Spoon & Tamago

Page 48 of 395

A 100-Year Old Kura and Townhouse, Renovated into the Cafeteria of a Japanese Kindergarten

all photos by Tooru Akiyama

Matsuzaki Yochien is a 100-year old Kindergarten in Yamaguchi, Japan. And on the occasion of their 100-year anniversary the school wanted to expand, but in a thoughtful way that respects the community where they have looked after the local children for decades. So they decided to purchase an adjacent machiya and kura that had been built right around the time the kindergarten was founded.

Illustrations by Rei Kato are a Summer Vibe

July 20, 2020 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Happy Monday! It’s that time of year when the summer days begin to blur together so we thought we’d start off the week by admiring the washed out white and blue illustrations of Rei Kato, which truly are a summer vibe.

A New Public Art Installation Outside Shinjuku Station by Artist Tomokazu Matsuyama

July 19, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photos courtesy the artist

Today, JR East unveiled a new permanent public art installation outside the east exit of Shinjuku Station. As part of a beautification project for the world’s busiest train station, Lumine Department Store, along with their parent railway company, worked with New York-based Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, who designed a public plaza for pedestrians that encircles a 25-ft sculpture titled Hanao-san.

Superheroes Crafted From Cheap Toys & Snacks by Tomohiro Yasui

July 16, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

For 35 years, since he was in grade school, the sculptor Tomohiro Yasui has been making paper robots. He’s travelled around Japan conducting workshops and exhibitions and the number of robots he’s built exceeds 600. But he’s also branched out to other categories, creating figurines, costumes and even wrestler masks. But recently he’s been targeting his creative energy at the cheap toys and snacks sold at 100-yen shops around Japan. Working with these materials, Yasui fashions superhero-like figurines with movable parts that are animated and lifelike enough that they transport us back to childhood.

JR East Redesigns All 78 of Their Central Tokyo Train Station Stamps

July 10, 2020 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Rubber train station stamps, known as eki stamps, are a uniquely Japanese phenomenon formally dating back to the early 1930s. Train stations would create their own stamps, usually based on local landmarks, and place them within the station for those who pass through to stamp their self-ordained “passports.” The system gave birth to an entire sub-genre of enthusiasts who would travel around collecting stamps. Now, these oshi-tetsu, as well as and other fans of train lines, have something new to get excited about. For the first time in 17 years, JR East has redesigned the stamps of 78 train stations across 11 train lines in Central Tokyo.

The New Kitamura Camera in Shinjuku is Six Floors of Photography Paradise

July 9, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

Kitamura Camera, a Japanese photography specialty shop with roots dating back to 1934, has opened a new flagship location in Shinjuku. With 6 floors of new & used cameras, along with a cafe & photography book lounge, the new location, which just opened in early July 2020, hopes to become a one-stop shop for amateur and professional photographers alike.

Shiro: A New Minimal Hotel in Ikebukuro

July 8, 2020 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Shiro means white in Japanese and is the name of a new hotel inspired by the color and kanji character for white, 白. Located in the neighborhood of Ikebukuro, and with its clean lines and emphasis on minimal creativity, Shiro attempts to provide travelers with the authentic experience of staying in a neighborhood, rather than staying in a hotel.

Japanese Gum Wrappers Double as Beautiful Origami

July 6, 2020 / Johnny / 3 Comments

Rather than just let the small piece of paper that wraps around individual sticks of gum go to waste, Japanese snack-maker Lotte decided to get playful. For each of their 7 different flavors of gum the firm created a series of graphic wrappers, a total of 58 different designs, each with their own distinct look.

A New Line of Hanko Ink Inspired by the Colors of Nature

July 4, 2020 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Times have been difficult for Japan’s hanko, a personal signature tool that dates back centuries. Technology has been rendering the system obsolete and a work-from-home environment triggered by the global pandemic has only accelerated this phase-out. But it’s a beautiful tradition. And in order to rethink the hanko’s place in modern society, stationery company Shachihata has released a new line of hanko ink, normally just red or black, in beautiful, lush colors inspired by nature.