Spoon & Tamago
Stick to Your Plans with New Calendar Tape
Japan is known for amusing, adorable and innovative stationery, and one Japanese company will help you get organized with rolls of tape that turn any notebook into a calendar or planner.
Of Love & Law: Japan’s First LGBT Law Firm
Filmmaker Hikaru Toda is working on an intriguing documentary about Fumi & Kazu, who run the first openly gay law firm in Japan.
Gorgeous Tohoku Drawing Took 3.5 Years to Make
Artist Manabu Ikeda unveils a monumental pen and ink drawing, depicting scenes from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, that took nearly 3.5 years to complete.
The Darker Side: 'Star Wars' Ink Portraits
'Bujin-ga' artist Masayuki Kojo captures characters from 'Star Wars,' creating versions of Darth Vader and the storm troopers like never before.
Legendary Art Director Turns a Bank into a Bar
Shuttered in 1945, the Kamakura Bank's legacy lived on as the building miraculously survived the war, as well Japan’s penchant for scrapping and building. And now, it's serving up drinks along with history.
Go Ahead & Fall Asleep in This Kyoto Library
The Book & Bed Hostel opens a 2nd location in Kyoto.
Relive Your Childhood with Famicon Stationery
From clear folders and memo pads that can all fit snug into the tote bag, Famicon stationery is the perfect gift for your gaming friends this holiday season.
Building a Better Bakery
Check out this renovated Kyoto townhouse that was turned into a cheese tart shop and tech startup.
6 Hokusai Watercolors Found in Netherlands?
In a stunning revelation, six Western-style watercolor paintings in the Netherlands have been suggested to be works of Katsushika Hokusai, the most famous 'ukiiyo-e' artist of Japan's Edo Period.
Japanese Museum of Rocks That Look Like Faces
Travel northwest of Tokyo to see this museum full of rocks that resemble faces—even a few famous ones!
This Map Just Might Change the World
This map of the world, which shows the globe more accurately as it is in 2016, just won Japan’s prestigious Design Award.
Fifth Blue Bottle Location Opens in Nakameguro
Blue Bottle Coffee has been a huge hit since it came to Japan from California in 2015, and the chain is rapidly spreading across Tokyo, opening yet another trendy branch.
Halloween Costumes in Traditional Japanese Art
Halloween might be a relatively new concept for Japan, but the idea of sporting costumes for festivals is perhaps older than it is in the United States!
Onbashira: Japan’s Most Dangerous Festival
Every six years, the town of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture becomes the site of one of Japan's oldest festivals—which is also considered the most dangerous.
Incredible Rolled Newspaper Animal Sculptures
Inspired by her encounter with a rhino in Africa, artist Chie Hitotsuyama creates amazingly lifelike sculptures of animals—out of newspaper!
Hikaru Utada’s Triumphant Comeback
After a roller coaster ride of a decade, Hikaru Utada is back with a full-length album—and we couldn’t be happier for her.
Mashikaku: Japan’s Edo-Era Typography Returns
In Edo-era Japan, several lettering styles known as 'Edomoji' were invented for advertising purposes. One design team wants to bring these characters back.
Infographic Depicts Evolution of Technology
Designer Eisuke Tachikawa presents the evolution of technology as one, astounding, real-life infographic that visually lays out over 100 objects that have been integrated into the iPhone.
Japanese Fairy Tale Legends VS. Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is one of the most popular cartoon characters in Japan, but 80 years ago that certainly wasn’t the case, at least not according to a 1934 propaganda film that cast Mickey as an evil invader that’s come to terrorize a happy island community.
Tatami Mats: Not Just for the Floor Anymore
If you've ever been to a traditional Japanese home, you've likely seen tatami mats on the floor. But have you ever seen it on furniture?!
