Kayabuki no Sato, a small hamlet in Kyoto, is known for their traditional farmhouses with thatched roofing. Not quite as well known is the unique and innovative method they use to protect their important cultural property from fire.
Kayabuki no Sato, a small hamlet in Kyoto, is known for their traditional farmhouses with thatched roofing. Not quite as well known is the unique and innovative method they use to protect their important cultural property from fire.
We gasped when we came across this poster for the classic Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro. Admittedly, it’s a bit hard for kids to grasp at first but the poster depicts a birds-eye view of the sisters, Satsuki and Mei, pushing their way through tall grass. But the markings ahead indicate that they’re actually walking through the fur of Totoro’s large belly.
Almost one year ago we introduced you to Hana: flower-colored pencils that are shaped and colored like 5 of Japan’s traditional flowers and leaves. When sharpened, the shavings mimic the flower petals. Now, we’re happy to add 2 new additions to our collection to help you ring in the holiday cheer.
all photos by Mizuho Miyazaki courtesy Sankei
This year’s top photojournalism award, presented by the Tokyo Press Photographers Association, went to 28-year old Mizuho Miyazaki, a staff photographer at the Sankei Newspaper. Miyazaki traveled to Fukushima earlier this year and captured a series of photographs she titled “Colors of Recovery” (復興の色) that depicts how far the region has come since the devastating earthquake and tsunami 7 years ago.
all photos by Masami Yamada
Although the Michelin Guide was started by a tire company over a century ago as a guide to fine dining, it’s practically unheard of for the organization to recognize the auto industry. But that is what happened last month when Hot Air, a used auto shop in Tottori that also happens to serve ramen, was the unlikely recipient of Michelin recognition.
The word minamo comes the ancient reading of 水面, meaning water surface in Japanese. And inspired by the the gentle but complex curves of water ripples, a Japanese designer has created a series of small tableware the adds a touch of whimsy to any setting.
Japan is a country full of amazing art. Some of it is housed within museums and galleries while others are right underneath our feet. I’m talking, of course, about Japan’s peculiar obsession with manhole covers. Just about anywhere in the country you can find stylized manhole covers, each more beautiful and intricate than the next. According to one count, today there are almost 6000 artistic manhole covers throughout Japan.
If you have 3 and a half minutes, watch this beautifully crafted short film from Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido, that was produced last month for Halloween.
Does time have a color? It certainly does. And for director Hayao Miyazaki, the color of time has been an important element of animation throughout his career. For nighttime scenes in particular, the Studio Ghibli animator and his staff have gone to great, painstaking lengths to maintain a sense of translucence and to illustrate darkness without literally darkening the screen. This and several other uses of color are part of a new exhibition opening at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo.
all photos by ka_nai (“The Wall”)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s a common adage that often rings true, especially depending on your background. Walls, for example, don’t immediately come to mind as a thing of beauty. And thanks to a certain president, they don’t exactly have a great connotation right now. But none of that stopped one Instagram user from spreading his love for walls across the Internet.
