Do you need a leather bag specifically for carrying a snowpal? Of course you do. And what about a watermelon? And where exactly do you plan on keeping those perfectly shaped skipping stones you picked up? Well that’s where Japanese leather goods maker Tsuchiya Kaban’s series of ultra-specific leather bags come in. And they are touring Japan as part of an exhibition starting today in Tokyo.
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During the course of the global pandemic, from 2020 to 2021 there were roughly 1300 cancelled firework festivals throughout Japan. That’s according to Sayaka Shimada, a visual artist who often incorporates pyrotechnics as a means of interpreting culture and history. Her latest installation at Haneda Airport, a gateway to Japan, is a reconstruction of those festivals using time, location and visual data condensed into a visual and digital artwork.
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all renderings courtesy Shigeru Ban Architects
A lush site on Japan’s Awaji Island will soon welcome a new Zen wellness center designed by architect Shigeru Ban. On April 29, 2022, Zenbo Seinei will begin welcoming guests for a soul-nourishing retreat that includes meditation, food and rest, all under the roof of a narrow, elongated wooden structure.
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all images courtesy the artist
How well do you know your Japanese prefectures? A Japanese art student has created a fun and beautiful guide to all 47 of them, using expressive typography to render the kanji characters of each so that they visualize the one thing that prefecture is known for. To get you started, the top left is Tottori (鳥取) known for its sand dunes. The bottom left is Ehime (愛媛) known for its mandarin oranges. How many do you know?
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Japanese fashion designer Ryohei Kawanishi’s works have always reflected socio-political issues. His latest initiative is no different. Turning his creative eye to scrapped automobiles, the New York-based designer has created a line called “Air Garments” that upcycles used airbags into jackets, pants, hats and other items.
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Outdoor tea ceremonies known as nodate (野点) began in the 16 century when Japanese samurai on hunting and war expeditions drank tea with their lunch. Akin to a picnic, the tradition continues to this day but preparing one was a complicated affair. Now, thanks to this nodate tea set, setting up a tea ceremony on your next camping trip has never been easier.
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Be careful of the promises you make on social media. Two years ago, a Japanese artist who goes by the name Harenatsu posted a photo to her Twitter account introducing her series “small animals playing in the notebook lines.” She went on to explain that for every retweet, one animal would appear. It was retweeted 22,000 times.
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Looking for a unique dining experience in Japan in the age of covid? From late January through late February, a section of Iiyama (Nagano prefecture) is transformed into a magical igloo restaurant where a local hot pot specialty called noroshi-nabe is served. Situated in the northernmost part of Nagano Prefecture, Iiyama is merely an hour and a half away from Tokyo via the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
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I’ve never really seen the appeal of RVs or camping cars but this Camakuruma is making me take a second look. A combination of the Japanese words kamakura (igloo) and kuruma (car) the new concept car was developed jointly by a number of companies including Toyota and Hoshino Resorts, who want to allow skiers to rent the vehicles and park them right by the slopes to allow easier access than ever.
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Sumo is not just about contact wrestling. It’s about velocity; it’s about strategy; it’s about rituals. And it’s these multifaceted elements that keep audiences hooked. One of those is illustrator Satoko Fuke, who recently teamed up with lifestyle brand Felissimo to create a series of whimsical sumo-inspired products like salt shakers and glasses that are not only filled with salt and water but with humor too.
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Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo
‘Puddle’ Are a Series of Flower Vessels Inspired by Puddles of Water
Five Unique Experiences at Harajuku’s Latest Development Harakado
With No Entrance or Exit, a Train Station Designed Solely as a Lookout Spot
The Hellish Art of Japanese Interlocking Wooden Architecture Revived at SunnyHills Minami-Aoyama
