Spoon & Tamago

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Aerial Drone Photos of Cherry Blossoms at Inokashira Koen

all photos © Danilo Dungo

Inokashira Koen, the sprawling park in Tokyo’s Western suburb of Kichijoji, was my backyard. Having grown up in the area, I spent countless days after school and weekends exploring the park on bicycle or on foot. There always seemed to be a section that had been magically added; that I hadn’t discovered yet.

The park was known for many things: a lake and rowboats associated with an urban legend that predicted couples who rowed together would break up, a grisly murder, and – for a short week in late March – a multitude of cherry trees whose blossoms turned the park white and pink.

Setouchi Aonagi: Tadao Ando’s Latest Addition to Japan’s Art Islands

May 6, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

The Setouchi Triennale is perhaps Japan’s most successful art festival. A clear message and gorgeous backdrop, combined with island hopping and fine art, has brought millions of tourists from both Japan and abroad to the Setouchi islands. And if there’s an individual whose stamp is most visible throughout the islands it’s probably architect Tadao Ando. His signature style of minimal concrete buildings form numerous hotels and museums, which helps add consistency to the entire experience. His latest addition is the Setouchi Aonagi, a small luxury hotel with only 7 rooms that opened earlier this year.

House Tour: Yoyogi Artist Studio (with a hidden bed)

May 4, 2016 / Johnny / 1 Comment

all photos courtesy K-NARF

After almost two years in Nakameguro, the Tokyo-based French photographer K-NARF recently relocated to Yoyogi. Located in an 7-floor building from the late 60s, the artist created a unique, versatile space that functions as artist studio by day and apartment by night. Here’s a peek inside…

Artless Craft Tea & Coffee

May 3, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy artless craft tea & coffee

This month a new café opened in Harajuku. Artless Craft Tea & Coffee is located on a quiet backstreet – a road so small most cars can’t fit down – just a 10 min walk from Harajuku Station. It’s operated by Artless, the Tokyo-based design and branding agency headed by Shun Kawakami. The space, which became fully operational on May 1, represents an interesting trend: design agencies opening their own cafes.

Flower Vases Made From Repurposed Wormy Wood

May 3, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

At Oyama Lumber in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, every year a large portion of wood goes unused. It’s left in a pile to rot, or turned into sawdust, both of which seemed incredibly wasteful. The wood’s only fault was that it had fallen victim to Japan’s ambrosia beetle, which feeds on wood.

Aquarium Ferns Grow Inside an Air Bubble Within This Radical Fish Tank

May 2, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

Conventional aquarist knowledge has held that the water goes inside the fish tank, air is around it and everyone is happy. That’s just the way it is. But Japanese designer Haruka Misawa has completely turned that logic upside down to create one of the most beautiful fish tanks we’ve ever seen.

Music Monday: Ego Wrappin’

May 2, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

Ego Wrappin’ has been around for a long time. I discovered them in college in the early 2000s but they go back to 1996, which means that this year they’re celebrating their 20th anniversary. For those who don’t know them, Ego Wrappin’ are a duo originally from Osaka: Yoshie Nakano and Masaki Mori. Nakano’s deep, soulful vocals and Mori’s dexterous instrumentation create a unique sound that blends elements of jazz, ska, swing but also cabaret music from Japan’s Showa-era that will at once sound nostalgic and modern at the same time.

Sky Magic: A Mesmerizing Light and Sound Show of 20 Drones Equipped With 16,500 LEDs

May 1, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

Sky Magic is a type of drone developed by Japanese tech company MicroAd. But what makes these flying devices special, and earns them their name, is that they’re equipped with hundreds of LEDs that can be controlled to generate mesmerizing lights shows. Case-in-point: the recent live performance that was conducted at the foot of Mt. Fuji with a group of Shamisen players.

Japanese Lego Master Builds Delicious-Looking Creations From Blocks

April 29, 2016 / Johnny / Comments Off

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so hungry looking at Lego blocks! A Japanese Lego creator who goes by the nickname Tary has sculpted one of the most delicious-looking collections of food made entirely from Lego blocks. From fruit and vegetables to bento boxes, junk food and even deserts, Tary has almost all major food groups covered!

Who is Asao Tokolo? | the designer behind Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Emblem

April 26, 2016 / Johnny / 3 Comments

Tokyo’s 2020 Olumpic and Paralympic emblems designed by Asao Tokolo

On Monday this week it was announced that a committee of judges, after hearing feedback from the public, had decided on 1 out of 4 shortlisted designs. The winning design, which we previously knew as option A, was revealed to be designed by Asao Tokolo, a 47-year old artist based in Tokyo. The winning “harmonized chequered emblem” references Japan’s ichimatsu moyo, a checkered pattern that became popular in the Edo period. It was created in a deep indigo blue, a traditionally Japanese color that expresses elegance and sophistication.