The Good Design Awards, Japan’s oldest and most-comprehensive system for evaluating design, are doled out annually. And this week, the 2021 awards were announced. The theme this year was “Aspiration and Action with Consideration,” which verbalizes our wishes and hopes for a better world. You can see all the recipients here but below are a small selection of our favorites, which embody the spirit in forms of sustainability and inclusivity.
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Five years ago Japan lowered the minimum voting age from 20 to 18 to encourage young people to get involved and have their say. But turnout rates of those in their 20s and younger has been alarmingly low: in the last lower house election, in 2017, the voting rate among people in their 20s was 34%, less than half that of those in their 60s. Vote Poster 2021 is a small but burgeoning movement in which illustrators, designers and manga artists create eye-catching posters that can be printed out or shared online, ultimately raising awareness and encouraging people to go out and vote.
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this post is sponsored by Kanagawa Prefecture
Even as Japan’s vaccination rate surpassses others, the country still remains closed to tourism. But that doesn’t mean Japan and all its culture and history are entirely inaccessible. With a little help from technology and the insights and expertise of many, you can go on a virtual tour of Japan’s historic Odawara Castle. And as you’re transported back in time to the Warring States period, a preeminent ninja scholar will also equip you with the skills and philosophies of shinobi: the covert operatives of feudal Japan.
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Lei is an entirely self-sufficient aroma diffuser, powered only by the heat and gentle flame of a small candle. The generated power from the flame turns the propeller, which creates a light breeze that permeates your space with aromas from essential oils.
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Historically, pencil makers have used graphite grading scales like 2H or 2B to indicate the hardness and darkness of the core. Although there is a certain charm to these letters, for some it poses questions when selecting pencils. And because they typically come unsharpened when first purchased, there’s no way of testing them. So Japanese designer Kazuya Ishikawa came up with a simple way of visualizing what type of graphite is in each pencil.
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DesignArt Tokyo will be in full-swing starting this week and running through the end of October. The annual celebration sees Tokyo transform into a living, breathing museum. Over 300 artists and designers from all over the world will be showcasing work at galleries, retail shops and other spaces for ten days: from October 22 to October 31, 2021.
You can explore all the exhibitions and venues over on the official website. As a proud media sponsor, we’re thrilled to be able to share some of our must-see exhibitions and works!
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Unpis is the nom de plume of a Japanese illustrator hailing from Fukushima prefecture. The artist’s minimalist yet surreal illustrations, which deftly combine clean lines with a subtle sense of humor, have earned her fans from all around the world. Now, she’s releasing her first compilation titled “Discover.”
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all photos courtesy ume yamazoe
Nestled in a small mountain hamlet of Nara prefecture is a grand townhouse once owned by a former village chief. A sloping path leads up to the home where it looks over Oku-yamato and all of the small town’s secluded, untouched beauty. Easily over 100 years old, the home was falling into disrepair until a sushi maker decided to purchase it and expand into the hospitality business. But the end-result was unlike any other hotel.
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Last week, the rejoicement and excitement in Tokyo was palpable as major restrictions were lifted, allowing restaurants and bars to reopen. But just because the State of Emergency was over, doesn’t mean we’re out of the proverbial pandemic woods. For those who continue to be cautious and vigilant, Hoshinoya Tokyo is offering socially-distanced dinners inside chochin lanterns.
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all images courtesy the artist
From afar, Yuta Okuda‘s artwork can resemble pressed flowers. But come closer and the blossoming bouquets reveal themselves to be something much more complex with an ambiguity that shifts between realism and the abstract. The Japanese artist uses blotches of acrylic paint, which he then combines with miniscule, delicate pen drawings to create petals and blossoms within each other.
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OrySnack: The Bar Where Bartenders Work From Home
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Kawaii Buildings, as Seen Through the Lens of Urban Photographer Ken Ohyama
