Last year Seibu Railways launched a new poster campaign to educate their straphangers on proper train etiquette and manners. Given the surge in tourism in Japan recently, the train company decided to create their posters in an ukiyo-e inspired style.
Ask Japanese friends what their family crest is and most likely they will be able to tell you. Crests (kamon or mon in Japanese) are still in use today. But while many Japanese know their family’s crest, not many own an item with their crest on it.
all photos courtesy Sankei Photo
Earlier this year in January, Japan saw heavy snowfall that caused the nose of a local Tengu to break off. After one of the most adorable remediation and recovery efforts, the Tengu has now been repaired.
the 4-piece girl band ‘Chai’
Since SXSW was earlier this month we thought we would share one of our discoveries from Japan Nite. Chai are a 4-piece girl band that hails from Nagoya. And they’ve coined the term Neo Kawaii (Neo apparently stands for New Excite Onna-band) to describe their look and sound.
Tamanohada is a 125-year old soap company that has occupied a factory space in Tokyo since their founding in 1892. They’ve survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II so it seems only right that they make items that are associated with good luck, like these fish-shaped welcome soaps.
Japanese graphic designer Mikiji Nagai came up with these whimsical, transparent brooches that you can place over the logo of your shirt, hat, bag or pretty much any fashion item.
It’s been exactly 2 year since we released Papa’s Maze 2.0. To commemorate, we’re offering both the original (1.0) and the newer version (2.0) for a special price this week only!
In 1983 Mr. Nomura, better known as Papa, completed a mindbogglingly intricate maze that he had worked on for 7 years. 32 years later he picked up his pen once again to return to his passionate hobby, creating an equally complex and beautiful maze for his daughter, who had discovered the original artwork in the family’s attic.
The set of 2 prints are available here through March 27, 2016.
“Famous Mirror: the spirit of Japan” (1874) | all images courtesy Isreal Goldman Collection, London
From cute cats and landscapes to the occult and the erotic, nothing was off bounds for this eccentric 19th century Japanese artist. But it was his extraordinary wit and humor that set him apart from other artists of his time.
Miho Museum (Shiga Prefecture)
Readers of this site are likely to see Japan as source of inspiration for art, design, and architecture, but taking the next step of visiting and making actual travel plans requires a fair bit of research and coordination. Many of the country’s most interesting and offbeat locations can be both difficult to discover and to access if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
all photos courtesy Sankei News
On April 1, LEGOLAND Japan will open in Nagoya. The new theme park will feature over 40 different attractions from playgrounds and roller coasters to a lego factory and building stations. One such attractions is MINILAND, which will feature famous Japanese buildings and landmarks carefully replicated in miniature form using over 10 million legos.
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
OrySnack: The Bar Where Bartenders Work From Home
Kawaii Buildings, as Seen Through the Lens of Urban Photographer Ken Ohyama
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
Tatsuo Horiuchi | the 73-year old Excel spreadsheet artist
