Over the last several years, the domesticated hedgehog, typically the African pygmy hedgehog, has become a popular option as a household pet in Japan, thanks to social media. One hedgehog owner in Japan loved her pet so much she decided to design a miniature mobile home so she could take it with her wherever she went.
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all photos courtesy Junya Ishigami + Associates
In 2008, the architect Junya Ishigami completed a workshop for students at his hometown university: the Kanagawa Institute of Technology (KAIT). Ishigami’s KAIT Workshop would go on to to make him the youngest ever recipient of the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize and cemented his reputation as one of Japan’s most luminary architects. But the same year KAIT Workshop was completed, another set of plans had been put into motion: a project for a student plaza. Thirteen years later, KAIT Plaza has now been completed.
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*this post is sponsored by Japan Foundation New York, Center for Global Partnership*
Calling all creative amateur artists! Create an original design for a face mask that represents the U.S.-Japan connection. “Mask Up 2020” is an original face mask design contest sponsored by The Japan Foundation that is open to amateur creators of all ages, from children to adults. Along with an advisory committee – which includes judges from UNIQLO, Parsons School of Design, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum – contest participants will also decide the winning designs.
The winning designs will win prizes (gift cards for Kinokuniya Books and Blick Art Materials) and be printed on masks and distributed to medical institutions and nonprofit Japan-related organizations such as Japan-America Societies, Japanese Gardens, etc.; winners will receive 25 of their designed face masks.
Akemashite omedetougozaimasu. Happy New Year! It’s the year of the ox, a beautifully calm animal. Strong yet gentle; reliable, fair and conscientious. I know there are many, including us, who are looking forward to a new year and hopefully many traits of the oxen will show themselves throughout the year. As tradition holds, here at S&T we like to start off the new year by admiring some New Year’s cards (nangajo) and artwork created by some of our favorite Japanese artists and designers.
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Japanese leather bagmaker Tsuchiya Kaban has created a hand-crafted leather bag whose sole purpose to to carry one miniature yukidaruma (snowpal, in Japanese). With smooth, clean lines, high quality, water-resistant leather and a thermally insulated polyester inner lining, the bag ensures you and your snow sculpture will arrive in style.
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What. A. Year.
As we reflect upon our 13th year of blogging, there’s one thing we’ve learned for sure: just as you think you’re sailing smoothly, life has a way of upending everything you’ve become accustomed to. But regardless of the challenges, we’re thankful that we’ve been able to continue doing what we do, and proud of the new challenges we’ve taken on. In addition to our daily coverage of Japan, this year we launched a membership program – thank you to everyone who has already joined!
Our shop faced its own unique challenges: although it was a strong year for online shopping, when Japan Post halted overseas shipping, our shelves quickly emptied out and we ran out of inventory. That’s when my partner and in-house seamstress began making face masks. Her level of craftsmanship and attention to detail quickly won over fans and she single-handedly carried our shop through much of the year, while also helping so many stay safe!
Whether you read one of our articles, purchased something from our shop or became a Spoon & Tamago member, thank you so, so much for your support this year! We’re so happy to have been able to be your connection to Japan during a year defined by distancing and isolation.
Read on for our 10 most popular posts of 2020.
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photo courtesy Kitte Marunouchi
The KITTE department store just outside Tokyo Station is known for their annual effort to stage a beautifully designed Christmas tree. But this year they’ve outdone themselves, collaborating with artisans from Iida City in Nagano to craft a Christmas tree made from 1000 mizuhiki cord balls, each embedded with LED lights and suspended in midair.
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all photos courtesy Jumpei Mitsui
Jumpei Mitsui (previously), a certified professional LEGO builder, has completed what can only be described as a masterpiece: a LEGO replica of Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” one of Japan’s most iconic images.
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Volume 38: the unique body shapes of each member of comedy duo Banana Man were used to create flower vases
The art director Yuni Yoshida (previously) has an ongoing series in Japanese fashion magazine Soen, in which she collaborates with different celebrities for an artful spread called “Play a Sensation.”
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This holiday season, why not shake things up a little by baking your holiday cookies in the shape of sukashi-buroku, Japanese decorative concrete cinder blocks. These blocks are ubiquitous throughout residential neighborhoods of Japan, forming walls between homes, yards and roads. They can be easily overlooked but are all beautiful in their own right.
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Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo
Demographics Professor Warns that by 2531, Everyone in Japan Will be Named Sato
Japan Quietly Shines at Milan Design Week
Japan’s Stationery Award Offers a Return to the Primitive
Kenji Yanobe’s BIG CAT BANG is Now on Display at Ginza Six
