Spoon & Tamago

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

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.

Miyanoyu: a 70-Year Old Tokyo Sento Renovated into an Art Gallery and Cafe

June 30, 2020 / Johnny / 2 Comments

all photos by Kohei Yamamoto

Public baths, or sento as their called in Japan, are a dying breed. Their beloved architecture, endearing interiors and murals of Mt. Fuji have not been enough to maintain the flow of customers and keep them alive. It’s said that in Tokyo every week another sento goes bust. One of those was Miyanoyu, located in the Nezu district of Tokyo.

Theatrical and Surreal Images Painted in a Renaissance Style by Tokuhiro Kawai

June 29, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

“Fantasy of a pet cat” (2006) by Tokuhiro Kawai

Japanese contemporary artist Tokuhiro Kawai uses his mastery of oil painting to create surreal images that invoke the Italian painters of the High Renaissance. But instead of biblical figures, kings and queens, Kawai infuses his paintings with cherubs, children and cats. Lots of cats.

The Life of Two Adopted Kittens Under Quarantine Lockdown in Tokyo

June 25, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

One of the invisible victims of the global pandemic and physical distancing measures have been stray animals. When the streets of Tokyo emptied out in April as the city entered a state-of-emergency-induced lockdown, many strays were left to fend for themselves. Sadly, two kittens, Olive & Pepper, were abandoned on a roof in Tokyo. But the story has a happy ending.

Small Windows of Sunrises Painted onto the Covers of the New York Times by Sho Shibuya

June 24, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

It’s been a dark couple of months for New York City as the global pandemic locked down the city. Citizens, forced to stay home, have waited out the days absorbing the sad and depressing news. But it’s often darkest just before dawn, and for Brooklyn-based artist and designer Sho Shibuya (previously), the city’s sunrises offered a means of coping, as well as a silver lining to what was otherwise a terrible situation.

A Traditional Kimono Maker is Creating Face Masks for Nightclub Hostesses

June 23, 2020 / Johnny / 3 Comments

all photos courtesy Otozuki

As hostess workers in Japan cope with the fallout of COVID-19, they’ve found an unlikely ally. Otozuki, a manufacturer of traditional kimono garments, has teamed up with a company that runs nightclubs to develop hostess-friendly face masks that make it easy to sip drinks and converse with customers while maintaining a safe environment.

Swirl: a Light Fixture that Visualizes a Water Vortex

June 22, 2020 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photos by Masayuki Hayashi

Japanese contemporary design studio we+ has created an ambitious floor lamp that is both visually arresting but also in-tune with nature. By generating a rapid vortex and pouring molten wax inside to create a mold, the design duo created a structural aluminium lighting fixture that visualizes the flow of water.

Choya: Experience All that Japanese Ume Have to Offer

June 20, 2020 / Johnny / 1 Comment

The ume, or plum, arrived in Japan from China over 2000 years ago. And while the blossoms have always been appreciated for their beauty, it’s the fruit that has become indispensable. From acting as provisions during difficult times of war and famine to being one of the most popular home remedies, plum fruit and their myriad uses have stood the test of time and have earned a special place in the Japanese palette.

Illustrator Yuki Omura, Victim of the Kyoto Animation Arson, Remembered Through Rice Paddy Art

June 19, 2020 / Johnny / 1 Comment

A little less than 1 year ago, a violent arson attack on Kyoto Animation resulted in the tragic death of 36 illustrators and animators. One of those was 23-year old Yuki Omura, a young and upcoming illustrator who had just joined the studio out of college.

Now, his mother’s hometown is remembering him, and paying homage to his art, by recreating the last page of his picturebook in the form of rice paddy art.

An Obsession with Retro Japanese Rounded-Corner Windows

June 18, 2020 / Johnny / 12 Comments

Please allow us to share our current obsession: retro Japanese rounded-corner windows. We occasionally come across these on our walks around Japan. They can be spotted on storefronts but also older apartments or office buildings. But wherever they are, there’s something endearing and nostalgic about their softness and hues.