All About Japan

Using Washi Paper to Make Delectable Dishes

There's no better time than now to learn a new skill, and these intriguing Japanese papercrafts will leave you hungry for more.

Miniature Model of Shinjuku Made Only of Paper

Toshi is a Japanese office worker in his 20s who has a unique hobby: building miniature paper models of cities at a 1/2200 scale. And he has completed his most ambitious project to date: a mini model of Tokyo's sprawling area of Shinjuku.

See Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Like Never Before

Tennis star Naomi Osaka appeared in GQ Japan’s June edition, in a cover that was actually drawn by her older sister, Mari Osaka!

Painting FFVII Cloud Using Traditional Methods

While Cloud and the gang from Final Fantasy VII got a big remake release this April, one artist took the protagonist back in time using traditional Japanese painting techniques.

Making Japanese Washi Paper from Food Waste

An established paper maker in central Japan has come up with a new type of washi that’s also eco-friendly. Craftswoman Masami Igarashi has 25 years of experience manufacturing washi and related products. She now makes paper from vegetable and fruit waste.

Cover Your Face With a Creative Origami Mask

Simply called the Origami Mask, the idea first came to everyone’s attention thanks to an instructional video from a Polish Art school, which quickly went viral online. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s incredibly simple to make.

Japan's 1918 Pandemic Prevention Posters

Even though Japan was widely cut off from much of the world when compared to today, the island nation still had to deal with the worldwide pandemic of 1918, better known as the Spanish Flu. These posters helped warn the populace of the time.

Beyond Anime: 5 Great Japanese Movies

The world of Japanese cinema is wide, and knowing where to dive in past the season's latest anime hit can be intimidating. We're here to help with five of our favorite timeless classics!

Yusuke Asai's New Exhibit Uses Wild Materials

Tokyo-born artist Yusuke Asai travela the world, creating wild and unrestrained art with whatever canvas and materials are available to him locally: soil, water, dust, flour, tape, and pens.

Japanese Art Supporting 'Black Lives Matter'

Amid the ongoing protests and marches following the brutal killing of George Floyd by an American police force, Japanese artists in Japan and abroad are showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the form of diverse artworks.

Get Good Lighting from Stylish Hurricane Lamp

Check out these cool floor lamps made from swirling water into a small hurricane.

Learn How to Draw Totoro from Ghibli Producer

With a background in editing and artistic talent so great he’s been given his own exhibitions, Toshio Suzuki is now sharing the secret to sketching one character he loves to draw: Totoro from Ghibli’s 1988 animated feature film "My Neighbor Totoro."

Ryosuke Otomo's Slice of Life Illustrations

Illustrator Ryosuke Otomo takes inspiration from the small, relatable moments of life.

New Hanko Ink Lets You Use Colors of Nature

These inks won't let you paint with all the colors of the wind, but you can now stamp your name with different colors inspired by nature.

Kyoto's Kyocera Museum of Art Gets a Facelift

Come learn about the incredible history of an art museum that survived World War II.

Renaissance Paintings Purr-fect for Cat Lovers

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 heroes, saints, and the divine, he largely focuses on lots of cats.

Flower Power at Takashi Murakami's Bar Museum

You've probably seen the signature bright smiling flowers of artist Takashi Murakami, but now you can enjoy his adorable art at Bar Zingaro.

Soar through the World's First Kite Museum

At the Kite Museum in Nihonbashi, you can explore over 500 unique kites, spanning through different historical eras and countries around the world.

Shop for Your Dream Life at the Loft in Ginza

Ginza's Loft store is attempting to spark a little more joy and awe with items to inspire you every day.

Marvel at Remarkable Single-Stroke Paintings

Daigoro Yonekura is a Japanese artist who creates abstract paintings that resemble billowing plumes of smoke or ink. At once both mysterious and beautiful, they pull the viewer in, offering familiar shapes and forms, leaving us with a particular question.

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