Spoon & Tamago

Shizuoka Aims to Reclaim Top Tea Status With New Branding Project

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 / 0 Comments

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 / 0 Comments

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.

The Other Ceramics: An Exhibition of Non-Ceramicist Pottery

April 5, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

a clay pot by the artist Nara Yoshitomo

What happens when some of Japan’s most celebrated creatives step outside their usual disciplines and into the world of clay? That’s the question at the heart of “The Other Ceramics,” an exhibition currently on view at the BANKO Archive Design Museum in Yokaichi, Mie prefecture.

Shibuya’s New ‘G-CHA & Ba-CHA’ Cafe Is Run by Senior Citizens

April 3, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

In the heart of Shibuya—a district known for youth culture and constant reinvention—a refreshingly different kind of café has just opened its doors. G-CHA & Ba-CHA is not just another trendy tea stand; it’s a celebration of energy, community, and a reimagining of what it means to grow older.

The Humble Beef Bowl, Elevated to Fine Cuisine at New Gyudon Specialty Restaurant Kikiya

March 28, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

Often referred to as the soul food of Japan, gyudon, which literally translates to beef bowl, dates back to the 1800s. Its origin can be traced to an izakaya in Yokohama but by the early 20th century, gyudon had become a staple of urban working-class life, especially with the rise of fast, inexpensive eateries such as Yoshinoya, which helped standardize and popularize the dish nationwide. Now, Kikiya (㐂㐂屋), a new eatery, is reimagining one of Japan’s most-familiar dishes.

In Rare Exhibition, Kenya Hara Offers a Look Into His Design Process

March 27, 2026 / Johnny / 0 Comments

Kenya Hara, the internationally acclaimed Japanese designer, has long been associated with clarity, restraint, and the quiet power of minimalism: traits that are evident in his work as creative director for MUJI. But an upcoming exhibition promises to reveal something more intimate: the restless, searching lines that come before any finished idea.

A Spoon & Tamago Guide to Tohoku

February 22, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

The Tohoku region is Japan’s northern frontier on the island of Honshu—a region shaped by nature. Misty mountains, crystal clear streams, rugged coasts and bountiful seafood not only form what is one of Japan’s most-picturesque regions but it also has inspired artisans, makers and chefs, both old and new, to take root on the land. Often overlooked by casual travelers, Tohoku rewards those who make the journey with landscapes and stories that feel timeless.

This autumn we decided to visit two of the region’s six prefectures, Miyagi and Aomori, along with an initial pit-stop in Tokyo, just as the maple and ginkgo trees turned yellow and red and formed a sumptuous backdrop to our daily explorations.

Five Art Exhibitions to See in Japan This Spring

February 7, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

Spring in Japan isn’t just about cherry blossoms. Ok, fine it’s mostly about cherry blossoms. But if you’re looking to combine some gallery hopping in between the ohanami, we’ve got you covered. From futuristic anime retrospectives to centuries-old woodblock prints brought together in major museums, here are five art exhibitions not to miss in Japan this spring.

Cats to Blame for Octopus Deity Enshrinement Delay

February 2, 2026 / Johnny / Comments Off

Hayasuhime Shrine in Oita prefecture is a rarity in Japan because it is dedicated to the octopus. When local sculptor Kousei Hashimoto was tasked with creating a new deity to be enshrined, he expected for it to be completed by the end of the year. But the neighborhood cats had different plans.