Category — Small Things

Rounding out my several posts on accessories from last week is the design studio PULL+PUSH PRODUCTS. The studio has been based out of Kyoto ever since their founding in 2002. It is headed by designer and raftsman Nobuhiro Sato (I know, I meant to write craftsman, but wouldn’t it be funny if he was also a rafts man?), who is supported by Sanae Komatsu. Together, they form the tight-knit design studio, meaning, they handle everything from designing and production to packaging and shipping.

By the way, I love their adorable profile pics whose playful nature is consistent with their work. They derive inspiration from the cold and heavy to create the fun and exciting. For example, this abandoned building lamp (12,600 yen) would make for an awesome accent piece.

The drain planter (3,780 yen) is also fun, in a gross kind of way. It’s like all the gook that gets caught in the drain decided to sprout greens.

Then there is the incinerator (4,410 yen) that burns incense.

Perhaps my favorite is the ingenious mortar push-pins (630 yen). Although they only come in packs of 6, how often have you exhausted your supply of 500?

screen shots. click to enlarge

Considering the proliferation of iPods amongst…well, pretty much everyone, I’m surprised that no one has tapped into the customized earphones market. Based out of Tokyo and launched in 2009, Kotori claims to be the only company in the world to offer such a service. For just 3,600 yen the user-friendly interface guides you through the process of color-customizing up to 10 components to create your very own unique set of earphones. They also let you choose from a bunch of themes or, if you are lazy like me, hit the crazy shuffle button for randomized action.

Concerned about compromising sound quality? Don’t be. Kotori is a service launched by Fostex, the Japanese manufacturer of audio equipment, who is single-handedly responsible for the ubiquitous white iPod earphones.

(thanks seki riu!)

The latest product from design studio Microworks is this insanely adorable ladder ruler. If price was not an issue I would definitely have a few of these propped up against the wall of my desk! They come in black and silver and you can buy them here for about $60.

Related:

• Microworks | No Humor No Design
• Microworks | Vine Cell Phone Charger
• AC Adapter Midor from KDDI

My dear friend Shun Okubo, a jewelry designer based in Tokyo, has a Christmas display up at the store WALL on the 1st floor of Laforet Harajuku. The shop is known for their their carved-out gallery that showcases the work of up and coming artists and designers.

His jewelry is also on display at the flagship Daikanyama location of the hip boutique FRAPBOIS, as well as the Aoyama and Kyoto locations. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, check it out!

I love his work! Here is a selection of some of my favorites but you can check out his full flickr stream.

(click on the smaller images to enlarge!)

Fall is in the air! I can smell it in the fallen leaves, hear it in the flocks of migrating geese, and see it in the scarves and hats. Fall is one of the most popular seasons in Japan and to accompany it are several phrases such as the season of harvest (minori no aki) the season of sports (sports no aki) the season of hearty appetites (shokuyoku no aki) and the season of reading (dokusho no aki). Japanese design shop Baden-Baden has recently introduced their new items for the month of November and they are all about books and reading! I especially love the cutlery bookmarks (reminds me of thanksgiving) and the book necklaces!

From top to bottom:
Cutlery bookmarks by 2e (1,512 yen)
Butterfly bookmarks by D-Bros (683 yen)
Book necklaces by Naho Yamamoto (5,040 yen)
Plywood Book stand by Flange aka Ueda Tsuyoshi (4,725 yen)
Tree Bookcover by Naruse (3,150 yen)

Related:

• Baden-Baden Finds
• Morning Inspiration
• Baden-Baden Finds!

Sasaki Kogei was recently awarded the Gift Show 2009 Eco Company of the Year award. Their commitment to sustainability is quite impressive. Their all-natural paints and oils, as well as their recycling/reusing efforts are one thing. But the fact that they have maintained an active tree-planting program over the last several years sets them apart from other eco companies. And their products are gorgeous. I love this wood-worker set, which I featured 2 years ago in my gift guide from Japan. A recent favorite is this wooden measuring stick that helps you track the growth of your toddler. But uuum, …how shall I put this? Only in Japan could a company like this get away with actively promoting smith and Wesson toy guns and gorgeously crafted cigarette holders. That’s Japan for you.

Want to know more great things about Japan? Check out cnngo’s recent article on 50 reasons why Tokyo is the greatest city in the world.

Looking for a gift? One that says, I know Christmas is still 3 months away but just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you? One that also says, you couldn’t keep a plant alive even if you lived in a South East Asian rain forest, so I got you this? Look no further than the DIY succulents kit (2200 yen) from Sol x Sol.  You’ll receive 6 different kinds of succulents that you are free to arrange as you please. Or, you can follow their photo-assisted step-by-step tutorial. And once you are done the plants are super maintenance-free.

And if you find these plants as aesthetically pleasing as I do there is some free wallpaper you can download here (although I must say, the whole desktop wallpaper thing is kind of kaput, no?)

Related:

• Sol x Sol

Sorry about the confusing title. I really have no excuse.
So, perhaps the single most beautiful piece of stationery I have ever come across is finally available for purchase. f,l,o,w,e,r,s (16,800 yen) by Norihiko Terayama of Studio Note is an acrylic ruler with embedded real flowers that are “blossoming” at exactly 1cm intervals. Each flower was hand-picked and dried by the designer, therefore making each ruler unique. Absolutely stunning. You can purchase it in Japan or abroad.

Related:

• Studio Note at Claska
• Folling Flower by Studio Note

Here’s another great find from kami no kousakujo, and a fun little project for you and your toddler. The Kotori Mobile (1,260 yen) is  a paper mobile (even the string is made from paper) that you assemble yourself and is a great way to learn about the concept of balance. Your order will come with 2 sets but the mobile is infinitely customizable. You can add as many sets as you like and because it’s made from paper you can even draw pictures on it, like a forest for your kotori (baby birds) to live in.

It was designed by passkey design, who you may be familiar with via their animal rubber bands.

Japanese star designers Nendo have given air fresheners a makeover. S.T. Corporation, maker of all things that smell like lemons and strawberries, but aren’t lemons and strawberries, have enlisted Saito Ooki and his firm to give their flagship product, the automatic air freshener, a facelift. Touting Shupatto as the first in a series of “design revolutions” the company aims to make their products more design-friendly while lowering or maintaining their prices.

Shupatto will hit stores on the 18th and will retail for 1200 yen.
Below are pictures from the release party last weekend. Courtesy of sankei news.

via sankei news