Spoon & Tamago

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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.

Hachio Gin: a New Craft Gin Produced in Tokyo’s Western Suburbs

April 29, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

From The Kyoto Distillery and the Tokyo Riverside Distillery to the Mitosaya Botanical Distillery in Chiba, it’s no secret that, in recent years, Japan has been experiencing a domestic craft spirits boom. One of the latest to join that group is the Tokyo Hachioji Distillery, located in the western suburbs of Hachioji and producing gin under the clever name, Hachio Gin.

Moln is a new Japanese travel brand that’s giving us serious wanderlust

April 26, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

Throughout the pandemic, as travel restrictions kept us in our homes, an unlikely project was in the works: a new travel brand called moln. Inspired by the Swedish word for cloud, moln aspires to take us on a idyllic journey beyond borders and languages.

Japanese Era Names Illustrated as Logos

April 25, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy @q_micke

Japanese era names are called nengō or gengō and were first adopted in 645 AD. But they weren’t really used consistently until the end of the Edo period in 1868. Each have their own styles and aesthetics and although we have yet to see what the current era Reiwa has in store, a Japanese designer who goes by the name micke came up with a series of illustrations that imagines what the past era names might look like if they had logos.

Flora and Fauna Blossom in Anti-War Watercolor Paintings by Hiroki Takeda

April 15, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

Watercolor artist Hiroki Takeda is known for his vivid and wholesome depictions of cats, dogs and other animals using his signature style of botanicals. But the artist has recently turned his colorful brush to a darker subject matter: anti-war imagery and hopes for peace.

Cafe in Koenji is Only For Writers Working on a Deadline

April 13, 2022 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Are you a writer working towards a hard deadline but having trouble getting work done? Then the Manuscript Writing Cafe is your new best friend. Located in Koenji and run by a team of writers, the cafe is solely dedicated to other writers working on deadline. But beware, once you enter they will not let you leave until your work is done.

Porcelain Brand Maruhiro’s New Shop & Cafe Comes With a Park

April 11, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photos by Kenta Hasegawa

Established in 1957 in Nagasaki prefecture, Maruhiro is a family-owned hasamiyaki ceramics business that originally began as a street vendor. They have a unique business model in that they don’t have their own factories. Instead, they handle the design and planning, and then work with local artisans to produce the actual ceramics. While emphasizing traditional methods and techniques, the company incorporates contemporary colors and forms into their line-up. But it’s not only their product portfolio that is forward thinking. In establishing their latest retail outlet, they wanted to create a space not only for fans of yakimono but also for local residents and children who could gather and just hang out. Hiroppa, which is a combination of the Japanese words hiroba (open space) and harappa (open field), officially opened late last year.

Wander the Night Japan: An Ambient Soundscape Project on Vinyl Record and Photobook

April 8, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photographs by Cody Ellingham

Wander the Night Japan is an ambient soundscape project created by sound artist Simon James French (SJF) and photographer Cody Ellingham. Inspired by the difficulties of lockdowns experienced throughout 2020 and 2021, and based on their shared experiences of living in Japan, the two have collaborated on a limited edition 12″ vinyl record that captures the audio and visual magic of travelling through Japan.

The Renovated Matsumoto Jujo Hotel Features a Public Bath House Turned into a Library

April 3, 2022 / Johnny / Comments Off

The Matsumoto Jujo hotel re-opened in 2020 after a multi-year renovation project that kicked off in 2018. The inn and entire area of Matsumoto (Nagano prefecture) has a 300-year history as hotspring village and the renovation project centered around preserving this heritage while also connecting the past to present and future. The architects at Suppose Design Office set off to achieve this goal by transforming obsolete spaces into unique and sometimes unexpected experiences.

New Amazon Music Tokyo Studio Inspired by Japan’s Jazz Kissa Culture

April 1, 2022 / Johnny / 2 Comments

all photos by Daici Ano and Kazuhiro Nagae courtesy Torafu Architects

In the 1960s and 70s, a unique type of bar began to flourish in Tokyo. Commonly referred to as jazz kissa, these bars invested in the finest of audio equipment and speakers, and served as a hub where people could gather and bond over music. This was the inspiration behind Amazon’s new music studio in Shibuya, where it will work with musicians, podcasters and artists on live-streaming, recordings and other musical events. The four-story studio, located roughly 10-minutes north of Shibuya Station, houses a recording studio, a podcast studio, a photo studio, as well as reception area and conference room, all designed by Torafu Architects.