Kawagoe is a Japanese city northwest of Tokyo. In the olden days it was known to have had strong cultural and economic ties to the city capital of Edo. It even earned the nickname Koedo, or small-Edo. Remnants of this past still remain, and to help tell its story, graphic design student Ayano Sunagawa created a series of stunning black and white posters for her graduation thesis project.
photos courtesy Sankei Photo
Every year around this time Inakadate Village in Japan’s Aomori prefecture transforms their rice paddies into a gigantic canvas for art. This year they’re celebrating the 90th Anniversary of manga artist Osamu Tezuka.
Pixels are typically associated with digital formats. But in a recent series, Japanese Creative Director Yuni Yoshida turns that thinking inside-out, using real food and analog techniques of cutting and stacking to create patches of “pixelations” in her staged compositions of food.
All Mozu wanted was to make his friends laugh. So the Japanese high-schooler would use his illustration skills to doodle in his friends’ notebook while they were away. When they came back to their desk they found eraser droppings all over their notebook. They would try to wipe them away but couldn’t. That’s when they realized Mozu had struck again. And that was the beginning of the Nouto Book, a note book filled with Mozu’s pre-printed 3D optical illusions.
Traditional Japanese motifs like the pine tree and plum blossom have been around for hundreds of years in Japan. Some reference the shinto religion while others reference the emperor, or simply aspects of nature. Perhaps because of this history the motifs can come with a lot of baggage, so to speak. “I could feel the old motifs sinking deeper into the waters of the past,”says Tokyo-based visual artist Ruri Clarkson. Chromatope is Clarkson’s attempt to “liberate traditional motifs from the weight of history” and reintroduce them into daily life as embroidery patterns that can be worn on dresses, shoulder bags and backpacks.
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects
Japan’s Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, the 1,100-year-old site of Shinto worship in Fukuoka, has thousands of historic artifacts and antiques as part of their public art collection. But several years ago the shrine embarked on an ingenious program – spearheaded by a young priest – to host contemporary art shows within their historic walls. This summer, two Japanese artists heavily influenced by Finland, come together in a multidisciplinary exhibition of photographs and ceramics.
unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy Kashiwa Sato
In 2010, Creative Director Kashiwa Sato embarked on an ambitious project to rebrand 7-Eleven Japan. In doing so, Sato developed a design strategy for Japan’s largest chain of convenient stores (conbini) and deployed, what he calls, “iconic branding.” It’s the same approach he’s used for other high-profile clients like Uniqlo and NTT Docomo but the essence is to identify a core message and then design an icon that conveys that message across barriers.
photos courtesy Kouki Komatsuzawa/Splendor
Miso soup and onigiri (rice balls) are my ultimate comfort food. I take them with me when I travel, especially on long flights because nothing puts me at ease quite like sipping warm miso soup. It’s a simple pleasure but one that Misojyu, a new eatery in Tokyo, wants to share with locals and visitors alike.
The Kei Truck, or kei-tora for short, is a tiny but practical vehicle that originated in Japan. Although these days it’s widely used throughout Asia and other parts of the world, in Japan you’ll often see them used in the construction and agriculture industries as they can maneuver through small side streets and easily park. And in a more recent turn of events, apparently they’re also used as a canvas for gardening contests.
David Bowie, who passed away in 2016, had a very special connection – some may even call it a “love affair” – with Japan. He originally developed his affinity after taking an interest in Kabuki and was heavily influenced by the exaggerated gestures, costumes and make-up. He later went on to work with fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto on many iconic costumes, as well as with musicians like Tomoyasu Hotei and the filmmaker Nagisa Oshima. In a sense, the love affair has come full circle and now a project has been announced to immortalize David Bowie in the form of ukiyo-e woodblock prints that depict Bowie in elements of kabuki.
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