Tag: Japan

Design

Sit on your art? Furniture by YOY Studio

The Tokyo-based design studio YOY has created another novel product called CANVAS. This set of furniture looks like screen-printed wall decoration, but surprisingly, they are actually completely functional objects of furniture....

By Caris Cruz · Jul. 17, 2018

Sculpture

Gorgeous installation of frozen flower bouquets suspended in blocks of ice

For one weekend in a small town factory near Tokyo, botanical artist Azuma Makoto put on an installation where gorgeous flower bouquets were frozen and suspended in 16 blocks of ice as preserved botanical sculptures. Lined up in...

By Nhan Tran · Jul. 14, 2018

Creativity

Designer chocolates shaped to represent Japanese words for textures

For the French interior design trade show Maison et Objet, Oki Sato, head designer of Japanese design studio Nendo, was commissioned to design a unique set of chocolates. 'Chocolatexture' is the conceptual product, with inspiration...

By Nhan Tran · Jun. 01, 2018

Photography

Masashi Wakui gives Tokyo cityscapes a cinematic feel in new series

Having recently watched Blade Runner for the billionth time, I can’t help but fall in love with these neon-filled photos from Masashi Wakui. The Japanese photographer gives Tokyo a well-deserved series featuring its vibrant...

By Umar Ansari · May. 29, 2018

Creativity

6 sensitive redesigns of the traditional chopstick

Reimagining something simple is as hard a task as they come in the design world and there is not a more reductive eating utensil than the chopstick. The Japanese design studio Nendo worked closely with a traditional producer of chopsticks...

By Justin Crowe · May. 05, 2018

Design

Take a look at the Japanese factory where manhole cover designs are made!

After World War II, urban planners in Japan began allowing each municipality to design their own manhole covers. This was done in an attempt to raise awareness for the country's expensive sewage projects. And now, over 19,000...

By Umar Ansari · May. 01, 2018

Animation

Original watercolor art of Ghost in the Shell will be on display at London's House of Illustration

The Hollywood remake of Japanese sci-fi anime Ghost in the Shell was one film that most movie-goers anticipated for mainly for Scarlett Johansson’s participation. But before the big-budget film came to be, Hiromasa Ogura’s...

By Mariza Monta · Apr. 21, 2018

Photography

Stunning photographs of real flowers frozen in blocks of ice

Kenji Shibata is a photographer working in a unique medium - flowers frozen in ice. The ice literally preserves the lives of flowers, while the slow thawing creates the perfect opportunity for the photographer to capture these...

By Cameron Chapman · Apr. 17, 2018

Architecture

Goofy inflatable architecture with an interior maze

In the heart of Yokohama, Japan is a temporary structure that design firm Numen call 'Net Blow-up.' This inflatable architectural balloon is lined with a maze of climbable nets. Inflating the object stretches the web contained...

By Umar Ansari · Apr. 17, 2018

Illustration

Tokyo artist 'speed sketches' interesting people and places around him. He's QUICK!

You better watch your back for talented artists who love to people-watch. They're creatively dangerous. Don't believe me? Take Japanese artist Hama-House for example. He sits there, chilling in cafes and parks, speed-sketching unsuspecting...

By Umar Ansari · Apr. 09, 2018

Design

Reflective cups decorated by the patterns on their companion saucers

Japanese design group D-Bros have created a fun cup and saucer that fools the eye. The cup is actually blank, with a mirrored surface that picks up the patterns on the accompanying saucer. As you lift the cup the intricate patterns...

By Justin Crowe · Apr. 04, 2018

Sculpture

Yayoi Kusama's mirrored infinity room in New York gallery

Reclusive artist Yayoi Kusama is back in New York with a new exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery entitled "I Who Have Arrived In Heaven". Among the polka-dot-obsessed Japanese artist's new works is a mirrored infinity room made...

By Nhan Tran · Mar. 25, 2018

Design

11 manga-inspired porcelain dishes from Japan

Looking for a unique gift for that otaku friend of yours? These manga-inspired porcelain dishes by award-winning Japanese designer Mika Tsutai, of Comicalu, will definitely make a great option. Each rectangular dish is a close-up...

By Nhan Tran · Mar. 24, 2018

Video

Watch this amazing homage to Studio Ghibli animated by a 22-year-old

22-year-old French animator Gwenn Germain has paid an incredible homage to Studio Ghibli with his animated short 'Celles et Ceux des Cimes et Cieux' (Girls and Guys from Summits and Skies), presented in the form of a trailer for...

By Nhan Tran · Mar. 24, 2018

Design

Artist Shinri Tezuka practices the art of rolling, sculpting, and painting candy

Teaching yourself how to sculpt is hard enough, but to sculpt candy is one step above that. You have to also worry about making it tasty! Shinri Tezuka taught himself how to sculpt candy at the age of 27 and is perhaps the youngest practitioner...

By Umar Ansari · Mar. 10, 2018