Spoon & Tamago

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Creatures of the Echigo Sea Emerge from Straw in the 2023 Wara Art Festival

October 3, 2023 / Johnny / Comments Off

Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days, brighter moons and bountiful harvests. Niigata prefecture, in Northern Japan, is known for its rice paddies and rice production. Around this time of year the rice harvest becomes a big deal, as well as the tons of rice straw, or wara, that is leftover. It can be plowed down as soil improver, fed to livestock, or even woven into decorative ornaments. But before any of that, for the past 10 years Uwasekigata Park has hosted a Wara Art Festival by teaming up with art students to create creatures, both large and small, from rice straw.

‘Mirai No Table’ Brings Childcare and Dining Together As One

October 2, 2023 / Kushal Jain / Comments Off

All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office

At the crossroads of childcare and dining, ‘Mirai no Table‘ (Table of the Future) is a café conceived from the dual perspectives by Harema Design Office.

The café embodies the idea that our food choices shape our future. By combining the expertise of the Sakura Sakumirai daycare center and Pan to Espresso bakery cafe, it strives to create a secure and enjoyable dining space for families. Services like warming baby food and reheating dishes ensure that parents with young children can dine without any worries.

Undercover’s Jun Takahashi Lights up Paris Fashion Week with Glowing Terrarium Dresses

September 28, 2023 / Johnny / Comments Off

images courtesy Undercover

Flora and fauna were abound as designer Jun Takahashi’s fertile creativity was unleashed during Paris Fashion Week 2023. The designer’s iconic brand Undercover, equally revered as a cult name in streetwear and as a fixture on Paris’ haute couture calendar, was showing a collection titled “Deep Mist.”

Tan Yamanouchi’s New House Speaks to His Cats’ Desires

September 21, 2023 / Kushal Jain / Comments Off

All images © Lamberto Rubino courtesy Tan Yamanouchi & AWGL

Ever wondered what your home might look like if it were custom-designed to cater to the tastes of your beloved feline companions? Well, the architect Tan Yamanouchi (previously) of AWGL has designed a purr-fect home, prioritizing his two cats over himself and his partner. Instead of adhering to typical human requirements, the architect decided to treat their furry companions as esteemed clients.

Objects of Nostalgia Recreated in Pixelated Ceramics by Toshiya Masuda

September 19, 2023 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy the artist

On the spectrum of artistic materials, pixel art and ceramics seemingly couldn’t be further apart. On one end you have one of mankind’s oldest forms of expression dating back to the late Paleolithic period. On the other, a digital form of art that was born in the 1970s. It was this gap that drew artist Toshiya Masuda down the path of uniting them.

The Evolution of Meiji Era Craftsmanship, On Full Display in Tokyo

September 12, 2023 / Johnny / 1 Comment

It’s hard to overstate the cataclysmic impact that the Meiji Restoration had on Japan. The Meiji period, defined as the period between 1868 and 1912, followed what was nearly 300 years of almost complete isolation from the globe. Craftsmen and artists who had previously served just one master—their feudal lord, or daimyo—were suddenly faced with an international audience. And so they had to adapt to a totally new clientele and demand, which consequently resulted in a flourishing of new styles and production techniques.

From kibori wood sculpting to kirie paper cutting, a new exhibition opening in Tokyo highlights today’s contemporary artisans working across multiple mediums who continue to hone their craft to a level that has elevated craft to works of marvelous art.

Trunk Hotel’s Newest Yoyogi Park Location Embraces Its Neighboring Park and City

September 10, 2023 / Johnny / Comments Off

photos by Tomooki Kengaki courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects

Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park is a new boutique hotel located in Tokyo’s quiet Tomigaya neighborhood that just opened this month. Designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, the 7-story hotel has 25 rooms, a restaurant and a rooftop lounge & pool that overlooks the lush Yoyogi Park.

New Tadao Ando-Designed Museum to Open on Naoshima in 2025

September 5, 2023 / Johnny / Comments Off

A new museum will open on the art island of Naoshima in 2025. Although the official name has yet to be announced, the structure will be designed by architect Tadao Ando and will mark his 10th museum on the island.

Coworking Space in Kinosaki Onsen Encourages Users to Take Bath Breaks

September 4, 2023 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Photo: Madoka Nishiyama courtesy KIAC

This might very well be the coworking space of our dreams. The Kinosaki International Art Center (KIAC) is a multipurpose community center located in Kinosaki Onsen, a quaint town on the coast of Japan that’s known for their natural hot springs. In addition to a theater, dance studios and residences, KIAC recently opened a coworking space equipped with everything your contemporary remote worker needs. What’s more, their desks are specifically designed to encourage users to take bath breaks at one of the many nearby hot springs.

Unwind With Books And Beverages at Iwami Ginzan’s Unique Library Cafe

September 3, 2023 / Kushal Jain / Comments Off

Situated in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, the Iwami Ginzan Town Library Cafe and Co-working Space offers a unique fusion of a relaxed library atmosphere and modern amenities. It is housed within a former merchant’s residence on the main street of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape.