Spoon & Tamago

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MEN’S NONNO × ONE PIECE × BEAMS

February 15, 2011 / Johnny / Comments Off

Lead stylists at Japanese men’s fashion magazine MEN’S NONNO have collaborated with multi-brand retail chain BEAMS to design 4 t-shirts based on the popular manga One Piece. This isn’t the first time that One Piece and MEN’S NONNO have collaborated. If you’ll recall, Luffy, the protagonist of the popular manga series, graced the cover of the magazine’s January 2010 issue.

The “Baratie” (above) is probably my favorite. It’s like a souvenir one would purchase if one visited the fictional floating restaurant frequented by rowdy pirates.

Each t-shirt retails for 5,040 yen in their online store but they’re selling out fast.

Midget & Giant by Ryuji Nakamura

February 14, 2011 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Architect Ryuji Nakamura proposes an elegant, simple and adorable DIY project to create the illusion of being a giant without the use of special effects, funny camera angles and tons of props. Imagine doing all your skype calls this way! Fun.

The paper house was part of a workshop Nakamura did for DESIGNEAST 01 back in late 2010.

Related:

Vogue Nippon Women of the Year Trophy by Ryuji Nakamura

Atelier Book Chair (ABC)

February 11, 2011 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Photos by Asaco Suzuki

Product development and production agency Oiseau (pronounced oazo) has created the Atelier Book Chair (ABC), the first in what is to be a series of sustainable, long-lasting products under the brand name “Mother.”

NAGI by Mikiya Kobayashi

February 10, 2011 / Johnny / 2 Comments

click images to enlarge

Mikiya Kobayashi has designed a new line of furniture for Tokushima-based furniture company Fuji Furniture. The first items to appear in the new NAGI line are a set of chairs and dining room table, which were on display at their Tokyo showroom through yesterday and are currently making their way to the Osaka showroom where they will be on display on February 16th and 17th.

Fuji Furniture is known, stylistically, for their Scandinavian-inspired modern furniture and, technologically, for their capabilities in molding plywood. I love how Kobayashi has preserved and taken advantage of those characteristics while adding another layer of retro style. While the table and chairs obviously go well together, I would also be interested in seeing how they interact with some vintage furniture.

Related:

CHICO by Atelier KUU

February 10, 2011 / Maddie / 1 Comment

CHICO/exterior

Nobuo Kumazara, of Atelier Kuu, is the architect and designer behind many serene and modern spaces from beauty salons, chapels, dentist offices and CHICO – a store created for people and their design discerning pooch. Created with dogs in mind, the dog house motif is incorporated throughout the store located in Shizuoka, Japan.

piece peace FRAME by Dessence

February 9, 2011 / Johnny / 1 Comment

click images to enlarge

Inspired by the rich expressions and the beautiful diversity that he found as he stared at a heap of wood scraps beside him, Kazutoyo Yamamoto – chief designer and founder of Dessence – created the piece peace picture frame.

Shiro Kuramata and Ettore Sottsass

February 8, 2011 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Two design heavyweights of the late 20th century get mashed up in this latest show, which opened in early February at 21_21 Design Sight in Tokyo.

“Miss Blanche”　(1988) by Shiro Kuramata

Café Recipe by Teruhiro Yanagihara

February 3, 2011 / Johnny / Comments Off

click images to enlarge | images courtesy Isolation Unit

Late last year Teruhiro Yanagihara of Japanese design practice Isolation Unit designed an installation for Rokko Meets Art, a 2-month long arts festival that invited 41 artists to install artwork throughout the lush wilderness of Mt. Rokko in Hyogo prefecture. Teruhiro Yanagihara chose to install a temporary café within a green house.

New York International Gift Fair Winter 2011 | japan edition

February 2, 2011 / Johnny / 1 Comment

I made my way over to Javits Center this week for the New York International Gift Fair to check what what some of the Japan-related booths are offering. It’s always an interesting exercise to see what other people think other people will like. The center – if you’ve ever been there you know – is so massive in size that it’s daunting to even consider making the full round. So if I missed you, and I’m sure I did, I apologize. But here are a few items that caught my eye.