Spoon & Tamago

Page 39 of 395

Akari Kokeshi Light the Way When Toppled Over in an Earthquake

In 2008 the Iwate–Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake struck the Tohoku region. The 7.2M tremor resulted in over a dozen fatalities, landslides and power outages. Local company Shimanuki, a purveyor of the kokeshi doll tradition, awoke to find almost all of their craft work toppled over. But destruction gives birth to new ideas.

Experimental Restaurant Tokyo Burnside Combines Bronx Bodega and Conbini Culture

February 11, 2021 / Johnny / 1 Comment

all photos by Keishin Horikoshi

New York bodegas and Tokyo Conbinis are conceptually quite similar in their ubiquity and convenience. But the experience of using one couldn’t be more different. Therein lies the intrigue of a new experimental restaurant opening in Harajuku, which will function as a casual café and eatery by day, a restaurant and bar by night, and feature the culinary art of Bronx-based Ghetto Gastro.

Jimoto Made: A Starbucks Japan Initiative to Collaborate with Local Artisans

February 9, 2021 / Johnny / Comments Off

Starbucks Japan has a Jimoto Made series in which stores across the country collaborate with local artisans to create coffee mugs and tumblers, which are then sold only at those local outlets.

Jimoto is a japanese word meaning “local area” and the initiative aims at highlighting and preserving local craft and materials. As soon as the pandemic is over we’re tempted to travel Japan, collecting mugs from all 14 locations. Below are some of our favorites.

Photographer Ken Ohyama’s Cutouts of Japanese Urban Buildings

February 4, 2021 / Johnny / 5 Comments

a building in Kagoshima that houses a nursery school on the ground level

Urban photographer Ken Ohyama is passionate about cities and the various structures that form them. The 48-year old photographer has a knack for taking oft-overlooked elements of urban environments, from highways to housing projects, and highlighting their beauty by forcing us to look at them in ways we never have.

New Public Restroom in Sendagaya Appears to be a Levitating Block of Concrete

January 31, 2021 / Johnny / 1 Comment

When public restrooms become art, cities become museums. Those are the words of architect Makoto Tanijiri, who has designed a new public restroom in Sendagaya, right next to the new Tokyo National Stadium.

Architectural Corner Kamidana Altars by Naohiko Shimoda

January 27, 2021 / Johnny / 1 Comment

The kamidana (literally, “god shelf”) is a miniature family altar found in many homes across Japan. Created as a way to bring the Shinto shrine into the home, most kamidana are fairly simple floating shelves, placed high on a wall. Architect Naohiko Shimoda has taken the concept a step further to create actual miniature shrines in an awe-inspiring scale.

Tadanori Yokoo Emphasizes Deliberate Misalignment in Contemporary Woodblock Series

January 23, 2021 / Johnny / 1 Comment

Japanese contemporary artist Tadanori Yokoo is presenting a new series of artworks inspired by the woodblock prints of Sharaku, the 18th century ukiyo-e print designer known for his portraits of kabuki actors. Using his signature bold color palette, Yokoo’s woodblock prints deliberately emphasize ズレ (zure), the misalignment that often plagues woodblock printers.

100-Year Old Wagashi Maker Creates Pandemic-Themed Sweets

January 22, 2021 / Johnny / Comments Off

Founded in 1901 and located in Hida-Takayama, Tohoen is a historic maker of wagashi Japanese sweets. With a process and materials that have been honed for over a century, Tohoen creates legacy, traditional sweets but also contemporary originals like this set of pandemic-themed wagashi aimed at reminding people how to cope and stay safe.

Titanium Tumbler Brand SUS Gallery’s New Shop in Aoyama

January 17, 2021 / Johnny / Comments Off

SUS Gallery is a Japanese lifestyle brand that specializes in handmade titanium bowls and tumblers. The brand leverages the age-old craftsmanship of artisans of Tsubame City in Niigata prefecture, along with the technology required to mold the material, resulting in unique pieces that delicately balance utilitarian charm with luxurious beauty.