Spoon & Tamago

In Historic Narai-Juku, an Ancient Sake Brewery Converted to a Lodge

all photos by Masahiro Ikeda courtesy Nosigner

At one point in time, the 400-year old Narai-juku was one of the most-prosperous “stations” along the Nakasendo trail that connected Kyoto with current-day Tokyo. As a designated preservation site, it’s one of the few places in Japan that has retained its Edo-era architectural charm. Along a narrow road lined with merchants and inns was the former Suginomori sake brewery. It’s here that a new lodge called Byaku has decided to inherit roots.

Artist Enrico Isamu Oyama Designs Kesho Mawashi for Sumo Wrestler Terunofuji

January 16, 2022 / Johnny / 0 Comments

Teruofuji (center) entering the ring | Photo by Hitomi Mori

When the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament kicked off last week, it was sole yokozuna Terunofuji’s kesho-mawashi that caught our attention. As the dominating wrestler entered the ring in ceremonial fashion, he was wearing a traditional embroidered silk apron designed by artist Enrico Isamu Oyama: a rare collaboration between contemporary art and sumo wrestling.

Template Rulers Allow You to Recycle Paper Bags into Small Accessories

January 14, 2022 / Johnny / 0 Comments

You know all those cute paper bags that you keep stockpiling because they’re too pretty to throw away and you’re definitely going to find a use for them some day? Well now you actually can, thanks to Kimochi no Katachi, a set of acrylic template rulers that allow you to easily cut a fold a paper bag into card holders, business card cases or snack pouches.

Stray Cats Save Osaka Restaurant from Going Out of Business During Pandemic

January 13, 2022 / Johnny / 1 Comment

all images courtesy diorama_shokudo

Railway model enthusiast Naoki Teraoka has operated miniature model-themed ramen restaurants and eateries in Japan since 2005. His latest was the Diorama Restaurant in Osaka, which he opened in 2018. But when the global pandemic struck two years later, business went south and Teraoka was pushed to the brink of shutting down his business. But an unlikely savior–a stray cat that Teraoka rescued–would turn things around.

Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2022

January 3, 2022 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Happy New Year! And welcome to the roaring year of the tiger. As tradition holds, here at S&T we like to start off the new year by admiring some New Year’s cards (nangajo) created by some of our favorite Japanese artists and designers. We actually began this tradition 12 years ago in 2010 so this is the first year we’re coming full circle!

We hope everyone has a brave and confident new year!

Artists and Artisans Collaborate on Exhibition of 144 Maekake Aprons

January 3, 2022 / Johnny / 0 Comments

all images courtesy Creation Gallery G8

The new year marks a time of firsts: the first dream, the first temple prayer or the first workout of the new year. If you’re thinking of starting off 2022 with an art show, make your first one the 100-Year Maekake exhibition, going on in Tokyo.

Maekake are traditional Japanese aprons worn by workers. You may see your local rice seller, purveyor of sake or grocer wearing one around the waist. This exhibition brings together 144 artists to design original maekake aprons, which were then fabricated from cotton cloth woven and dyed by artisans of Toyohashi City using traditional methods.

Fishmallow: The Fish-Shaped Marshmallow

December 27, 2021 / Johnny / 0 Comments

Yachiyodo is a 110-year old snack-maker based in Osaka. And for the past 80 years they’ve made just one thing: marshmallows. But business hasn’t been sweet. Japan has a fairly saturated snack market and despite the company’s diverse line-up of shapes and sizes, the campfire-friendly confections are still considered 2nd or even 3rd tier snacks. But an unlikely marshmallow–the fishmallow–has proven to be a surprise hit product.

Spoon & Tamago’s Most Popular Posts of 2021

December 26, 2021 / Johnny / 2 Comments

As we wind down our 14^th (!) year of blogging, we embark on our annual exercise of ranking our most popular posts based on viewership. It’s always fun and interesting to see what captivated readers the most. It was supposed to be a year of sportsmanship and athletic excellence but the Tokyo Olympics were unfortunately overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic. And although Japan selected 金 (kin; gold) as their kanji of the year to celebrate the Olympics, it was very much a year of the homophone 禁 (kin; ban) as Japan’s strict border controls locked out so many.

So we felt particularly motivated this year to continue doing what we do best: connecting Japan with the rest of the world. Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or have been reading us for years, we hope that we’ve been able to add a little bit of beauty into your daily lives by delivering stories about Japan through an art & design lens.

Now, without further ado, our top 10:

Artist Shoko Kanazawa’s Large-Scale Calligraphy Shines Bright Like the Moon

December 22, 2021 / Johnny / 1 Comment

心に光を夜空に月を (illuminating the soul, the nighttime sky)

Renowned for her artistry with brush and ink, Shoko Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most acclaimed contemporary calligraphers. And her down syndrome has never kept her from shining brightly. The artist is currently staging a solo exhibition at the Mori Art Center Gallery in Roppongi Hills, a venue that represents Kanazawa’s largest solo exhibition to-date.

Pencil Shavings Become Bonito Flakes in Whimsical Okonomiyaki Pencil Sharpener

December 16, 2021 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy @mitiruxxx

Bonito flakes are a popular garnish on many well-known dishes in Japan like okonomiyaki and takoyaki. But those coming across it for the first time often mistake them for pencil shavings. Thanks to the imagination of one product designer, the two have become intertwined in a single, perfect pencil sharpener.