Japanese studio Torafu Architects introduced the Ichiro Japan Shop 2012 – an exhibition space designed to showcase the new catalog and furniture prototypes of famous Japanese maker of decorative plywood, Ichiro . The vision Ichiro had for the space was (...) Read More about Ichiro Japan Shop by Torafu Architects (76 words)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN | Permalink | One comment |

It was the death of Motoi Yamamoto‘s sister that led to his career in salt installations. Motoi had worked in a dockyard for much of his 22 years. But after his sister’s untimely passing at the age of 24 due to brain cancer, he began thinking about what he had and lost, and prolifically producing art work much like a diary.

“Many of my works take the form of labyrinths with complicated patterns, ruined and abandoned staircases or too narrow life-size tunnels, and all these works are made with salt,” he describes in his artist profile. “In Japan, [salt] is indispensable in the death culture… (...) Read More about Motoi Yamamoto’s Salt Installations (123 words)

INSTALLATION | Permalink | 4 comments |

Issey Miyake asked Kenyan photographer James Mollison to contribute to an exhibition on Chocolate, he was curating (in 07) with the designer Naoto Fukasawa. Chocolate in Japan has become a luxury product with organized tastings- similar to wine. So, Mollison decided it would be interesting to explore the(...) Read More about James Mollison Cocoa Pickers Series for Issey Miyake (58 words)

EXHIBITION, FINE ART | Permalink | 2 comments |

“Pin-up girls in present-day,” was the theme for G.V.G.V.’s latest Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Covering the top looks for the coming year’s sunny seasons, the label’s founder and designer MUG included the 50s pinup, a bit of ‘burb housewife, and some Miami tropics into a look that’s 100 percent put together.(...) Read More about G.V.G.V. Spring/Summer 2012 (95 words)

FASHION | Permalink | No comment |

Built by architecture studio Eastern Design Office, this Japanese Flatiron inspired building is located in the district of Youkaichi in Shiga Prefecture. A triangular residential complex of 13 meters height with 7 apartments each composed of a living room of 13 m2, two bed rooms with 13 m2 and 9m2, a prefabricated bathroom, a kitchen system and a toilet.
(...) Read More about Japanese Flatiron by Eastern Design Office (39 words)

ARCHITECTURE | Permalink | 4 comments |

Using possibly the cheapest material around—thrift store plastics that have already been used or trashed—Sayaka Kajita Ganz still manages to make pieces that look downright priceless (and sell for over US$ 12,500 each). Born in Yokohama, Japan, Sayaka explains that, “Japanese Shinto beliefs are such that all objects and organisms have spirits, and objects that are discarded before their time weep at night inside the trash bin… or so they teach children at many preschools.”

Whether truth or tale, the image stuck with Sayaka as she moved from country to country. “I had a strong desire to fit in, (...) Read More about Sayaka Ganz Recycled Sculptures (46 words)

ART, SCULPTURE | Permalink | 2 comments |

Satoshi Itasaka and Takuto Usami collaborated to establish “h220430″ , their conceptual design company focused on lighting and furniture. I particularly love these three pieces for their for theatrical appearances. Despite the humor in each of these works there is this sterile characteristic that makes them such novelties.(...) Read More about h220430 Design (3 words)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN | Permalink | No comment |

I could not have expected such refined and meticulous work from anybody but a Japanese artist. Hasegawa Yoshio created a series of sculptural pieces, modeled after a soda can and hand-crafted out of paper and acrylic. (...) Read More about Hasegawa Yoshio’s Soda Sculptures (4 words)

ART, SCULPTURE | Permalink | 3 comments |

Sexual connotation, fantasy or secret meetings, those establishments called ‘Love Hotels’ provide kinky fun for all types seeking sexual adventure. Photographer Misty Keasler traveled Japan to documented the (...) Read More about Japan Love Hotels By Misty Keasler (35 words)

BOOK & MAG, CULTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, TRAVEL | Permalink | 5 comments |