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Tag: Akinobu Izumi

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Tiny World In A Bottle

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Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo
Japan Quietly Shines at Milan Design Week
Kenji Yanobe’s BIG CAT BANG is Now on Display at Ginza Six

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The Latest Posts

Japan’s Tiniest Botanical Garden is in Shibuya
March 5, 2024
A Glimpse Inside the Whimsical Wooden Miniature Homes of Yukihiro Akama
February 28, 2024
Past, Present and Future of Tokyo on Full Display in World’s Largest Architectural Projection-Mapping
February 26, 2024
Show Your Japan Prefectural Love With These Enamel Pins
February 24, 2024
Director Ryota Nakano to be Special Guest at Japan Society’s Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux
February 22, 2024
Step Into a World of Contemporary Japanese Art at New Exhibition in New York
February 20, 2024
Takenokuma Cafe is a Water Garden Inspired by the Lush Nature of Kumamoto
February 19, 2024
Go on the Tokyo Toilet Tour and Never Worry About Finding a Public Restroom Again
February 17, 2024
Evolving Themes of Absence and Presence in the Paintings of Minoru Nomata
February 15, 2024
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Shizuoka Now in Full Bloom
February 13, 2024

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TRENDING RIGHT NOW

Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo
Japan Quietly Shines at Milan Design Week
Kenji Yanobe’s BIG CAT BANG is Now on Display at Ginza Six
Japan’s Stationery Award Offers a Return to the Primitive
Maison Owl is a Cave-Like Restaurant in Yamaguchi Designed by Junya Ishigami

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Junya Ishigami’s cavernous restaurant in Yamaguc

Junya Ishigami’s cavernous restaurant in Yamaguchi has been awarded the 2024 Architectural Institute of Japan Award.

You can read more about the restaurant here: https://www.spoon-tamago.com/maison-owl-junya-ishigami/

Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the atte

Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the attention for their short-lived beauty. But equally ephemeral are Japan’s Nemophila, or Baby Blue Eyes. And once a year, around late April to Early May, an astounding sea of 5.3 million of these little flowers cover the land for a little over a week. If you missed the cherry blossoms you can still catch these.

Hitachi Seaside Park is located on the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, a little over 2 hours north of Tokyo. According to the park, the flowers are in peak bloom April 18 - 27, 2024!

Death Fes is a rather unusual event, being held at

Death Fes is a rather unusual event, being held at Shibuya Hikarie now through April 18th, where multiple vendors and thought leaders have come together to create a space to encourage thoughtful dialogue around death.

From kawaii coffins to palm-sized gravestones, close to 15 vendors are showcasing products that help to create more contemporary approach to our inevitable end.

Learn more about the event on S&T: spoon-tamago.com

Toraya Ginza, which just opened this week, is a go

Toraya Ginza, which just opened this week, is a gorgeous new space designed by Hiroshi Naito. You can watch artisans create wagashi right in front of your very eyes 🍵

TORAYA Ginza Building 4th floor

Screenwriter Kundo Koyama (Iron Chef, Departures)

Screenwriter Kundo Koyama (Iron Chef, Departures) converted his Suzuki Jimny into a mobile teahouse.

He teamed up with Kyoto-based artisan @kiwakoto_kyoto to “pimp” his ride and created a one-of-kind interior.

Photos by @yoshitoyanagida courtesy GQ Japan

Space cats in astronaut suits, ultraman figurines

Space cats in astronaut suits, ultraman figurines reenacting the beginning of the universe, and a tribute to Taro Okamoto’s iconic Statue of the Sun sculpture. There’s a lot to love about artist Kenji Yanobe’s new installation.

Read more about it on the blog today: spoon-tamago.com

Kyoto-based artist Tomona Matsukawa creates realis

Kyoto-based artist Tomona Matsukawa creates realistic and somewhat dramatic oil paintings that are each inspired by conversations with other women of her generation, often strangers. The artist imbues her work with arresting narratives, both in the form of subject matter, as well as title, which are both derived from striking phrases or memorable moments during the conversation.

Read more about the artist today on S&T: spoon-tamago.com

① “Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024)
② “I’m not sure if I’m jealous or just feeling lonely, but still” (2023)
③ “It’s a long time ago, but it never fades in my mind” (2024)

Kinoko no Yama, one of Meiji’s most-iconic snack

Kinoko no Yama, one of Meiji’s most-iconic snacks, are being turned into wireless earbuds.

Congratulations to “Godzilla Minus One” on the

Congratulations to “Godzilla Minus One” on their Oscar win last night for Best Special Effects. The team was there to accept the award, and we’re all dressed in Godzilla claw shoes designed by Ryosuke Matsui (@ha_za_ma)

Bonus anecdote: Toho President Hiroyasu Matsuoka didn’t want to submit Godzilla for Oscar consideration because he didn’t think the film stood a chance against big budget Hollywood films.

He only agreed after staff told him it would only cost $200 to submit. (according to the Nikkei)

RIP legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama. The cre

RIP legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama. The creator of Dragon Ball passed away on March 1, 2024 due to acute subdural haematoma. He was 68.

Working out of a former lumber warehouse in the mo

Working out of a former lumber warehouse in the mountains of Saitama, Satoshi Odagiri (@crafted_mobile) creates one-of-kind kinetic sculptures using organic materials he picks up from the forests, combined with discarded pieces of metal from a local factory.

“I am trying to create new value by rebalancing substances that have achieved a certain purpose,” he says.

Read more about the artist and his work on S&T today: spoon-tamago.com

We never thought we would stumbleupon tropical fru

We never thought we would stumbleupon tropical fruit trees like mango, passion fruit, guava, coconut palm, banana, and pineapple, right in the middle of Shibuya. That’s part of the intrigue of Shibuya City Botanical Garden (@shibuyakufureai) which holds the title of Japan’s smallest indoor arboretum.

The tiny space was recently redesigned and now boasts a cafe, library and exhibition space. Entry is just 100 yen, which makes this hidden gem a perfect place to step out of the city’s hustle and bustle.

More: spoon-tamago.com

Congratulations to Japanese architect Riken Yamamo

Happy Sunset Panda Day!! Today March 1, 2024 —

Happy Sunset Panda Day!!

Today March 1, 2024 — For the first time in 7 years, Japan saw a perfect “sunset panda” — a phenomenon in which the setting sun passes behind an NTT antenna tower in the Akashi City, Hyogo to create the face of a panda 🐼

Photo by Akashi Municipal Planetarium

Artist Yukihiro Akama crafts these whimsical, mini

Artist Yukihiro Akama crafts these whimsical, miniature homes from a single piece of wood. The inspiration for these intricate creations draws from Japanese temples, shrines, and the Jomon-era ruins, manifesting shapes, textures, and surfaces from a bygone era 4,000 years ago.

In his largest exhibition to date, Akama will display 52 of his wooden houses at Yorkshire Sculpture Park starting March 7.

Read more on S&T: spoon-tamago.com

From the deep forests of Okutama to the sleepless

From the deep forests of Okutama to the sleepless neon lights of Shinjuku, Tokyo truly is one of the most diverse cities. And while one could argue that it has enough night lights, a new nightly projection mapping display will light up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s headquarters building on a daily basis.

Read more about the project on S&T today: spoon-tamago.com

We’re loving these enamel pins from @zenrin_mapd

We’re loving these enamel pins from @zenrin_mapdesign, each representing 1 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Going to collect all our favorite places: Tokyo, Hokkaido and Kagawa.

Which ones would you collect?

Happy Cat Day! In Japan, February 22 is Cat Day.

Happy Cat Day!

In Japan, February 22 is Cat Day. Inaugurated in 1987, it’s a relatively recent day whose origin has to do with word play: 2-2-2 can sound like nya nya nya (meow meow meow).

Illustration by @mojacookie

The new @kissa_takenokuma is a stunningly beautifu

The new @kissa_takenokuma is a stunningly beautiful cafe that opened last year in the Minami-Oguni town of Kumamoto. Inspired by the many water sources that flow freely from nearby Mt. Aso, architect Toru Shimokawa envisioned the space like a water garden.

Takenokuma’s menu emphasizes local dishes and beverages that incorporate rice grown from nearby paddies, as well as craft beers, coffee and seasonal vinegar ciders whose flavors rely on the natural spring water.

Read more on S&T today: spoon-tamago.com

Never worry about finding a restroom during this T

Never worry about finding a restroom during this Tokyo tour!

In 2020, the city of Shibuya and Nippon Foundation embarked on an initiative called Tokyo Toilet. They brought together some of the biggest names in architecture and design to renovate 17 public restrooms all throughout Shibuya. Now that all of them are complete, a new tour promises an in-depth exploration into the crossroads of public hygiene and architecture.

More on the blog today: spoon-tamago.com

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