A series of box-like units form a small mountain in a hip Tokyo neighborhood. This is Kashiyama Daikanyama, a new, multi-purpose commercial complex from Japanese clothing retailer Onward. In addition to selling actual clothing, the 6-story structure also includes a café, art gallery, restaurant, bar and lounge space, and is part of a larger trend in which brands bring multiple retail experiences under a single roof.
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Today in Tokyo the much-anticipated name reveal for Japan’s upcoming imperial era was announced. Reiwa, written 令和 will be the new era, which will officially commence on May 1, 2019 when the emperor abdicates the throne and transitions the role to his son. In the coming days, much will be said and written about the meaning behind the new name but here is our take.
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Highways allows us to travel long distances and interchanges, or junctions, connect those highways so that traffic can pass or change direction without interruption. And in Japan, where heavy mountainous terrain and dense cities create unique constraints, interchanges are, simply put, magnificent feats of structural engineering that we sometimes can’t appreciate through the typical vantage point of a car window.
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During Japan’s Taisho period (1912 – 1926), a small cafeteria was established to serve the needs and bellies of hungry travelers, which there were many given its proximity to the venerable Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture. The area is known as a place of worship but also for its bountiful beef, vegetables and seafood. And for over 100 years, Ise Ebiya has prided itself in serving dishes using local ingredients.
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Kazumasa Ogawa (1860 – 1929) was a pioneering Japanese photographer who lived through the Meiji era. He’s known for a lot of photographic firsts — first photo studio in Tokyo (1884), first collotype photo printing business (1889), the list goes on — but he’s also known for his hand-colored photos of flowers, plants and landscapes of Japan.
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The Nishikigawa Railway in Iwakuni (Yamaguchi Prefecture) is a local train that runs along the Nishiki River for roughly 33 km, or about 20 miles. Last week, on March 19, the operator opened its newest train station along the line. But the new Seiryū-Miharashi Station is seemingly missing a few key elements of a train station. It has no ticket booth, no entrance and no exit. In fact, it is impossible to even get to, unless you get off there from the train.
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The movie poster for Sayonara (1957)
The word sayonara is perhaps one of the most globally well-known words from the Japanese language. It’s been co-opted by foreign films, music and other forms of entertainment. But its origin is rooted deeply in the Japanese culture of sontaku: reading between the lines of what is said and what goes unspoken.
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The design for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch, which will kick off the opening ceremonies next year, was unveiled at a press conference in Tokyo today. Designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, it’s form is a nod to one of Japan’s most well-known and beloved symbols: the cherry blossom.
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Up until now, Starbucks’ strategy in Kyoto has been to focus on the history and culture of the region, which has resulted in coffee shops are aesthetically true to the local tradition. But with this latest shop, which opens today, the company is highlighting and supporting another side of Kyoto: one that is just as energetic and true.
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A friend of mine recently visited Japan for the first time in his life. After the trip he came up to me and told me what he was most impressed with. And it wasn’t the amazing food or the clean bathrooms. It wasn’t the punctual trains or the abundance of cute stationery. It was the workers, and the way each and every one of them took the utmost pride in their work, no matter what the task was. And I was reminded — indeed, the reason why Japanese food is so delicious, and why everything is so clean, is because of the people who pour their soul into these jobs. The Hatarakimono Project is a tribute to these workers; a documentation of the humans behind what makes Japan special.
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Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Tadao Ando Designed & Donated a Floating Library that Delivers Books to Children
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Shintaro Ohata | Everyday Life
the earthquake and tsunami of 3.11, told through the eyes of children
