Extracting the essence of each season, Higashiya Ginza brings traditional Japanese confectioneries back into the day to day scene. In looking at the history of confectionary shops, there was once one for the upper class associated with the Imperial Court called Onkashitsukasa, and ones for the general public called Omanyasan...
Housed in a 90 year old building registered as tangible cultural property, Kaikado Cafe is a hidden gem in Kyoto, displaying parts of Japan’s rich cultural history and appreciation for long lasting craftsmanship . Originally a brand specializing in handcrafted canisters from tin plates imported from England following the Meiji...
Chisoku, written as 知足in Japanese, is a combination of kanji characters meaning to know and to have enough. This zen concept of feeling fulfilled in the current moment is the central theme of Kishi-ke Guesthouse, located on the coast of Kamakura. Perfectly in tune with the hints of salty air...
In this feature, we’ve had the honor of interviewing Frederik Alexander Werner, designer and partner at Norm Architects, a world renowned Danish design and architectural studio. As the newest collaboration between Norm Architects and Karimoku Case Study, a Japanese contemporary lifestyle brand based in Aichi, this project is the embodiment...
Redefining luxury as a state of mind. That is exactly what founders of Maana Homes, Hana and Irene are doing in the heart of Kyoto, Japan. With the intention to have guests rethink the meaning of luxury and travel, Maana homes captures the refined essence of Kyoto for all guests...
One of the staples of Japan known in western culture are paper lanterns, and for good reason. Paper lanterns bring a beautiful warmth, a sense of peace and safety to the atmosphere. That is difficult to achieve with common lightning. This is especially remarkable in the streets of Kyoto. A...
Built in the 1960s, the Aoyama Building has weathered some of the more swift-moving winds of modern history. The 13-story tower is planted on a block corner in Tokyo’s Minato ward, in a thicket of skyscrapers, parks, embassies, and palace grounds. In the 1970s, it housed the headquarters of the...
History courses through the work of Shizuka Tatsuno, though some would never think to say so. Her product designs often beckon us with their modern forms — their streamlined silhouettes and clean blocks of color — but they end up compelling us most when their crisp outlines dissolve, revealing artistic...
This summer, Japanese furniture maker Time & Style showcased a selection of furniture designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Like a compilation of rare B-sides, the exhibition, titled “Furniture that blends into the surroundings,” represents years of creative output and celebrates a facet of Kuma’s practice that has thrived quietly in...
Founded in 1984, the museum focuses on collecting, preserving, and contextualizing woodworking tools, playing a key role in connecting the appreciation of Japanese wood-based architecture and furniture with the trans-generational knowledge, techniques, and tool-making traditions that are concealed at its roots....
While depopulation is a problem in many countries the issue in Japan is more imminent due to the large population (around 30%) of people above the age of 60. “NIPPONIA Kominato Genroku Village” is one of the projects trying to battle this problem by creating a “decentralized hotel” which is...
What is the “Japanese aesthetic”? That, in essence, was the question posed by designer Naoto Fukasawa and the furniture manufacturer Maruni Wood Factory in 2008, when Fukasawa partnered with the nearly one-century-old furniture company to help rediscover its essence. Since then, the wish to design chairs, tables, and other staples...
