Spoon & Tamago

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New Illustrations of the Ghibli Theme Park, Set to Open in Fall 2022

The Ghibli theme park will be divided into multiple areas. It is scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2022

Back in 2017 we reported that Studio Ghibli and Aichi Prefecture had reached an agreement to host Ghibli Park, a large-scale Ghibli-themed amusement park that would be the first of its kind. The plans called for the Aichi Memorial Park, a former expo site that had previously hosted several Ghibli exhibitions, to be renovated into Ghibli Park. We now have substantial details about the park, which will open in several phases with the first phase being November 1, 2022!

Matchbox Maker Calls it Quits, Effectively Extinguishing the Flames of an Era

May 28, 2022 / Johnny / 2 Comments

all images courtesy Nittosha

Phillumeny–the practice of collecting matchboxes–is about to get a lot more difficult. Japan’s largest manufacturer of matchboxes, Nittosha, has announced that they’re shutting down their business line in June after fulfilling all existing orders.

Literal Sponge Cake, and Other Creative Confections by LowIQ

May 28, 2022 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Japanese Youtuber and content creator LowIQ specializes in unorthodox cakes and sweets that are unappetizing yet mesmerizing. Take one of their latest creations, for example: the–quite literal–sponge cake. To top it off, the desert is decorated with a plate of strawberry jam to resemble a dirty dish and smeared with whipped cream as dish soap.

Japanese Vinyard and Chusen Dyeing Come Together to Create Sustainable Gift Set

May 26, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

Japan has a problem. It’s culture of gift-giving and wrapping, while beautiful, often results in layers and layers of single-use plastics. There is another way though, which sometimes requires thinking outside the box. Or in this case, the bottle. The Kanda Budo Orchards in Rikuzen Takada is a family-run vineyard that dates back to 1905. Tomoe Senko is a dye company in the neighboring prefecture of Iwate and dates back to 1908. With a combined 230 years of history under their belts, the two organizations decided to produce a gift set featuring wine wrapped in a chusen-dye tenugui tea towel that conveys the history and roots of the two artisanal producers.

The Leather Scrap Kimono by Tomoe Shinohara is Inspired by Hazy Mountains

May 20, 2022 / Johnny / 3 Comments

photos by Sayuki Inoue courtesy Tomoe Shinohara

Kimono are typically made from a combination of hemp, linen, silk. But designer Tomoe Shinohara’s bold attempt to create a leather kimono from scraps intended to be thrown away, has resulted in a stunningly airy garment that is inspired by the hazy gradients of mountains.

Exploring Japan’s Historical Landmarks and Shrines in the Middle of Streets

May 20, 2022 / Johnny / 3 Comments

If you’ve ever driven in Japan you may have come across an unfamiliar scene: a small shrine right in the middle of the road. Sometimes the road curves to one side to avoid the shrine and give it some space. Other times the shrine rests literally in the middle of the road, unbothered by the passing traffic as if the cars are just a blip in time. And sometimes they aren’t even formal shrines. Just a sacred rock or tree.

You Can Buy Individual Industrial Ceramic Tiles at the Tile Kiosk

May 19, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

If you’ve ever walked through the back streets of suburban Japan you may have noticed the ubiquitous use of ceramic tile. They’re everywhere from the roofs of homes to the fencing around them, serving both functional but also decorative means. These tiles have typically been reserved for industrial use and made available only in bulk. But the Tile Kiosk is changing that.

Sleep Alongside Art & History at the New Goemon House in Hiroshima

May 13, 2022 / Johnny / 7 Comments

If you’re looking for an excursion off the beaten path, we have just the spot for you. The new Goemon House, which recently opened after a 3-year renovation, is an inn built from a 65-year old wooden home. It’s located on Momojima Island, which is just off the coast of Onomichi in Hiroshima, and accessible by a 30-minute ferry ride. Don’t come for convenience. Come for the chance to immerse yourself in island life, art and a piece of Japan’s grisly past.

Miniature Neon Shop Signs Turn Stacks of Books into Bustling City Blocks

May 10, 2022 / Johnny / 3 Comments

Tokyo’s vibrant skin can be overstimulating and chaotic to some. But the neon shop signs vertically stacked on one another is what gives the city its unique, almost nostalgic feel. Now, you can recreate that vibe in the comfort of your own room as long as you have stacks of, preferably unread, books.

Rendered Video by Sho Ito Pays Tribute to the Nakagin Capsule Tower

May 9, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

After years of back-and-forth over the fate of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo’s iconic structure and symbol of the Japanese Metabolism movement is being demolished. Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and completed in 1972, the tower stood in Ginza for 50 years promoting the concept of metropolis as living organism. Much has been written about the landmark (this piece in the L.A. Times is a good place to start) but today we’re remembering the Nakagin Capsule Towers through a lovely rendered video by UK-based designer Sho Ito.