We’ve talked about Charan-Po-Rantan on this segment before but it’s been a while. And a lot has happened to this Klezmer-funk-meets-circus-chic duo since then. Most notably, the sisters wrote the opening track for the mega-hit drama Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu, about a contract marriage. The track was slightly overshadowed by the even-more-popular ending song and dance, which has become somewhat of a phenomenon in Japan.
Tokyo’s shitamachi is reverse – “basically the opposite” of the vibrant areas of Tokyo like Shibuya and Harajuku that most people associate with the metropolis. Literally “low city,” shitamachi is traditionally the physically low part of the city, east of the Sumida river. It’s not trendy but subdued and relaxing, which is why illustrator Shinji Tsuchimochi likes it so much.
Now through December 25, stop by the Nescafe shop in Harajuku, Tokyo, for quite a treat. An 11.5 foot-tall Rube Goldberg Machine has been installed in the center of the café. The contraption is made from 1450 pieces of wood and has 180 wooden keys that act as a xylophone.
Kazuaki Horitomo is a California-based Japanese artist who combines two of his great passions – tattoos and cats – into one. As an illustrator and tattoo artist, Horitomo is steeped in the Japanese tradition of tebori (a technique of tattooing by hand) and his illustrations reflect that. Some of our favorites works are the humorous and surreal depictions of cats performing tebori on other cats.
“Idols” by Andrew Browne | click images to enlarge
“Watching people around me, both in the US and here in Japan, so many seem to have something they idolize.” That’s illustrator Andrew Browne, who divides his time between Minneapolis and Tokyo creating ballpoint pen drawings that are influenced by film, pop culture, ukiyo-e and the gritty streets of Tokyo.
photos by Takumi Ota
Last month Hermès, the French luxury goods maker, appeared in Kyoto along Gion’s historic Hanamikoji street. They had renovated an old residence into a pop-up shop that will remain open for 9 months, serving as a hub for a series of rotating workshops and events that will tie together craftsmanship, tradition and innovation with an appreciation for the 4 seasons.
designer Oki Sato (left) and manga artist Yusei Matsui (right)
“I love manga,” exclaimed Oki Sato, the head of design firm Nendo, who relies on Japanese comics to keep himself entertained on long flights as he travels all over the world meeting clients. Sato went on to explain that design and manga actually have a lot in common: the overly-extravagant is difficult to relate to. Instead, the ordinary, everyday is much easier to become attached to.
In what can only be called the most brilliant use of masking tape ever, a Japanese stationary store has come out with rolls of tape that turn any notebook into a calendar or planner.
It’s that time of year again. When Japan lights up with “illumination” spectacles all around the country. The word illumination is Japan’s term for using numerous holiday bulbs to light up streets, gardens or other public spaces. The special events get a lot of attention and are always heavily attended. If you’re looking to participate, we’ve got you covered from North to South with some of this year’s not-to-miss illumination shows.
Filmmaker Hikaru Toda is working on an intriguing documentary about Fumi & Kazu, who run the first openly gay law firm in Japan. Passionate about justice, the lawyers “know all too well the realities of being different in a homogenous society.” And while the documentary revolves around the duo, like any legal matter the story is in their clients.
OrySnack: The Bar Where Bartenders Work From Home
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Japanese Craftsmanship Meets Pokemon at Kanazawa’s National Crafts Museum
