now in its 62nd iteration, the design extravaganza is an...
Spoon & Tamago
Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo Myaku-Myaku, the unsettling googly-eyed humanoid that was selected as the 2025 Osaka Expo, has...
9 months ago
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9 months ago
Myaku-Myaku, the unsettling googly-eyed humanoid that was selected as the 2025 Osaka Expo, has inspired numerous spinoffs, both official and unofficial. And with exactly 1 year to go before the Expo, we should all expect to see a lot more. The latest iteration comes in the form...
Spoon & Tamago
Death Fes in Shibuya Asks Visitor to Embrace Their End images courtesy Death Fes April 14th is the unofficial “day of good death” in Japan. The date 4-1-4...
9 months ago
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9 months ago
images courtesy Death Fes April 14th is the unofficial “day of good death” in Japan. The date 4-1-4 can be pronounced yo-i-shi, or good death, making today the perfect day to kick-off the Death Fes, an event aimed at encouraging people to think and talk about their inevitable...
Spoon & Tamago
Oyane-san Blending Tradition with Modern Technology In Shikokumura Welcome to Oyane-san, affectionately known as "Honorable Roof," standing proudly at the foot of...
9 months ago
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9 months ago
Welcome to Oyane-san, affectionately known as "Honorable Roof," standing proudly at the foot of Mount Yashima on Shikoku Island. Related posts: Buddhist Monks are Getting All the Love Now Open: The New Oita Prefectural Art Museum Designed by Shigeru Ban SANAA’s New Sublime River...
Spoon & Tamago
Kenji Yanobe’s BIG CAT BANG is Now on Display at Ginza Six Space cats in astronaut suits, ultraman figurines reenacting the beginning of the universe, and a...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
Space cats in astronaut suits, ultraman figurines reenacting the beginning of the universe, and a tribute to Taro Okamoto’s iconic Statue of the Sun sculpture. There’s a lot to love about artist Kenji Yanobe’s new installation, BIG CAT BANG, and it’s now on view to the public...
Spoon & Tamago
Tomona Matsukawa’s Realistic Paintings Reconstruct Fragments of Everyday Life “Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
“Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel Kyoto-based artist Tomona Matsukawa creates realistic and somewhat dramatic oil paintings that are each inspired by conversations with other women of her generation, often strangers. The...
Spoon & Tamago
Demographics Professor Warns that by 2531, Everyone in Japan Will be Named Sato image courtesy Mainichi Shimbun Despite today’s date, this is not an April Fool’s prank. At a press...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
image courtesy Mainichi Shimbun Despite today’s date, this is not an April Fool’s prank. At a press conference in Tokyo last weekend, professor Hiroshi Yoshida from the Tohoku University Research Center for Aged Economy and Society, sounded the alarm bell for a looming crisis. By...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Stationery Award Offers a Return to the Primitive Early civilizations had it all figured out. At least according to the Kokuyo Design Awards, arguably...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
Early civilizations had it all figured out. At least according to the Kokuyo Design Awards, arguably Japan’s most-influential stationery design award, which this year asked designers to look to the past. “If we return to the idea of ‘primitive’ in order to create the future,”...
Spoon & Tamago
The Playable Poetry of Zeni Tainaka The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character...
10 months ago
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10 months ago
The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character through text, interacting with obstacles and making your way through a narrative. It’s the work of Zennyan (Zeni Tainaka), a Japanese pixel artist who has been experimenting with...
Spoon & Tamago
Satoshi Odagiri Creates One-of-a-Kind Organic Mobiles from Found Material Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday Factory, a design studio founded by Satoshi Odagiri in 2015. Inspired by the surrounding forests, rivers and wildflowers, Odagiri creates balancing mobiles that incorporate materials...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Tiniest Botanical Garden is in Shibuya photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within 10 minutes you’ll stumble upon a glass dome-shaped building sandwiched between several nondescript buildings. Hidden in plain sight is the Shibuya City Botanical Garden, Japan’s...
Spoon & Tamago
A Glimpse Inside the Whimsical Wooden Miniature Homes of Yukihiro Akama Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense...
11 months ago
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Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense of Place,’ at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). Related posts: Whimsical Wooden Automata by Kazuaki Harada A Wooden Cabin Constructed Locally in the Mountains of Japan Using a 3D...
Spoon & Tamago
Past, Present and Future of Tokyo on Full Display in World’s Largest Architectural... From the deep forests of Okutama and the vibrant coral reefs of Ogasawara, to the sleepless neon...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
From the deep forests of Okutama and the vibrant coral reefs of Ogasawara, to the sleepless neon lights of Shinjuku, Tokyo truly is one of the most diverse cities. And while one could argue that it has enough night lights, a new nightly projection mapping display will light up...
Spoon & Tamago
Show Your Japan Prefectural Love With These Enamel Pins This series of enamel pins, with each representing one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, are the perfect...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
This series of enamel pins, with each representing one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, are the perfect way to show love for your hometown, or simply keep as mementos from your travels. Not only do they accurately capture the shape of each prefecture but the colors were also carefully...
Spoon & Tamago
Director Ryota Nakano to be Special Guest at Japan Society’s Family Portrait: Japanese Family in... this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society are proud to announce the eighth installment of the ACA Cinema Project film series, Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux. The series examines the shifting dynamics and...
Spoon & Tamago
Step Into a World of Contemporary Japanese Art at New Exhibition in New York a series of washi paper prints by artist takayuki. o “Stepping Into A World” is a the 5th in a...
11 months ago
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a series of washi paper prints by artist takayuki. o “Stepping Into A World” is a the 5th in a series of juried open call exhibitions aimed at showcasing undiscovered Japanese artists and integrating them into the forefront of the global art scene. The exhibition, which includes...
Spoon & Tamago
Takenokuma Cafe is a Water Garden Inspired by the Lush Nature of Kumamoto In the peaceful town of Minami-Oguni (Kumamoto Prefecture) is Takenokuma, a new cafe inspired by the...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
In the peaceful town of Minami-Oguni (Kumamoto Prefecture) is Takenokuma, a new cafe inspired by the many water sources that flow freely from nearby Mt. Aso. These water sources manifest themselves in many ways including rivers, hot springs and channels that flow into the...
Spoon & Tamago
Go on the Tokyo Toilet Tour and Never Worry About Finding a Public Restroom Again Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but apparently that still wasn’t good enough. In 2020, the city of Shibuya and Nippon Foundation embarked on an initiative called Tokyo Toilet. They brought together some of the biggest...
Spoon & Tamago
Evolving Themes of Absence and Presence in the Paintings of Minoru Nomata Still-28 1986 Painting is an escapist world, but I would like it to be a place to become energized...
11 months ago
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11 months ago
Still-28 1986 Painting is an escapist world, but I would like it to be a place to become energized Minoru Nomata Over the past four decades, Minoru Nomata has developed a distinctive painting style characterized by imaginary architectonic and topographical forms. His works...
Spoon & Tamago
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Shizuoka Now in Full Bloom The Kawazu-Zakura cherry blossoms  If you’re sick of winter and ready for spring, head to Shizuoka’s...
11 months ago
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The Kawazu-Zakura cherry blossoms  If you’re sick of winter and ready for spring, head to Shizuoka’s Kawazu City, the host of one of Japan’s earliest cherry blossom festivals. The Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms are known for blossoming early and some trees are already beginning to...
Spoon & Tamago
Tachinomi Ura is a Standing Eatery in Kurashiki Carrying on Local Sake and Cuisine Culture unless otherwise noted, all photos by Go Itami courtesy Schemata Architects Located steps from...
12 months ago
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12 months ago
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Go Itami courtesy Schemata Architects Located steps from Kurashiki Station in Okayama is Tachinomi Ura, a new standing eatery that opened late last year. Ura emphasizes local ingredients and seafood sourced from the Setouchi region, stylishly...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Society Presents Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan...
12 months ago
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12 months ago
this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society are proud to announce the eighth installment of the ACA Cinema Project film series, Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux. The series examines the shifting dynamics and...
Spoon & Tamago
Pioneering Japan’s Zero-Energy Hospitality, ‘ITOMACHI HOTEL 0’ Ito-Machi, launched in 2020, is an urban development in Saijo, featuring a master plan by the...
a year ago
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a year ago
Ito-Machi, launched in 2020, is an urban development in Saijo, featuring a master plan by the esteemed Kengo Kuma Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. Related posts: Stay in Artist Designed Hotel Rooms at the Park Hotel Tokyo Hotel NUTS by Upsetters Architects Kamikatsu in...
Spoon & Tamago
Tokyo Here & Now: Private Art and Design Tours by Mirit Weinstock this post is sponsored by mirit weinstock Mirit Weinstock is an artist and designer living in Tokyo,...
a year ago
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a year ago
this post is sponsored by mirit weinstock Mirit Weinstock is an artist and designer living in Tokyo, specializing in Japanese crafts and working in a variety of mediums. The creative director and founder of “Mirit Weinstock” jewelry brand, the artist is steeped in the Japanese...
Spoon & Tamago
Noriko Sugiyama Transforms Old Kimono Into Luxurious Landscapes all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded...
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a year ago
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded kimono and obi, which she masterfully upcylces to create landscapes brimming with energy and hope. But her path to artistry has been anything but conventional. Now at the age of...
Spoon & Tamago
Kumu in Kanazawa Connects People and Places all photos by takumi ota The Japanese word kumu is a verb with many nuances. Depending on the...
a year ago
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a year ago
all photos by takumi ota The Japanese word kumu is a verb with many nuances. Depending on the context, kumu can mean “to join,”  “to draw out,”  or “to pour.”  In that sense, it was the perfect name for a hotel that embodies connection and hospitality: connecting people with a...
Spoon & Tamago
Local Noto Businesses that You Can Support Roughly 6000 people remain in temporary evacuation shelters ever since the Noto Earthquake on...
a year ago
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a year ago
Roughly 6000 people remain in temporary evacuation shelters ever since the Noto Earthquake on January 1st upended life for so many. And while the recovery is long and arduous, many are doing what they can to return to normal and that includes the many local businesses in the Noto...
Spoon & Tamago
A Spoon & Tamago Guide to Ishikawa Prefecture this post was sponsored by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau This travel guide originally...
a year ago
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a year ago
this post was sponsored by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau This travel guide originally appeared in February 2023 and ever since Covid restrictions were lifted, Ishikawa prefecture has seen a steady climb in tourism. However, the tragic Noto Earthquake at the beginning of...
Spoon & Tamago
A Relic of the Past, Shibuya Green Tea is Leafing Out Once Again Umeharaen, a green tea seller that once stood at the corner of Shibuya Crossing Shibuya typically...
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Umeharaen, a green tea seller that once stood at the corner of Shibuya Crossing Shibuya typically conjures images of tall skyscrapers, neon lights, and the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings. Not tranquil tea plantations. But 150 years ago in the early Meiji era, Shibuya, as...
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Wakuni Cafe: New Tokyo Cafe Made from 700 Bronze Plates Salvaged from Hayatani Shrine the wakuni cafe, which opens January 19, 2024, is inside a 50-year old renovated building Opening in...
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the wakuni cafe, which opens January 19, 2024, is inside a 50-year old renovated building Opening in the Tokyo neighborhood of Higashimurayama this month is Wakuni Cafe, a new destination that embodies history, craftsmanship and a spirit of reusing old materials. The exterior of...
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Take a Ride on the Yagi-Shingu Bus, Japan’s Longest Local Bus Route all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a...
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all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a fan of their buses too. And if you’re keen on living the slow life while also experiencing the Japanese countryside, boy do we have the perfect activity for you. The Yagi-Shingu...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2024 It’s been a rough start to the new year for Japan as one disaster begets another. We are of course...
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It’s been a rough start to the new year for Japan as one disaster begets another. We are of course talking about the evolving situation at Haneda airport, as well as the Noto Peninsula. Our hearts go out to everyone affected but we also want to highlight the many heroes of the...
Spoon & Tamago
Spoon & Tamago’s Most-Popular Posts of 2023 It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look...
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It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look back at the posts that resonated the most with our readers. In doing so, we try to make sense of the year which, for Japan, was very much a year of homecoming. Japan felt like...
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All 54 Playing Cards Reinterpreted Through Still Life Photography by Yuni Yoshida Flower petals, leaves, foods and other objects have all been meticulously arranged and then...
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Flower petals, leaves, foods and other objects have all been meticulously arranged and then photographed to create a set of 54 playing cards, including 2 jokers. It’s the latest work by art director Yuni Yoshida (previously), who’s penchant for analog techniques that shun digital...
Spoon & Tamago
A New Brewery in Yobuko Wants to Revive the Former Whaling Town Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of...
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Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of North-Western Kyushu, is named after the migratory path that whales swam. Beginning in the 1700s, Yobuko prospered as a whaling town, birthing the idiom, a single whale flourishes...
Spoon & Tamago
Uenosuke Shitanosuke: Twin Tumblers that Fit Perfectly Together For all the preaching on the health benefits of drinking more water, very few tools help us actually...
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For all the preaching on the health benefits of drinking more water, very few tools help us actually achieve this. So when Taro Mukasa, an illustrator and toy designer at creative agency Zariganiworks came across a manga panel in which the protagonist declares that his hobby is...
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The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is Keeping the Spirit of Wooden Architecture Alive Roughly seventy per cent of Japan is forested and therefore wood has been historically tied to...
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Roughly seventy per cent of Japan is forested and therefore wood has been historically tied to architecture and design since ancient times. In fact, the world’s oldest surviving wooden structure is the Horyu-ji temple that was built in the early seventh century. From the...
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Carves Playful Narratives Into Tree Leaves “Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with...
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“Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) his entire life. Lito had been searching for an outlet where he could channel his above-normal levels of concentration and...
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The 2023 Spoon & Tamago Gift Guide 2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism...
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2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. And although just anecdotal, so many people we spoke to who previously had no connection to Japan, were planning trips and honeymoons that it truly...
Spoon & Tamago
Exploring Japanese Hell Through Art from the 12th to 19th Century As a child, growing up in Japan, there was one book that terrified me. Luckily, I didn’t own it. The...
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As a child, growing up in Japan, there was one book that terrified me. Luckily, I didn’t own it. The red hardback sat on the bottom shelf in my friend’s room and every time I went over to play I could see it, out of the corner of my eye, staring me in the face. […] Related...
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Fruit, Not What it Appears to be in Artfully Arranged Compositions by Yuni Yoshida I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending...
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I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending visual illusions, likes to alter them, creating visually arresting compositions that make you look, and then look again. Often incorporating food into her work, Yoshida has an ongoing...
Spoon & Tamago
Download Over 30 Butterfly Designs by Meiji-Era Artist Yuho Tanaka Yuho Tanaka (田中幽峰) was an accomplished artist and draughtsman active in Kyoto during the late-1800s....
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Yuho Tanaka (田中幽峰) was an accomplished artist and draughtsman active in Kyoto during the late-1800s. At the height of his career in the 1890s he created numerous graphic patterns inspired by butterflies that were eventually compiled into a book titled hyaku-cho-zuan, or One...
Spoon & Tamago
Travelling Through Eizan Railway’s Picturesque ‘Momiji Tunnel’ all photos courtesy Eizan Electric Railway Along Kyoto’s Eizan Electric Railway is a section known...
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all photos courtesy Eizan Electric Railway Along Kyoto’s Eizan Electric Railway is a section known as “Maple Tree Tunnel” (momiji tunnel, in Japanese) that is lined with hundreds of maple trees. They are, of course, beautiful any time of year. But maple trees are particularly...
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Japan’s Jimi ‘Mundane’ Halloween Costumes of 2023 Ah, it’s Halloween weekend. And that means it’s time for our favorite Japanese festival Jimi...
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Ah, it’s Halloween weekend. And that means it’s time for our favorite Japanese festival Jimi Halloween, where people dress up in costumes so mundane they have to be explained. The tradition was started in 2014 by a group of adults at Daily Portal Z who “kind of wanted to...
Spoon & Tamago
Tsuchiya Kaban Creates Leather Randoseru For Dogs Tsuchiya Kaban, the 58-year old Japanese leather bagmaker known for their highly-specific bags, has...
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Tsuchiya Kaban, the 58-year old Japanese leather bagmaker known for their highly-specific bags, has released their very first line-up of pet products. And their doggy randoseru is absolutely adorable. For those who aren’t familiar, randoseru are backpacks for kids. Typically made...
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Laxative Literally ‘Empties Out’ All Other Ads in Creative Campaign Targeting Tokyo Metro If you’ve boarded the Tokyo Metro this month, there’s a good chance you walked into a train car that...
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If you’ve boarded the Tokyo Metro this month, there’s a good chance you walked into a train car that was…well, different. Perhaps you felt unobstructed, light and fluid as you passed with ease through the typical blockage. If you experienced any of those symptoms, it’s the work...
Spoon & Tamago
Elongated Engawa Defines this Community Welfare Center in Chiba As Japan’s population continues to grow older—one in 10 residents are aged 80 or above—care for the...
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As Japan’s population continues to grow older—one in 10 residents are aged 80 or above—care for the elderly becomes an increasingly important issue. And while elderly populations are typically seen as a burden, there are places around rural Japan that offer glimpses of a more...
Spoon & Tamago
Shibuya Unveils Graphics Discouraging Halloween Parties in Their Ward After the tragic and fatal Halloween crowd crush that occured in Seoul last year, Tokyo’s Shibuya...
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After the tragic and fatal Halloween crowd crush that occured in Seoul last year, Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, which has increasingly become a go-to spot for Halloween parties—often with dangerous consequences—is taking preemptive measures to discourage people from congregating in their...
Spoon & Tamago
The Conran Shop, A New Chapter For Hillside Terrace by Keiji Ashizawa Design All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran...
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All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran Shop has been a go-to destination for all things contemporary design. And in their latest chapter, the curated shop welcomes you to its new space in Hillside Terrace, a relaxing...
Spoon & Tamago
A VHS Cafe is Opening in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa Neighborhood Despite it’s image of neon lights and cyberpunk mystique propagated by the west, Tokyo is very much...
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Despite it’s image of neon lights and cyberpunk mystique propagated by the west, Tokyo is very much a mash-up of old and new. It’s a city where Tower Records is still alive and well. Where vinyl record and vintage clothing shops have to employ crowd control measures. And where a...
Spoon & Tamago
School Lunch Provider Creates Manga Milk to Encourage Kids to Finish Their Milk Seki Milk, a Gifu-based provider of milk and other dairy-based products to local schools, had long...
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Seki Milk, a Gifu-based provider of milk and other dairy-based products to local schools, had long been dealing with an inconvenient truth. A large majority of students—65%, according to their own research— weren’t finishing their milk. This was leading to food loss but also a...
Spoon & Tamago
Whale Butter Dish Designed by Akira Yoshimura This whimsical butter dish is sure to bring a sea of change to your kitchen. Designed by Akira...
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This whimsical butter dish is sure to bring a sea of change to your kitchen. Designed by Akira Yoshimura (previously) and lovingly produced by the metal artisans of Takaoka-based Sanomasa, the Whale Butter Dish is made in the likeness of a whale that has swallowed a stick of...
Spoon & Tamago
Designed by Kengo Kuma, Kiki’s Museum of Literature to Open in Tokyo Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to...
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Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to children’s book author Eiko Kadono will open in Tokyo. Designed by architect Kengo Kumo, the three-story Kiki’s Museum of Literature will be located inside Nagisa Park, which is situated...
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Creatures of the Echigo Sea Emerge from Straw in the 2023 Wara Art Festival Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days, brighter moons and bountiful...
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Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days, brighter moons and bountiful harvests. Niigata prefecture, in Northern Japan, is known for its rice paddies and rice production. Around this time of year the rice harvest becomes a big deal, as well as the tons of...
Spoon & Tamago
‘Mirai No Table’ Brings Childcare and Dining Together As One All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of...
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All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of childcare and dining, ‘Mirai no Table‘ (Table of the Future) is a café conceived from the dual perspectives by Harema Design Office. The café embodies the idea that our food choices shape...
Spoon & Tamago
Undercover’s Jun Takahashi Lights up Paris Fashion Week with Glowing Terrarium Dresses images courtesy Undercover Flora and fauna were abound as designer Jun Takahashi’s fertile...
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images courtesy Undercover Flora and fauna were abound as designer Jun Takahashi’s fertile creativity was unleashed during Paris Fashion Week 2023. The designer’s iconic brand Undercover, equally revered as a cult name in streetwear and as a fixture on Paris’ haute couture...
Spoon & Tamago
Tan Yamanouchi’s New House Speaks to His Cats’ Desires Ever wondered what your home might look like if it were custom-designed to cater to the tastes of...
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Ever wondered what your home might look like if it were custom-designed to cater to the tastes of your beloved feline companions? Well,  the architect Tan Yamanouchi of AWGL has designed a purr-fect home, prioritizing his two cats over himself and his partner. Related posts: a...
Spoon & Tamago
Objects of Nostalgia Recreated in Pixelated Ceramics by Toshiya Masuda all images courtesy the artist On the spectrum of artistic materials, pixel art and ceramics...
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all images courtesy the artist On the spectrum of artistic materials, pixel art and ceramics seemingly couldn’t be further apart. On one end you have one of mankind’s oldest forms of expression dating back to the late Paleolithic period. On the other, a digital form of art that...
Spoon & Tamago
You’ll Soon Be Able to Stay in One of Japan’s Most Beautifully Designed Prisons photos by Masashi Mizowaki and Takaharu Yagi Spending the night in jail is usually not a good thing....
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photos by Masashi Mizowaki and Takaharu Yagi Spending the night in jail is usually not a good thing. Unless of course you’re staying in Japan’s Nara Prison, a historic red-brick structure built in 1908 with western archways and onion domes that lend an air of castle more than...
Spoon & Tamago
The Evolution of Meiji Era Craftsmanship, On Full Display in Tokyo It’s hard to overstate the cataclysmic impact that the Meiji Restoriation had on Japan. The Meiji...
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It’s hard to overstate the cataclysmic impact that the Meiji Restoriation had on Japan. The Meiji period, defined as the period between 1868 and 1912, followed what was nearly 300 years of almost complete isolation from the globe. Craftsmen and artists who had previously served...
Spoon & Tamago
Trunk Hotel’s Newest Yoyogi Park Location Embraces Its Neighboring Park and City photos by Tomooki Kengaki courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park is a new...
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photos by Tomooki Kengaki courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park is a new boutique hotel located in Tokyo’s quiet Tomigaya neighborhood that just opened this month. Designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, the 7-story hotel has 25 rooms, a restaurant and a...
Spoon & Tamago
New Tadao Ando-Designed Museum to Open on Naoshima in 2025 A new museum will open on the art island of Naoshima in 2025. Although the official name has yet to...
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A new museum will open on the art island of Naoshima in 2025. Although the official name has yet to be announced, the structure will be designed by architect Tadao Ando and will mark his 10th museum on the island. The ‘new museum’ will consist of 3 floors—2 underground and 1...
Spoon & Tamago
Coworking Space in Kinosaki Onsen Encourages Users to Take Bath Breaks Photo: Madoka Nishiyama courtesy KIAC This might very well be the coworking space of our dreams. The...
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Photo: Madoka Nishiyama courtesy KIAC This might very well be the coworking space of our dreams. The Kinosaki International Art Center (KIAC) is a multipurpose community center located in Kinosaki Onsen, a quaint town on the coast of Japan that’s known for their natural hot...
Spoon & Tamago
Unwind With Books And Beverages at Iwami Ginzan’s Unique Library Cafe All images © Iwami Ginzan Library Situated in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, the Iwami...
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All images © Iwami Ginzan Library Situated in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, the Iwami Ginzan Town Library Cafe and Co-working Space offers a unique fusion of a relaxed library atmosphere and modern amenities. It is housed within a former merchant’s residence on the...
Spoon & Tamago
Tumi-Isi Wooden Stacking Rocks Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of...
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Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of 5 blocks individually hand bevelled into asymmetrical shapes by local artisans. No two sets are identical. These tactile objects are meant to nourish your sense of balance and...
Spoon & Tamago
Cherry Blossom Trees Sprout From Terunobu Fujimori’s ‘Kodamari Fuji’ Lodge The quaint village of Fujimi is located near the border of Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures. Time...
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The quaint village of Fujimi is located near the border of Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures. Time tends to pass a bit more slowly here where rice paddies overlook the Southern Alps, Mt. Yatsugatake, and Mt. Fuji. It’s here that architect-extraordinaire Terunobu Fujimori decided...
Spoon & Tamago
Trains Intersect with Everyday Life in Nostalgic Illustrations by Shinjiro Ogawa Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms...
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Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms of daily life. And while their existence can be taken for granted, their many forms and colors add to the uniqueness of each neighborhood they traverse. Capturing the scenery of...
Spoon & Tamago
Trains Intersect with Everyday Life in Nostalgic Illustrations by Shinjiro Ogawa Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms...
a year ago
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a year ago
Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms of daily life. And while their existence can be taken for granted, their many forms and colors add to the uniqueness of each neighborhood they traverse. Capturing the scenery of...
Spoon & Tamago
A Weathered Copper Facade Oxidized by Soy Sauce Defines Suetomi’s New Kyoto Cafe Suetomi, the well-established Japanese Confectionery shop in Kyoto, has started a new venture with a...
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Suetomi, the well-established Japanese Confectionery shop in Kyoto, has started a new venture with a café business named AoQ Related posts: Kaikado’s Tea and Coffee Cafe in Kyoto Cafe Fang: An Oasis of Books and Coffee in Kyoto Discover Souvenirs Galore at Kyoto’s Newest Gift...
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Detailed Survey Drawings of Tokyo Hotel Rooms by Kei Endo Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman. And she also enjoys staying at hotels,...
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Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman. And she also enjoys staying at hotels, which was the beginning of a wonderful side-hustle that brought together the best of both her worlds, and resulted in a new book deal. Endo reports on the hotels she stays in through...
Spoon & Tamago
3D Printing and Traditional Wood Joinery Techniques Give Life to the Tsuginote Tea House all photos by Eiichi Yoshioka courtesy Kei Atsumi Japanese wood joinery dates back to the seventh...
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all photos by Eiichi Yoshioka courtesy Kei Atsumi Japanese wood joinery dates back to the seventh century and is a craftsmanship technique that involves complicated, interlocking wooden joints that form bonds without the use of nails, screws or adhesives. Practical use of these...
Spoon & Tamago
MUJI Fans Can Now Rent this Countryside MUJI Kominka MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has...
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MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has been in the homebuilding business for over 15 years. But in a new initiative they’re calling MUJI Base, the company has begun restorring, renovating and renting countryside...
Spoon & Tamago
Mountain Villa in Yamanashi Integrates Landscape and Living Room photos by Daici Ano courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects We have a serious case of real estate envy...
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photos by Daici Ano courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects We have a serious case of real estate envy here. House in Saiko is a holiday home that overlooks Mount Fuji on the shore of Lake Saiko, one of the five Fuji Lakes. Designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, and completed in 2017,...
Spoon & Tamago
Hida Takayama Distillery is Making Whiskey in an Abandoned School, Aging it in a Local Dam Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to...
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Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to reducing our environmental impact involves integrating principles of a circular economy that prioritizes reuse, recovery, and refurbishment of existing infrastructure and resources. The...
Spoon & Tamago
Fender’s First Ever Flagship Store by Klein-Dytham Architecture Fender, the iconic guitar brand, has opened its first-ever flagship store in Harajuku, Tokyo, riding...
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Fender, the iconic guitar brand, has opened its first-ever flagship store in Harajuku, Tokyo, riding on the wave of soaring demand of Guitars during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related posts: House Tour: Yoyogi Artist Studio (with a hidden bed) #thatPOWER | Will.i.am’s new music...
Spoon & Tamago
Komaeyu: Redesigning the Public Bath to Preserve Traditional Sento Culture all photos by Ju Yeon Lee courtesy Schemata Architects The number of public baths, or sento as...
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all photos by Ju Yeon Lee courtesy Schemata Architects The number of public baths, or sento as they’re referred to in Japan, have been in chronic decline since the late 1960s. As the number of homes with their own private bath proliferated, public bathhouses shrank from over...
Spoon & Tamago
All Aboard the Deer Train to Nara all photos by mareiii04 Nara is known for several things including their gorgeous temples and...
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all photos by mareiii04 Nara is known for several things including their gorgeous temples and exquisite parks. But the historic Japanese city has another major tourist attraction: their devious deer. If you’re heading to Nara, be sure to try and board Kintetsu Railway’s new Deer...
Spoon & Tamago
‘Ye Bakers’ is a New Bakery Nestled Inside an Aichi Home In a residential neighborhood, a small bakery is designed to integrate seamlessly with its...
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In a residential neighborhood, a small bakery is designed to integrate seamlessly with its surroundings while maintaining its commercial purpose. Related posts: Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto Interior Designer Shigeru Uchida: 1943 – 2016 House Tour: Yoyogi Artist...
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An Architect Collaborated with 7 Renowned Artisans to Create this Stunning Home All images © Koji Fujii / TOREAL courtesy Cubo Design Architect “We believe houses that are rooted...
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All images © Koji Fujii / TOREAL courtesy Cubo Design Architect “We believe houses that are rooted in an understanding of Japan’s cultural context and a respect for the skills and innovations of our ancestors, which can nevertheless be passed onto future generations, are the kind...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Society Presents a Festival of New Japanese Film this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th...
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this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. This year’s festival, which marks the first fully in-person JAPAN CUTS since 2019, features over 25 films from major blockbusters to...
Spoon & Tamago
Osaka Celebrates Star Festival with River of 40,000 LED Lights Evoking the Milky Way The Okawa River, which runs through central Osaka, was lit up on Friday with 40,000 LED lights...
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The Okawa River, which runs through central Osaka, was lit up on Friday with 40,000 LED lights floating down the river as they evoked the celestial milky way. The surreal scene was part of a celebration of Tanabata, or the Star Festival, which is a major summer festival in Japan...
Spoon & Tamago
Senko Hanabi Earrings are the Perfect Summer Accessory Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years...
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Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years ago as a means of warding off epidemics and today, no matter where you are in Japan, you can be sure to encounter fireworks festivals both large and small. And while the grand...
Spoon & Tamago
Twenty Two Artists Created Over 120 Artworks Throughout the Tokyo Offices of GREE When Japanese internet media company GREE relocated offices last year, they wanted to do something...
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When Japanese internet media company GREE relocated offices last year, they wanted to do something special; something that would capture the unique creativity and artistic drive behind many of their employees. So the company worked with art agency TokyoDex and the architecural...
Spoon & Tamago
60-Year-Old Machiya Adapted into Hender Scheme’s New Osaka Flagship All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a...
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All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a sixty-plus-year-old one-story wooden house near Umeda Station in Osaka. With a spacious area of around 175m² and impressive high ceilings, the store has been designed to reflect...
Spoon & Tamago
Discover Fukui Sake Along the Kuzuryu River at Eshikoto all images courtesy Furuya Design Eshikoto is a brand created by Nizaemon Ishidaya, proprietor of...
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all images courtesy Furuya Design Eshikoto is a brand created by Nizaemon Ishidaya, proprietor of the Kokuryu Sake Brewery which was founded in 1804 in the mountains of Fukui. With a motto not dissimilar to the famous quote from Field of Dreams–”if we make good sake, people will...
Spoon & Tamago
Oimachi’s New Shopping Oasis Coexists with the Mountains and Sea All images © Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates Built on reclaimed land that seamlessly blends...
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All images © Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates Built on reclaimed land that seamlessly blends the expanse of the sea with the majestic mountains, ‘See-Sea Park‘ is a new commercial complex spanning over an area of 10,800 square meters in Oimachi, Fukui. The structure aims...
Spoon & Tamago
Yoko Tada Began Painting in her 80s. At 100 She’s Publishing Her First Book “natsu no prelude” (prelude of the summer) by Yoko Tada won honorable mention last year from the...
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“natsu no prelude” (prelude of the summer) by Yoko Tada won honorable mention last year from the Japan Watercolor Association The painter Yoko Tada is having what some would call “a moment.” Last year her work was recognized by the Japan Watercolor Association, an organization...
Spoon & Tamago
Repurposing Japan’s Glut of Empty Homes as Greenhouses The coronavirus pandemic had a drastic and immediate impact on Yuichiro Shimizu’s taxi business. As...
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The coronavirus pandemic had a drastic and immediate impact on Yuichiro Shimizu’s taxi business. As early as January 2020, Nichiei Taxi, a local business that has been servicing Saitama prefecture for over 50 years, saw their revenue drop by a staggering 80%. To save the company,...
Spoon & Tamago
Close-up Photographs of Sumo Wrestlers Evoke Mountain Ranges Shrouded in Fog Last month, the 107th High School Kanazawa City Sumo Tournament was held. The event has been held...
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Last month, the 107th High School Kanazawa City Sumo Tournament was held. The event has been held annually for over 100 years and attracts spectators locally but also from across Japan. But for the past 3 years, because of covid restrictions, the event had been held without...
Spoon & Tamago
Exploring Tokyo’s Hidden Shrines According to statistics, Tokyo is home to over 1800 Shinto shrines. You have your major shrines like...
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According to statistics, Tokyo is home to over 1800 Shinto shrines. You have your major shrines like Meiji-Jingu and Hie Shrine but there are many other tiny shrines, often unstaffed and nestled in the depths of back streets and behind buildings. Tearing down a shrine would be...
Spoon & Tamago
Tolerance Poster Show Debuts in Japan The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers...
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The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers from around the world to create artworks with the word Tolerance in their language. The exhibition, which leverages art & design to spread its powerful message of respect for...
Spoon & Tamago
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten’s Renewed Circular Campus Fosters Inquisitive Learning and an Appreciation... Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of...
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Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of Japan’s Chiba prefecture. For over 40 years the school has dedicated itself to nourishing the souls, minds and bodies of its pupils. In 2022, the school decided to renew its main...
Spoon & Tamago
Shimmering Glass Plates Make You Feel Like You’re Eating Off Water Droplets It’s said that shutter speeds of around 1/1000th of a second are necessary to really capture the...
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It’s said that shutter speeds of around 1/1000th of a second are necessary to really capture the detail of moving water in photography. So you can imagine the technical challenge of accurately capturing water as a three-dimensional object. Product designer Masahiko Tanoue has...
Spoon & Tamago
Post-Apocalyptic Illustrations of Tokyo in Ruins Shinjuku Station – the road has collapsed on the South side of the station, revealing pools of blue...
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Shinjuku Station – the road has collapsed on the South side of the station, revealing pools of blue water that have formed on the train tracks Stories about the collapse of civilization and order—apocalyptic stories—endlessly seduce us. As terrifying as the real thing would...
Spoon & Tamago
Gaku Yamazaki has Documented Thousands of Unusual Road Signs Across Japan all images courtesy Gaku Yamazaki Gaku Yamazaki, a 21-year old college senior, spends his spare time...
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all images courtesy Gaku Yamazaki Gaku Yamazaki, a 21-year old college senior, spends his spare time traversing Japan in search of what he has dubbed ikei-yajirushi, or ‘unusual arrows.’ There are thousands of these abnormal road signs dotted across Japan and while drivers might...
Spoon & Tamago
Intricate and Organic Sculptures by Ceramicist Eriko Inazaki These white and intricate forms appear to be the work of mother nature, sculpted over hundreds and...
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These white and intricate forms appear to be the work of mother nature, sculpted over hundreds and thousands of years. Instead, they’re the work of Japanese ceramicist Eriko Inazaki, who painstakingly shapes and assembles each prick and piece by hand. And in doing so, she’s...
Spoon & Tamago
Cafe Fang: An Oasis of Books and Coffee in Kyoto If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of...
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If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of books and coffee. Located slightly north of central Kyoto is the Donkou Kissa Fang, a serene cafe and private book collection built inside immaculately crafted townhouse and garden....
Spoon & Tamago
Not a Hotel: A Unique Timeshare Concept Redefining Luxury Travel All images © Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office “Buy a vacation home that doubles as a...
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All images © Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office “Buy a vacation home that doubles as a hotel.” That’s the tagline for ‘Not A Hotel,’ a real estate start-up founded by Shinji Hamazu. The company challenges the traditional hotel model by treating it as a timeshare and...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Aqarium’s Flowchart Illustrates the Complex Relationships of Their Penguins the Kyoto Aqarium’s 2020 Penguin Relationship Flowchart Penguins, the way they waddle around and...
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the Kyoto Aqarium’s 2020 Penguin Relationship Flowchart Penguins, the way they waddle around and protect their eggs, are often thought of as cute, cuddly and romantic. But those who observe them for extended periods know they have a dark side. Two aquariums in Japan, Kyoto...
Spoon & Tamago
A Temporary Rooftop Forest Replaces Fukuoka’s Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine During Renovations Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of Japan’s most-historically and culturally significant shrines, will...
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Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of Japan’s most-historically and culturally significant shrines, will undergo a massive renovation beginning in May of 2023. And for three years the honden main hall will be completely closed off to the roughly 10 million visitors who come to the...
Spoon & Tamago
Art & Coffee: Our Favorite Museum Cafes Across Japan Come for the art, stay for the coffee. Japan’s numerous museums offer a little bit of everything....
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Come for the art, stay for the coffee. Japan’s numerous museums offer a little bit of everything. Whether it’s cutting edge, contemporary art in Tokyo or a tiny museum in the countryside dedicated to a single sculptor, seeking them out is always rewarding. What’s also rewarding...
Spoon & Tamago
Icoma Foldable Electric Bike Inspired by Japanese Transformable Toys The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite...
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a year ago
The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it bit it was a feeling akin to seeing a brand new toy in a toy shop. It turns out that the origin story of the Icoma Electric Bike is very much a part of...
Spoon & Tamago
120 Koinobori Flutter in Sabagawa River photo courtesy Sabogawa Koinobori Kawanagashi Association Around this time of year, Japan becomes...
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photo courtesy Sabogawa Koinobori Kawanagashi Association Around this time of year, Japan becomes decorated with scenes of fish fluttering in the sky. Known as koinobori, the carp streamers are an important celebration of Children’s Day, which is on May 5th, and is one of the...
Spoon & Tamago
The New Simose Art Garden Villa: Where Art & Hospitality Meet at the Sea All images © Simose Art Museum Stretching over an area of 4.6 hectares and situated alongside the...
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All images © Simose Art Museum Stretching over an area of 4.6 hectares and situated alongside the picturesque Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima is the Simose Art Garden Villa. Designed by architect Shigeru Ban (previously), the newly opened destination comprises ten villas, a...
Spoon & Tamago
Discarded Tatami Mats are Reborn as Contemporary Furniture Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their...
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Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their lovely aroma and natural resistance to mold, their usage has consistently declined as modern consumers opt for more contemporary living choices. The Tatami ReFab Project is an...
Spoon & Tamago
City and Forest Living in a Unique Concrete Log House All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic;...
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a year ago
All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic; walking the fine line between indoors and outdoors, is a predominant theme in contemporary Japanese architecture. One of the latest iterations is from architect Atsushi Ikawaya, who...
Spoon & Tamago
The Unforgettable Landscapes of Ippan Nakamura’s World of Illustrations All images courtesy of Nakamura Ippan | used with permission Nakamura Ippan, a non-binary artist...
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a year ago
All images courtesy of Nakamura Ippan | used with permission Nakamura Ippan, a non-binary artist known for their web comic series ‘Jimocoro‘ and ‘Minna no Gohan‘, held their first solo exhibition last month in Tokyo. Art enthusiasts had the opportunity to witness Nakamura’s...
Spoon & Tamago
A Struggling Regional Train Line Turns its Cars into a Photo Gallery to Boost Ridership the winning photograph of the Koumi Line photo contest There are numerous tiny train lines across...
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the winning photograph of the Koumi Line photo contest There are numerous tiny train lines across Japan that are a dying breed. One of those is the Koumi Line, which connects Kobuchizawa Station in Yamanashi with Komoro Station in Nagano. The picturesque line, despite its views...
Spoon & Tamago
Go See 5.3 Million Baby Blue Eye Flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan photo by teerayut hiruntaraporn Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the attention for their...
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photo by teerayut hiruntaraporn Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the attention for their short-lived beauty. But equally ephemeral are Japan’s Nemophila, or Baby Blue Eyes. And once a year, around late April to Early May, an astounding sea of 5.3 million of these little...
Spoon & Tamago
Make Daily Life Comical With Manga Sound Effects These acrylic manga sound effects are the perfect item to introduce some comical playfulness into...
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These acrylic manga sound effects are the perfect item to introduce some comical playfulness into your room or office. Need to drop off a stack of documents for your coworker to review? The ドーン sound effect accentuates the weight and intimidation of the pile. Want to show off you...
Spoon & Tamago
Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has...
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All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has recently completed the interiors of Noma Kyoto, a pop-up dining in Japan in collaboration with Ace Hotel. The 250 sqm existing dining space has been transformed under the guidance of...
Spoon & Tamago
Experience Japanese Tea Time at Home With Sakuraco many thanks to Sakuraco for sponsoring Spoon & Tamago this week! Sakuraco is a monthly subscription...
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many thanks to Sakuraco for sponsoring Spoon & Tamago this week! Sakuraco is a monthly subscription box with an emphasis on Japan’s tradition of tea and wagashi. Each month subscribers receive a specially-curated and seasonally appropriate assortment of authentic snacks. But it’s...
Spoon & Tamago
Breeze Bird Cafe & Bakery in Kamakura is Situated Along the Enoden Train Line photos by Katsuhiro Aoki courtesy Same Picture Company For all that’s written and said about the...
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photos by Katsuhiro Aoki courtesy Same Picture Company For all that’s written and said about the difficulty of starting a business in Japan, there is one exception. The country’s lax zoning laws make it particularly easy to convert a section of your home into a cafe or eatery....