Ghibli Park

this week's most popular posts and other tidbits from around Japan

Hello friends! It's Spoon & Tamago–your source for all things beautiful, from Japan. It's hard to believe we are already halfway through 2022! We continue to be encouraged by news of Japan's re-opening and we hope everyone will soon get a chance to visit. With that in mind, we're highlighting two unique destinations that you might want to consider. The first is the much anticipated Ghibli Park, which is opening in phases with the first phase this November. And although it won't open for another two years, Nara Prison should certainly make for an interesting stay. Lastly, we discuss the changing relationships towards death in Japan as reflected in a new cemetary that recently opened in Tokyo. the spoon & tamago dispatch Spend a Night in Prison Spending the night in jail is usually not a good thing. Unless of course you're staying in Japan's Nara Prison, a historic red-brick structure built in 1908 with western archways and onion domes that lend an air of castle more than incarceration. Read on... New Details from Ghibli Park As the opening date for Ghibli Park continues to inch closer–November 2022–we learn more about what is in store. Here is everything we know so far. Read on... Designing Death As lifestyles change and evolve, so too does our relationship with the deceased. And in turn, so do the cemeteries and ossuaries that look after our deceased. This new cemetery in Tokyo offers a beautiful space for prayer that resembles coin-lockers you might see at a train station. Read on... Spoon & Tamago is a member-supported publication. If you can, please consider becoming a member and joining us in our mission to raise up Japanese arts & crafts. tidbits from all corners of Japan In other Ghibli news, the animation studio is backing an upcoming crowdfunding campaign by Tokorozawa City to purchase land that inspired the setting of My Neighbor Totoro. The initiative is an attempt to stave off development efforts and backers will be rewarded with original cell drawings. Instead of the traditional guardian dog, this temple in Tokyo opted for a guardian dinosaur. The head priest explained that he purchased it from a local museum that was closing down. From the Shop Summer Collection "In summer the nights. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, when the fireflies flit to and fro, and even when it rains, how beautiful it is!"  This is a famous verse from Sei Shonagon's The Pillow Book, a fascinating, detailed account of Japanese court life in the eleventh century written by a lady of the court. In this particular chapter (haru wa akebono), she writes about her favorite times of day during each season: In spring it is the dawn, In autumn the evenings, In winter the early mornings and In summer the nights. View the Summer Collection Copyright © 2022 Spoon & Tamago, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Spoon & Tamago 794 Dekalb Ave Apt A8 New York, New York 10112 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.