Spoon & Tamago

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Kamon Reinvented: Food-Inspired Family Crests by So Terada

Japanese family crests, or kamon, are visual symbols that have represented family lineage and identity sometimes for centuries. While they are often associated with tradition and cultural heritage, their meanings, usage, and significance can vary widely. Some kamon hold profound historical or personal meaning for families, while others may have been chosen for aesthetic reasons or simply inherited without deeper thought. These variations make kamon, a practice deeply intertwined with family narratives, yet subject to varying levels of personal or historical significance. Designer and illustrator So Terada has brought a playful twist to family crests, by reimagining kamon with food-inspired designs.

“I saw, I cut, I applied.” Discover the Artwork of Ayako Miyawaki

January 26, 2025 / Johnny / Comments Off

World War II ended in 1945. That same year, at the age of 40 and with a husband and 3 children, Ayako Miyawaki would begin an artistic career so full of vitality and creative freedom that she would go on to produce hundreds of works made from rags and other textiles stitched together.

The New Hiroshima Jimoto Collection is a Celebration of the Electric Railway

January 20, 2025 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Get ready to show your love for Hiroshima. Specifically, their Electric Railway. An integral part of the city’s history and modern-day transportation, Hiroshima boasts the longest and most utilized streetcar network in Japan, operated by the Hiroshima Electric Railway Company and affectionately known as Hiroden. And you’ll soon be able to carry the Hiroden with you wherever you go, thanks to a new collection that includes t-shirts, socks, tote bags and an amazing pair of earrings.

Visit the Stunning Echigo Yakuso Distillery Where Award-Winning Gin is Produced

January 20, 2025 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photographs by Koji Fujii(TOREAL) courtesy EA Research and Design Office

Located in tranquil Joetsu City, Echigo Yakuso is a health food company that has been researching medicinal herbs and fermented foods for over 40 years. During their production process of products, which include teas, vinegars, kimchi and supplements, the company realized that tons of alcohol was being produced as a bi-product of the process. Instead of letting it go to waste, the company decided to put their knowledge of local herbs to use to create a distilled alcohol they called The Herbalist Yaso Spirits.

Hermes Celebrates a Feast of Fruits with their Kaorumi Collection of Tableware Illustrated by Ryo Takemasa

January 19, 2025 / Johnny / Comments Off

Japanese illustrator Ryo Takemasa (previously) has created a series of symmetrical fruit illustrations in collaboration with Hermes, which adorn a new collection of tableware called Kaorumi, meaning the fragrance of fruits in Japanese. Working with a compass and ruler, Takemasa composed perfectly symmetrical shapes that are complimented by delicate shades and textures.

The Daruma Leather Bag is the Perfect New Year Accessory

January 11, 2025 / Johnny / Comments Off

Commonly associated with the new year, Daruma dolls are a type of wishing doll considered an ornament but also a symbol of good fortune and the ultimate lucky charm. With its austere, rounded form, intense expression, and distinctive eyebrows, the Daruma doll was originally modeled after the 5th-century founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma.

Japanese leather bagmaker Tsuchiya Kaban has created a hand-crafted leather bag whose sole purpose is to carry a Daruma doll.

The Yakitorill is our Kitchen Appliance of 2025

January 4, 2025 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Yakitori lovers take note. Grilling yakitori at home just got a lot easier thanks to the new Yakitorill: a combination of the words yakitori and grill. This beautiful kitchen appliance, developed by Fukuoka-based firm Guardner, promises less smoke and an overall cleaner experience, making makes at-home yakitori parties less messier and more stylish.

Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2025

January 1, 2025 / Johnny / 3 Comments

Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that represents both auspiciousness and malevolence. Snakes are revered as sacred beings, embodying themes of renewal, fertility, and the duality of nature as both protector and destroyer. And as tradition goes, we’ve put together our favorite nengajo, or New Years cards, from Japanese artists and designers featuring this year’s zodiac animal in all its colorful forms. We present to you, in no particular order, some inspiring artwork in hopes that 2025 will be full of surprises.

Our Favorite Tokyo Designer Christmas Trees of 2024

December 22, 2024 / Johnny / 1 Comment

If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these locations where you’ll find the best seasonal yet unorthodox designer Christmas trees. Happy Holidays!

Spoon & Tamago’s Most-Popular Posts of 2024

December 15, 2024 / Johnny / Comments Off

As we wind down our 17^th (!) year of blogging, we embark on our annual exercise of ranking our most popular posts based on viewership. It’s always fun and interesting to see what captivated readers the most. Japan began 2024 on a rough note as a large earthquake wreaked havoc on the Noto region. But spirits improved as Shohei Otani and numerous Japanese athletes in the Olympics displayed sportsmanship and athletic excellence, encouraging the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society to proclaim 金 (gold) as the kanji of the year.

Japan is also undergoing an unprecedented surge in global interest and tourism, which is bringing a new set of challenges. But as Japan plans to host the World Expo in Osaka next year, we’re confident the country will emerge stronger and and healthier than before. And now, on to our top 10!