For more than a century, Kokuyo has been quietly refining the humble tools of the desk. Beyond a pursuit of quality and utilitarianism, the Osaka-based maker of stationery tools has always tried to “pique the curiosity of those who hold it.” Their newest “Transparent Mechanism” collection doesn’t introduce new functions so much as reveal the engineering that has been there all along.
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For decades, Japan’s convenience stores have been admired for, well, their convenience. By being sweetly attuned to utilitarian consumer needs, the ubiquitous 24/7 conbini has spread across Japan, achieving an unparalleled density that is perhaps second only to vending machines. This week, FamilyMart, one of the largest operators of conbini, launched their new FAMIMA concept store aimed at reimagining the conbini experience.
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Minimal lifestyle brand MUJI has been in the homebuilding business for over a decade. And in recent year they have expanded their focus to not just building new homes but renovating old kominka folk homes. The latest offshoot of that business is nihon no kokagu, an initiative launching this month that breathes new life into tables, cabinets, chests and other household furnishings that have been collected from traditional homes across Japan.
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Most of us erase mistakes without a second thought. The curled ribbons that gather beneath an eraser are little more than evidence of revisions before they’re brushed into the trash. But Saya Irie sees them differently. For Irie , they’re the beginning of something entirely new. The Japanese artist erases images and then uses those eraser shavings to recompose the images into three-dimensional form, transforming the byproduct of erasure into delicate works of art.
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In Japan, it’s not unusual to see people treating cherished objects with a surprising degree of reverence. Dolls receive memorial services, broken sewing needles are honored in annual ceremonies, and even discarded electronics are occasionally given ritual farewells. Now, the country’s long tradition of animistic belief has found perhaps its most adorable expression yet: Japan’s first shrine dedicated entirely to plush toys. Earlier this week, on a rainy morning, over 200 people carrying their beloved stuffed animals passed through a torii gate with ears and made their way to the opening ceremony of this new shrine that had opened in northern Kyoto.
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Japanese artist Daisuke Tajima has built a career drawing cities that seem to exist somewhere between science fiction and reality. His sprawling black-and-white landscapes are packed with towering structures, tangled infrastructure and dizzying perspectives that appear to expand endlessly beyond the edges of the paper. In his latest solo exhibition, Infinite Emptiness (Mugen Kyomu), Tajima turns that visual intensity toward a timely question: what happens when endless growth begins to feel hollow?
Continue readingThere’s no better time to escape Tokyo than the summer. While beaches and mountain retreats offer temporary relief, there’s another way to flee the capital: follow the art. From giant robotic insects in rural Aomori to a celebration of one of Japan’s most beloved manga artists in Tottori, these five exhibitions offer compelling reasons to venture beyond the usual museum circuit.
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the set of hanashi no izumi, Japan’s very first quiz show
Today, Japan is famous for its quiz culture. Television quiz shows attract millions of viewers, quiz clubs thrive at schools and universities, and trivia competitions remain a popular form of entertainment. But Japan’s fascination with quizzes actually has roots in one of the most transformative periods in the nation’s history: the Allied Occupation after World War II.
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In a surprising announcement, the Hands Shibuya flagship store has informed the public that it will permanently close this November. The official last day has yet to be announced but the sad news comes just 3 years after the store changed ownership and was rebranded from Tokyu Hands to just Hands.
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Tokyo’s Haneda Airport has just released a new line of exclusive penguin merchandise illustrated by Chiharu Sakazaki, the beloved artist behind the iconic Suica Penguin character. Given the news, just 6 months ago, that the Suica penguin would be retired after 25 years of service, observers were quick to wonder: has Suiza Penguin already found a new job?
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