Spoon & Tamago

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Illustrator Yuki Omura, Victim of the Kyoto Animation Arson, Remembered Through Rice Paddy Art

A little less than 1 year ago, a violent arson attack on Kyoto Animation resulted in the tragic death of 36 illustrators and animators. One of those was 23-year old Yuki Omura, a young and upcoming illustrator who had just joined the studio out of college.

Now, his mother’s hometown is remembering him, and paying homage to his art, by recreating the last page of his picturebook in the form of rice paddy art.

An Obsession with Retro Japanese Rounded-Corner Windows

June 18, 2020 / Johnny / 12 Comments

Please allow us to share our current obsession: retro Japanese rounded-corner windows. We occasionally come across these on our walks around Japan. They can be spotted on storefronts but also older apartments or office buildings. But wherever they are, there’s something endearing and nostalgic about their softness and hues.

SightEating: Kura Sushi’s Vision for Their Kaiten Sushi Global Flagship

June 17, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

photos by Takumi Ota and Yoshiyuki Yano

Kura Sushi, Japan’s 2nd largest kaiten-sushi chain, has unveiled a new global flagship in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. The conveyor belt-style sushi shop, with the help of creative director Kashiwa Sato, has completely reimagined the format of the store and created a foreigner-friendly restaurant that combines sightseeing and eating. They’re calling it, “SightEating.”

Nendo Rebrands Over 700 Private Label Products for Lawson

June 16, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photos by Akihiro Yoshida

If you’ve paid a visit to Lawson lately you may have noticed something different along the aisles of tightly packed milk, breads, juices, toothbrushes, toilet paper and anything else you may or may not have stopped by to pick up. Japan’s 3rd largest convenience store chain recently hired design firm Nendo to rebrand the packaging on over 700 private label products.

Japanese Artists Create Artwork in Support of Black Lives Matter

June 12, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

Amid the ongoing protests and marches following the brutal murder of George Floyd by police, Japanese artists in Japan and abroad are showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the form of diverse artworks. The original works areintended to stir up support, as well as raise funds with proceeds going directly towards organizations working towards justice.

Hello Kitty Speaks Out in Support of Black Lives Matter

June 10, 2020 / Johnny / 5 Comments

We’ll admit it — we definitely did not have Hello Kitty taking a stand on our 2020 bingo card. But sure enough, Japan’s most popular export and the epitome of wholesome cuteness has issued a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Naomi Osaka, Illustrated by her Sister Mari Osaka

June 9, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

Tennis star Naomi Osaka appeared in GQ Japan’s June edition, in a cover that was drawn by her older sister Mari Osaka. A tennis player herself and also apparently a talented illustrator, Mari Osaka depicted her younger sister in a series of bold, beautiful and strong portraits.

Architect Kazuyo Sejima’s Commuter Express ‘Laview’ Wins Prestigious Train Award

June 5, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

The Laview commuter train, which debuted in 2019 and began operating between Tokyo and Chichibu, has won this year’s prestigious Blue Ribbon, an award given annually since 1958 and presented to the best railway vehicle. The train was designed by one of Japan’s most notable architects and Pritzker recipient Kazuo Sejima.

Kamikatsu in Tokushima Now Has Their Very Own Zero Waste Hotel

June 3, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

Hotel Why opened in May 2020 and is shaped like a question mark

The beautiful mountains and lush nature are not the only things that attract people to the town of Kamikatsu in Japan’s western prefecture of Tokushima. The town also has a zero waste policy and residents are known to recycle waste in 45 categories, which helped them achieve over an 80% rate of recycling. The town’s investments in broadband infrastructure have also made the destination a popular spot for tech satellite offices. Now the town also has Hotel Why: one of the first zero waste call-to-action hotels in the world.

Kyoto’s Newly Renovated Kyocera Museum of Art

June 1, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

the facade of the new museum, which re-opened on May 26, 2020

Opened in 1933, the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art would go on to survive a world war and multiple natural disasters to become Japan’s oldest public art museum. Built in what was known as the Crown Imperial Style of architecture, its classical visage standing against the backdrop of Higashiyama has been an important presence in Kyoto for almost 90 years.