If you’re coming out of Shinjuku station and see a giant kitty about to pounce on you like a mouse, don’t be alarmed. The anamorphic illusion is part of Cross Space, a new LED screen outside the world’s busiest train station that’s set to begin delivering scheduled broadcasts to commuters and other bystanders. In between programming, this slightly scary and enormous cat will nap, stretch, pace around and sometimes interact with people down below.
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this post is sponsored by WA Boxes
WA Boxes are hand-crafted packages filled with authentic Japanese objects delivered straight from Japan to your door. Yes — there are various Japanese boxes on the market, but WA Boxes stand out through their thoughtfully curated selection of objects and meaningfully inspiring concepts. The boxes are curated by designer and artist Mirit Weinstock, known internationally for her Jewelry brand.
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all photos by Masaaki Inoue
Ishinomaki Laboratory was founded in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami as a means of empowering and reviving a devastated local community. The initiative began with small DIY workshops for residents affected by the disaster, as well as projects to restore and renovate local shops, creating spaces “where people could reimagine the future of the city together.” Led by designer Keiji Ashizawa, the brand is now celebrating 10 years of DIY design through an exhibition in Tokyo.
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all photos by Akihiro Yoshida
Exploring the Japanese countryside, and even suburban areas of major cities, you might come across produce stands stocked with fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut flowers. With a price list and just a small box to drop money, these stands are literally built on trust and are a symbol of tight-knit community. And as Japan’s distribution systems become more and more advanced, these stands, known as mujin hanbaijo, are being increasingly seen as a solution to cutting food loss, as well as means of delivering fresh and local produce to the community.
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Last month, Cartier Osaka unveiled their new Shinsaibashi location. With roots in Osaka since 2000, the new store embodies local craftsmanship and environmentally conscious design through a spectacular, three-dimensional facade made from 2500 interlocking Masu.
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Japanese wristwatch brand Minase has collaborated with urushi artisan Junichi Hakose to create an elegant lineup of timepieces with lacquered faces consisting of floral and crest motifs that express Japan’s seasonality. Each individual motif has been hand-painted, resulting in a unique collaboration of precision artistry and manufacturing.
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Tucked away in the castle town of Hirosaki, in Japan’s northernmost region of Tohoku, the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the country’s most compelling examples of how contemporary art can breathe new life into historic architecture.
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All photos by Kenta Hasegawa
Established in 1957 in Saga prefecture, Maruhiro is a family-owned business that produces hasamiyaki ceramics. Six years since the renovation of their flagship store, the company has embarked on a new initiative to help cultivate a sense of community in their town. They’ve renovated an 86-year old Japanese-style townhouse to function as an office, showroom, community kitchen and artist residency space.
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installation photo by Takumi Gunji
At the Contemporary Art Foundation in Tokyo recently, a number of monumental wooden carvings were artfully aligned along the tiled concrete floor. Bulging on the ends and contracting towards the middle like a dumbell, the ragged carvings were part of an exhibition by artist Aki Inomata titled “How to Carve a Sculpture.” In a corner, a similar carving was placed sideways on the floor surrounded by wood chips, clear remnants of the process. But what exactly was the process? And what is the intent of the artist? Visitors soon learn that the carvings are actually the work of beavers whom the artist had enlisted as production assistants with help from several zoos around Japan.
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What if we took something inherently disposable and redesigned it around disposability? That was the idea behind CYQL PROJECT, an initiative by graphic designer Kenya Hara’s Nippon Design Center (previously) to propose an alternative to Japan’s massive single-use plastics industry.
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OrySnack: The Bar Where Bartenders Work From Home
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Japanese Craftsmanship Meets Pokemon at Kanazawa’s National Crafts Museum
