Spoon & Tamago

Page 73 of 406

Hinui Hitohi: A Machiya Renovation to Revitalize Suburban Shimane

The hollowing out of suburban Japan is real. Lured by the appeal of major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, young Japanese continue to relocate. And as they do, rural Japan continues to fall into disrepair. It’s a vicious cycle and so much history and culture is at stake.

But where rural Japan lacks in modern amenities and convenience it more than makes up with through its charm and rich heritage. And the key to getting people to go out and discover that charm lies in storytelling. One group that particularly excels in that storytelling is Hinui Hitohi.

Ordinary Street Scenes of Japan Illustrated by Masashi Shimakawa

July 31, 2019 / Johnny / Comments Off

The scenes that illustrator Masashi Shimakawa decides to memorialize are not special in any way. They depict ordinary moments on ordinary streets of Japan: a person waiting for a light to change, a row of vending machines or an eatery at dusk, glowing from within. But finding beauty in the mundane is something Shimakawa excels at.

Kanako Shintaku Covers Her Body in Paint to Create Surreal Portraits

July 30, 2019 / Johnny / Comments Off

Japanese artist Kanako Shintaku covers her entire, naked body in paint. From the hair on her head to the nails on her toes, everything is covered in multi-colored paint, essentially creating a new, alien skin. Her artwork is presented in the form of a performance that can last 4 – 8 hours, as well as self-portrait photography.

Combat Extreme Temperature with Sony’s Wearable, Smartphone-Controlled Air Conditioner

July 26, 2019 / Johnny / Comments Off

Tokyo in the summer is not a pleasant experience. The combination of extreme heat and humidity renders one a slave to the air conditioner as you move from location to location, looking for the next respite of cool air. But what if you could take the a/c with you? The concept is certainly not new but Sony has a new elegant and practical solution.

Shibuya Bon-Odori Posters by Contemporary Ukiyo-e Artist Masumi Ishikawa

July 25, 2019 / Johnny / 2 Comments

the poster for the 2019 Shibuya Bon Odori

The Shibuya Bon Odori, a popular summer festival is returning this year for an evening of lights, music and traditional dance. Although still in its 3rd year, for the last 2 years the posters for the event have been created by contemporary ukiyo-e artist Masumi Ishikawa (previously). This year’s design features Shibuya’s famous canine Hachiko coming down from his pedestal and energetically heading off to the dance.

Recipes for Food that Appear in Makoto Shinkai’s New Film Tenki no Ko

July 23, 2019 / Johnny / Comments Off

Makoto Shinkai, whose hit animated feature film Kimi no Na Wa (Your Name) put him on the global map, has a new film that just landed in theaters in Japan. For those outside Japan, you’ll have to wait until early 2020 to see Tenki no Ko (Weathering With You) but for fans looking to get just a little taste of the film, you’re in luck.

Nukege Hats: Hats for Cats, Fashioned Out of Their Own Shed

July 23, 2019 / Johnny / 2 Comments

the very first nukege hat that Ryo Yamazaki made

Several years ago Ryo Yamazaki was brushing one of his three Scottish Fold cats. A lump of shed had accumulated on the floor and in that moment Yamazaki noticed that it kind of looked like a hat. For a chuckle he decided to mold it into a pointy hat and place it on one of his cat’s heads (photo above). Little did he know, that was the beginning of Nukege Hats, a movement that has led to a global following on social media, a book deal and a line of stationary.

‘KAWS:HOLIDAY’ Lands in Japan at the Foot of Mount Fuji

July 17, 2019 / Johnny / 3 Comments

The Kaws:Holiday moving art installation began in Taipei back in May. Since then, his iconic 40-metre-long Companion sculpture has toured Seoul and Hong Kong and has now landed in Japan, at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Handmade Imari Porcelain Jewelry

July 17, 2019 / Johnny / 2 Comments

HiN is a new Japanese jewelry brand created by designer Haruka Okabe. HiN (品 in Japanese ), which means dignity, works with purveyors of traditional craft work to create contemporary designs. Their first collaboration is with Hatamantoen, a pottery studio in Saga Prefecture that specializes in Imari porcelain.

Hiiro: A Modern Bizen-Yaki Water Carafe

July 16, 2019 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Hiiro is a modern, ceramic water carafe made from traditional bizen-yaki. It’s the result of a joint-effort between product designer Shizuka Tatsuno and Daikura, a pottery studio specializing in bizen-yaki.