Product design typically results in materials being molded or modified to meet our needs. But the “Nosemono” series from Kyoto-based Shinkogeisha takes the opposite approach. The natural material–in this case, stone–is left untouched. Instead, it is 3D-scanned, enabling it to become a vessel for human-made parts and pieces that attach to it like a puzzle piece and render it a functional object.
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all photos by Hiroto Gozaoka courtesy Morito Project
Morito Project is an initiative aimed at highlighting the circular relationship between forests and woodworkers. Specifically, designer Shinnosuke Harada worked with artisans to source hinoki wood that was leftover from the thinning process. While necessary to cultivate healthy forests, wood leftover from the thinning process is typically discarded as it is considered sub-standard. But the designer came up with a range of lifestyle products that could be made from the wood, each inspired by the forest itself. The collection was on display at the Milan Furniture Fair this week.
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There’s a reason why you don’t find many cemeteries in the middle of cities. When land prices come at a premium, the economics of sprawling tombstones simply don’t make sense. But as lifestyles change and evolve, so too does our relationship with the deceased. And in turn, so do the cemeteries and ossuaries that look after our deceased and offer a sacred space where we can revisit their memories.
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The Ghibli theme park will be divided into multiple areas. It is scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2022
Back in 2017 we reported that Studio Ghibli and Aichi Prefecture had reached an agreement to host Ghibli Park, a large-scale Ghibli-themed amusement park that would be the first of its kind. The plans called for the Aichi Memorial Park, a former expo site that had previously hosted several Ghibli exhibitions, to be renovated into Ghibli Park. We now have substantial details about the park, which will open in several phases with the first phase being November 1, 2022!
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all images courtesy Nittosha
Phillumeny–the practice of collecting matchboxes–is about to get a lot more difficult. Japan’s largest manufacturer of matchboxes, Nittosha, has announced that they’re shutting down their business line in June after fulfilling all existing orders.
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Japanese Youtuber and content creator LowIQ specializes in unorthodox cakes and sweets that are unappetizing yet mesmerizing. Take one of their latest creations, for example: the–quite literal–sponge cake. To top it off, the desert is decorated with a plate of strawberry jam to resemble a dirty dish and smeared with whipped cream as dish soap.
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Japan has a problem. It’s culture of gift-giving and wrapping, while beautiful, often results in layers and layers of single-use plastics. There is another way though, which sometimes requires thinking outside the box. Or in this case, the bottle. The Kanda Budo Orchards in Rikuzen Takada is a family-run vineyard that dates back to 1905. Tomoe Senko is a dye company in the neighboring prefecture of Iwate and dates back to 1908. With a combined 230 years of history under their belts, the two organizations decided to produce a gift set featuring wine wrapped in a chusen-dye tenugui tea towel that conveys the history and roots of the two artisanal producers.
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photos by Sayuki Inoue courtesy Tomoe Shinohara
Kimono are typically made from a combination of hemp, linen, silk. But designer Tomoe Shinohara’s bold attempt to create a leather kimono from scraps intended to be thrown away, has resulted in a stunningly airy garment that is inspired by the hazy gradients of mountains.
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If you’ve ever driven in Japan you may have come across an unfamiliar scene: a small shrine right in the middle of the road. Sometimes the road curves to one side to avoid the shrine and give it some space. Other times the shrine rests literally in the middle of the road, unbothered by the passing traffic as if the cars are just a blip in time. And sometimes they aren’t even formal shrines. Just a sacred rock or tree.
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If you’ve ever walked through the back streets of suburban Japan you may have noticed the ubiquitous use of ceramic tile. They’re everywhere from the roofs of homes to the fencing around them, serving both functional but also decorative means. These tiles have typically been reserved for industrial use and made available only in bulk. But the Tile Kiosk is changing that.
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