Taro Okamoto’s Tower of the Sun in Osaka | all photos courtesy Sankei News
Taro Okamoto’s iconic Tower of the Sun was completed in 1970. The 230-foot structure served as a symbol of Expo ’70, the first ever Expo held in Asia. It was meant to symbolize the past, present and future but the statue fell into disrepair after many years of neglect. In 2016 a massive effort began to restore the structure, as well as bring it up to date with earthquake codes.
the lobby and entrance to Nike’s new showroom and office space in Tokyo. At the center is a sculpture by artist Tomokazu Matsuyama. All photos by Daici Ano
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, global athletic brand Nike actually got its start in Japan when founder Phil Knight first visited the country in 1962. As described in his incredibly entertaining autobiography, Knight was so impressed by Onitsuka Tiger sneakers that he began importing them in a deal that shaped the future of Nike and footwear itself. So it seems only fitting that 55 years later, and right before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Nike gets a brand new Tokyo office and showroom that brings together all the different groups of the company.
Pickles, or tsukemono, are the unsung heroes of Japanese cuisine. And now there’s a revolutionary new tool that builds on our predecessors traditional methods. For thousands of years pickles have quietly played their role as side-dish but I don’t think I’m alone in admitting that I’ve often enjoyed them as a main dish, along with a bowl of white rice. The Picklestone is everything a modern-day pickler needs: with an emphasis on material and usability, it’s beautiful, portable and functional.
The entrance way to House in Miyamotocho, a home in Osaka that embraces clutter
Marie Kondo (or Konmari, if you prefer) and her decluttering empire has taken the West by storm. And it’s given Japan an image of ultra-minimalism where people live a simple lifestyle, free of all the material possessions that have plagued Western homes. This is far from the truth and anyone who has visited an ordinary Japanese home (not one of those modernist homes featured in all the architecture blogs) knows it. People in Japan have stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.
Nene (left) and Ryugo Ishida of Yurufuwa Gang
If you want something new to listen to this week, try Yurufuwa Gang, a Japanese hip hop duo comprised of Nene and Ryugo Ishida. Dissecting their name gives you a sense of what you’re in for: yurufuwa is a combination of 2 words, yururi (leisurely) and fuwa (light or comforting). Together, Yurufuwa Gang kicks out some joy-inducing tracks that are full of goofy, slacker vibes.
At the age of 24, Mai Inoue creates paintings that look like they could have been painted by her great grandparents. Her subject matter are bonsai: the Japanese art form of pruning and cultivating small trees (commonly a hobby of seniors) that itself dates back thousands of years. And her paintings appear to be made on aged parchment paper. But these are definitely not your grandparents bonsai.
In a nondescript building in Tokyo there is a little-known museum that celebrates on of Japan’s most distinctive crafts: kigumi, or interlocking wooden joints.
“I’m standing alone before a complex of danchi. Row upon row of identical numbered buildings extend into the distance. Fluorescent lights flicker to life illuminating the stark concrete.” That’s Tokyo-based photographer Cody Ellingham at a recent Pecha Kucha talk as he discussed his latest project, a photographic journey into danchi, Japan’s public housing projects.
“ao to aka” (“blue and red”) by Haruka Aramaki
We were in Tokyo recently and one of the most enjoyable exhibitions was this show of blue and red graphic artworks by designer Haruka Aramaki. Composed of predominantly blue and red – “I feel a neutral stance from this combination” says the designer – various wooden panels line the walls of a small gallery in Tokyo. They’re accompanied by a small number of 3D sculptures too.
In Japanese cuisine, there are two distinct kinds of sweets: Western-influenced desserts such as cakes, cookies, and breads, and wagashi (和菓子), or traditional Japanese confectionery. Incense manufacturer Nippon Kodo found inspiration in wagashi for a unique set of fragrance diffusers they call ‘Kagunomi.’ The word ‘kagunomi’ itself has interesting roots in ancient Japanese folklore, specifically a story involving sweets.
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Yuka Numata’s Haunting Sculptures of Children, Made from Fishing Line and Beads, Installed at Abandoned Elementary School
Tadao Ando Designed & Donated a Floating Library that Delivers Books to Children
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
1.8 million LEGOs used to create map of Japan
