Spoon & Tamago

Japan’s First Shrine Dedicated to Plushies Opens for Stuffed Animal Devotees

In Japan, it’s not unusual to see people treating cherished objects with a surprising degree of reverence. Dolls receive memorial services, broken sewing needles are honored in annual ceremonies, and even discarded electronics are occasionally given ritual farewells. Now, the country’s long tradition of animistic belief has found perhaps its most adorable expression yet: Japan’s first shrine dedicated entirely to plush toys. Earlier this week, on a rainy morning, over 200 people carrying their beloved stuffed animals passed through a torii gate with ears and made their way to the opening ceremony of this new shrine that had opened in northern Kyoto.

Daisuke Tajima’s ‘Infinite Emptiness’ Captures the Anxiety of a Hollow Future

June 23, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

Japanese artist Daisuke Tajima has built a career drawing cities that seem to exist somewhere between science fiction and reality. His sprawling black-and-white landscapes are packed with towering structures, tangled infrastructure and dizzying perspectives that appear to expand endlessly beyond the edges of the paper. In his latest solo exhibition, Infinite Emptiness (Mugen Kyomu), Tajima turns that visual intensity toward a timely question: what happens when endless growth begins to feel hollow?

5 Art Exhibitions Worth Traveling for in Japan This Summer

June 20, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

There’s no better time to escape Tokyo than the summer. While beaches and mountain retreats offer temporary relief, there’s another way to flee the capital: follow the art. From giant robotic insects in rural Aomori to a celebration of one of Japan’s most beloved manga artists in Tottori, these five exhibitions offer compelling reasons to venture beyond the usual museum circuit.

In Post-War Japan, the United States Used Quiz Culture to Help Democratize the Country

May 31, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

the set of hanashi no izumi, Japan’s very first quiz show

Today, Japan is famous for its quiz culture. Television quiz shows attract millions of viewers, quiz clubs thrive at schools and universities, and trivia competitions remain a popular form of entertainment. But Japan’s fascination with quizzes actually has roots in one of the most transformative periods in the nation’s history: the Allied Occupation after World War II.

End of an Era: Iconic Shibuya Hands to Close After 48 Years

May 25, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

In a surprising announcement, the Hands Shibuya flagship store has informed the public that it will permanently close this November. The official last day has yet to be announced but the sad news comes just 3 years after the store changed ownership and was rebranded from Tokyu Hands to just Hands.

Haneda Airport Unveils Collaboration with Beloved Penguin Illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki

May 23, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

Tokyo’s Haneda Airport has just released a new line of exclusive penguin merchandise illustrated by Chiharu Sakazaki, the beloved artist behind the iconic Suica Penguin character. Given the news, just 6 months ago, that the Suica penguin would be retired after 25 years of service, observers were quick to wonder: has Suiza Penguin already found a new job?

Issey Miyake’s New NYC Flagship Blends Fashion and Architecture

May 9, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake has opened a striking new flagship store in Manhattan, marking a major new chapter for the brand in New York City. Located at 45 Madison Avenue inside the historic New York Life Building overlooking Madison Square Park, the two-level, 13,000-square-foot space was designed by New York architecture studio SO-IL.

Shizuoka Aims to Reclaim Top Tea Status With New Branding Project

April 19, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

Shizuoka has long been Japan’s most iconic tea-producing region. But in today’s global market, heritage alone doesn’t guarantee recognition. Several years ago, Shizuoka was overtaken for the first time by Kagoshima in terms of the value of tea production. The global boom in matcha-powdered green tea has spurred increased competition not just in Japan, but internationally. The situation has led to impurity and even fraud, with some dubbing our times “The Wild West” of tea. The JAPAN TEA SHIZUOKA branding project is a focused effort to translate Shizuoka’s legacy into a clear, modern identity that resonates worldwide.

Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.

April 14, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

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 Aquarium and Sumida Aquarium, have been keeping obsessive tabs on their penguins, maintaining an updating annual flowcharts that visualizes all their penguin drama. They recently dropped their 2026 versions, and this year there are English versions!

Winners of the 2026 Kokuyo Design Awards

April 5, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

The Kokuyo Design Awards, (previously) arguably Japan’s most-prestigious stationery design award, has been held for almost a quarter of a century now. Hosted by 120-year old stationery firm KOKUYO, the award receives close to 1500 entries each year for new products that have yet to be commercialized, with winning concepts given the opportunity to become real-life products.

For this year’s theme—hamon: design that resonates—designers were asked to submit concepts based on their own unique, lived experience, which in turn has the potential to resonate with society. One winner and three merit awards were announced last month.