Spoon & Tamago

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Almost Perfect: A 100-Year Old Tokyo Rice Shop Converted Into a Space for Creatives

Tokyo based illustrator Luis Mendo would often travel to the neighborhood of Asakusabashi to pick up sketchbooks. And over time he began falling in love with the creative and artistic vibe of the town. He and his wife Yuka were also getting tired of feeling isolated in Shinjuku. Their tight apartment was putting a strain on their love for hosting artist friends from overseas. So when they stumbled onto a 100-Year old building that formerly housed a rice shop, it immediately checked so many boxes for them. It was almost perfect.

The Human Restaurant in Tokyo Serves Last Meals of Death Row Inmates

October 17, 2018 / Johnny / Comments Off

Just in time for Halloween, a spooky pop-up restaurant has opened in Kabukicho, known historically as the red-light district of Shinjuku. The Ningen (“human”) Restaurant (人間レストラン) is a fully-functioning eatery that serves the last meals requested by death row inmates prior to their execution.

100 Views of Tokyo iPhone Cases by Shinji Tsuchimochi

October 17, 2018 / Johnny / Comments Off

Following in the footsteps of ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige, illustrator Shinji Tsuchimochi spent 3 years illustrating 100 views of Tokyo. Each view is a unique work of art, inspired by ukiyo-e but produced with a modern sense of whimsy and, sometimes, surrealism.

It’s a Tokyo that the Edo painters never knew, and yet glimpses of old Tokyo still remain. Now, some of those prints have been turned into iPhone cases so that your favorite views of Tokyo can be carried with you at all times.

Taku Hibino’s 2343 Restaurant Wants to Change the Way Architects Work in Japan

October 16, 2018 / Johnny / Comments Off

The field of architecture, especially in Japan, is notorious for long hours. It’s expected – obvious, almost – to work till late at night. “It was the same with us,” says Taku Hibino, lead architect of Hibino Sekkei. “Most of our staff would work until 12 midnight.” The times are changing though, and companies and workers alike are thinking more about work-life balances. But old habits die hard, which is what led Hibino to realize that he might be able to effect real changes in behavior through food. That thinking led to the establishment of the 2343 Restaurant.

The Terrifying Beauty of Uniqlo’s Robotic Warehouse

October 15, 2018 / Johnny / 3 Comments

Japanese retailing giant UNIQLO opened their Ariake offices back in 2015 but the warehouse was plagued with problems and inefficiencies. So the company committed to overhaul the warehouse, which was unveiled last week. The result, in which 90% of the warehouse workforce was replaced by robots, is equally beautiful and terrifying.

Prepare Yourselves For the Full Hello Kitty Train Experience

October 13, 2018 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Beginning on November 1, 2018, Tokyo-based railway operator Keio Corporation will begin rolling out trains on the Keio Line, as well as the Toei Shinjuku Line, that are fully decked-out in Hello Kitty. That means full-on pink, rainbows, flowers, and of course all your favorite Hello Kitty characters will adorn the exterior of the trains. They’ve even created custom-designed Hello Kitty caution stickers to be adhered to the doors.

Ultra Dense Pen Drawings of Ginza by Nobumasa Takahashi

October 12, 2018 / Johnny / Comments Off

dense pen drawings of Ginza by Nobumasa Takahashi (click to enlarge)

Japanese artist Nobumasa Takahashi has created a series of dense, pen drawings of Ginza that merge fantasy and reality. Each piece draws on Ginza’s unique culture and history such as its back streets, its high-end shopping and its legacy as a hub for newspaper printing.

The Museum of Accidents Offers a Glimpse into Japanese Introspection

October 10, 2018 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Accidents will happen. Mistakes will be made. It’s an unavoidable part of life. But what’s important is how we reflect on those mistakes and learn from them. Japan’s train industry, responsible for transporting millions of people each day, understandably takes safety very seriously. And their introspection and dedication to not repeating the past was on full display recently when JR East, one of the country’s major passenger railway companies, unveiled the new expansion to their “Exhibition Hall of Historical Accidents” (事故の歴史展示館).

The Great Fish Market Migration of 2018

October 8, 2018 / Johnny / 4 Comments

All photos by Mizuho Miyazaki | courtesy Sankei Photo

Last weekend will forever be known as The Great Fish Market Migration of 2018. At least that’s what we’re calling it. On the afternoon of October 6, 2018, Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market held its final tuna auction and the market was shuttered, officially ushering in the end of an era. However, the work was far from over. As soon as their customers had vacated the premises, workers quickly began preparing to move to the new Toyosu location, a feat that involves relocating all their supplies and equipment 2.3 km (1.4 mi) away, before the new market opens for business on October 11.

Eerie Photos of an Empty Tokyo After Typhoon Warnings

October 5, 2018 / Johnny / 2 Comments

An empty Shinjuku Station | all photographs by Umeda

Shinjuku Station in Tokyo gets used by an astounding 3.8 million people per day. That’s almost the entire population of Los Angeles! So stumbling upon an empty Shinjuku Station or Shibuya Station, even in the middle of the night, is a rare occurrence. But last weekend, as the powerful Typhoon Trami moved through Tokyo, transportation operators were forced to shut down services and residents were advised to stay home.