If you’ve ever been in the market for an apartment (apaato) or single-family home (ikkodate) in Japan, you’re most certainly familiar with these images. They’re real estate floor plans that you’ll typically see plastered on the windows of real estate agent offices. House hunting can be stressful in any country but especially Japan, where cultural intricacies like key money (reikin) can be a drain on ones psyche and wallet.
Inspired by watching a single goldfish swimming around in a goldfish bowl, Japanese designer Daisuke Akiyama came up with a rather ingenious product: goldfish bubble wrap. By reinventing the standard packaging material, Akiyama – part of the design studio HAFT DESIGN – created the subtle yet magical illusion of miniature goldfish swimming around in each bubble. “We usually have an inclination to pop bubble wrap,” says Akiyama. “But by printing goldfish I’ve made it psychologically more difficult to pop.”
Unfortunately, it’s only a prototype and isn’t available for purchase. But word has it that Akiyama is working on commercializing his novel idea. It would make the perfect summer present, or at least the perfect wrapping. (via notcot)
left: “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (2006) | right: “Kawa no hikari” (2009)
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” is actually an advertising slogan created by an American businessman, but falsely attributed as an old Asian proverb “so that people would take it seriously.” But despite its fraudulent foundings, the words rings true and, most recently, I’ve found myself identifying them with the work of illustrator and art director Nizo Yamamoto.
Background from “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (2006)
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Making simple train replicas was not enough for Japan-based model artist Akihiro Morohoshi. After years making railway dioramas, he chose to give a twist to the traditional miniature models by embedding them into everyday objects. His series of works give birth to imaginary worlds that live on top of boxes of Pringles chips, electric guitars or inside vending machines.
To make the scenes look good as a whole, Morohoshi had to pay attention to every minute details of his pieces: from the custom-made signs and vehicles, to the weathering of each object to make them look lifelike.
all photos courtesy Kazuhiko Hachiya | used with permission
Earlier this week in Takikawa, on the Northern island of Hokkaido, a large seagull-like contraption sped down a runway and took off into the air. In between its wings lay a man – an artist, inventor and operator of the glider – who gracefully floated his M-02J through the air by adjusting his body weight before landing it softly on the ground.
The test flight was in preparation for the Summer Sky Fest 2014, where, on July 27, hundreds of spectators would come to see numerous flying mobiles. However, the majority of visitors were there to see one thing: artist Kazuhiko Hachiya’s M-02J. And many of them were anime, rather than flight enthusiasts.
Tulip, in Japan, is pronounced chulip. And chu means kiss, which is why it was inevitable that someone would have a little fun with the pun. But never did I expect such a bizarre series of artworks as this. Artist Takayuki Fukusawa (of the cleavage necklace fame) created a fictional plant called the Chulip, as well as a fictional journal to scientifically document his fictional findings.
Chopsticks are everywhere in Japan and Asian restaurants worldwide. But even though their design is as simple as it gets, not everyone is able to use this standardized tool. This led Fukui-based craftsman Katsuyuki Miyabo to start using his woodworking skills to help people suffering hand disabilities.
His chopsticks for the physically challenged are spring-operated and require minimal action to be used — their user simply presses on them to grab food, and they spring back in open position once the pressure is released. They also sport a custom-made, thick grip that lets its user get an intuitive, solid grip on the chopsticks.
Ever since German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius identified the Mobius strip, its non-orientable property has presented itself as a muse for artists, architects and designers. From exhibitions to residential homes, the curious properties of the band has puzzled and inspired. But in it’s latest iteration, Brooklyn-based Japanese designer Takeshi Miyakawa has created “Mobius chair,” a seat made from a single, continuous band.
Each year the Japan Graphic Designers Association (or JAGDA) honors young, up-and-coming talent by recognizing 3 gifted designers. The award, which was established in 1983 highlights exceptional work in graphic design that has been created by designers 39 or younger. The 2014 awards were just announced so here’s a look at the winners:
Daijiro Ohara is a 36-year old freelance designer creates book designs and logos that are heavily typographic and often employ experimental typefaces. In recent years he began to explore intersections between landscape and typography, which led him to work with photographer Takashi Honma (previously) . His series “Ryosen,” in which Ohara overlays typography and landscape photography, helped land him the spot this year.
The Japanese designer Takayuki Fukusawa established his design firm in 2012 with the objective of “making a world full of ‘humorous art & design’.” I want people to look at my work and think, “he made another ridiculous thing.” And he’s certainly accomplished that goal with Tanima Diver, his latest creation.
The series of necklaces features fearless divers and climbers that, when worn – presumably by large-breasted women – the figurines appear to be descending into the unknown depths of cleavage. There’s the salaryman diver, the skydiver, the astronaut, and the canyon climber.
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Gunkanjima from Above: Exploring What Was Once the World’s Most-Densely Populated City
Kirie Artist Carves Playful Narratives Into Tree Leaves
Accumulated Piles of Junk Transform Into Illusionistic Shadow Art by Shigeo Fukuda
Scenes From Japan’s Jimi “Mundane” Halloween Contest
