January 29, 2024 / sponsor / Comments Off on Tokyo Here & Now: Private Art and Design Tours by Mirit Weinstock
this post is sponsored by mirit weinstock
Mirit Weinstock is an artist and designer living in Tokyo, specializing in Japanese crafts and working in a variety of mediums. The creative director and founder of “Mirit Weinstock” jewelry brand, the artist is steeped in the Japanese crafts of ikebana floral arrangement, washi paper as well as ceramics. As a result of her love for Japanese arts, Mirit has been giving private daily art tours since Japan re-opened its borders in October 2022.
Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded kimono and obi, which she masterfully upcylces to create landscapes brimming with energy and hope. But her path to artistry has been anything but conventional. Now at the age of 76, Sugiyama only began her creative journey 5 years ago after a chance encounter with marker pens she found discarded on the street.
The Japanese word kumu is a verb with many nuances. Depending on the context, kumu can mean “to join,” “to draw out,” or “to pour.” In that sense, it was the perfect name for a hotel that embodies connection and hospitality: connecting people with a place, drawing out a guests feelings and pouring them a drink.
Roughly 6000 people remain in temporary evacuation shelters ever since the Noto Earthquake on January 1st upended life for so many. And while the recovery is long and arduous, many are doing what they can to return to normal and that includes the many local businesses in the Noto community. Authorities are still discouraging travel to the Noto region (but other cities like Kanazawa are open for business!) but in this day and age, many business have their online shops up and running. Below are a few that you can support.
Obviously this is not a complete list so if you know of any others, please leave them in the comments!
this post was sponsored by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau
This travel guide originally appeared in February 2023 and ever since Covid restrictions were lifted, Ishikawa prefecture has seen a steady climb in tourism. However, the tragic Noto Earthquake at the beginning of 2024 changed that and many businesses have seen a precipitous drop in activity. Although roughly 6000 people in the city of Wajima continue to be living in evacuation centers, the mayor of Ishikawa has put out a cry for tourists to not change their plans and come visit. The city of Kanazawa is largely business-as-usual and now is a great time to visit as tourism will only help recovery efforts.
editor’s note
Just quick ride from Tokyo aboard a speedy Kagayaki 505 bullet train, Ishikawa Prefecture is a hidden gem among popular tourist destinations across Japan. Offering a host of ancient gardens, historic temples, delectable dining, and exposure to artisanal crafts, towns like Kanazawa, Kaga, and Komatsu offer a rare glimpse at uncompromising beauty and tradition that spans centuries. We chose to visit Ishikawa in the fall, just as the maple and cherry trees turned a fiery red that formed a sumptuous backdrop to our daily explorations.
January 9, 2024 / Johnny / Comments Off on A Relic of the Past, Shibuya Green Tea is Leafing Out Once Again
Umeharaen, a green tea seller that once stood at the corner of Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya typically conjures images of tall skyscrapers, neon lights, and the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings. Not tranquil tea plantations. But 150 years ago in the early Meiji era, Shibuya, as well as Harajuku and Yoyogi, were dotted with fields growing green tea. In fact, the famous Shibuya Crossing was once home to Umeharaen, a purveyor of fine teas. A new initiative hopes to revive the once-forgotten Shibuya-cha and bring it back to local cafes and bars.
January 7, 2024 / Johnny / Comments Off on Wakuni Cafe: New Tokyo Cafe Made from 700 Bronze Plates Salvaged from Hayatani Shrine
the wakuni cafe, which opens January 19, 2024, is inside a 50-year old renovated building
Opening in the Tokyo neighborhood of Higashimurayama this month is Wakuni Cafe, a new destination that embodies history, craftsmanship and a spirit of reusing old materials. The exterior of the cafe is made from roughly 700 bronze plates, each between 60 and 100 years old, salvaged from Hayatani Shrine in Hiroshima.
Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a fan of their buses too. And if you’re keen on living the slow life while also experiencing the Japanese countryside, boy do we have the perfect activity for you. The Yagi-Shingu Bus, which has been in operation since 1963, is Japan’s longest local bus route. Making a total of 168 stops throughout its 6 and a half hour journey, the bus travel close to 170 km, or roughly 100 miles, all without riding any highways.
It’s been a rough start to the new year for Japan as one disaster begets another. We are of course talking about the evolving situation at Haneda airport, as well as the Noto Peninsula. Our hearts go out to everyone affected but we also want to highlight the many heroes of the situation: the news reporters who calmly and accurately delivered life-saving information to victims of the earthquake, to the crew of commercial airliner who safely evacuated close to 400 passengers in a matter of minutes. Japan is prone to natural disaster, and it’s times like these that all the preparation and training that typically goes unnoticed and un-thanked, really shine. Japan should be proud.
As tradition goes, we’ve been putting together our favorite nengajo, or New Years cards, from Japanese artists and designers. This year’s zodiac animal is the dragon, significant in that it’s the only mythical creature of the twelve. We present to you, in no particular order, some inspiring artwork in hopes that the traits of the dragon—strength, benevolence and good luck—are with those affected by recent events.
It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look back at the posts that resonated the most with our readers. In doing so, we try to make sense of the year which, for Japan, was very much a year of homecoming. Japan felt like *the* place to be this year. Tourism came back strong but Japan’s soft power was also on full display with popular films and anime doing remarkably well with viewers outside Japan, both at the box office and on streaming platforms. With that quick backdrop, let’s check out which posts our readers enjoyed the most this year.
