Train Life

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

"Cotton Flowers Bloom" (Microseason 40) You may notice that early mornings, evenings and even the call of insects no longer belong to mid-summer. Welcome to microseason 40: the time of year when the cotton plant begins to blossom. These days we're rarely afforded the opportunity to come in contact with cotton plants and instead are more acquainted with their bi-products, usually in the form of clothing. In Japanese, the former is called wata while the latter has a different name: men. The plant, which had begun as cream-colored flowers that resemble a hibiscus, now have dried up and  fluffy white cotton balls have popped out of their sockets. (Do you want more seasonal events, recipes, poems and art in your inbox? Become a member!) the spoon & tamago dispatch Trains & Daily Life We're in Tokyo right now previewing  a new exhibition by one of our favorite illustrators. Street-walking illustrator Shinjro Ogawa captures the scenery of the city and the warmth of trains lines that envelop them throughout the seasons. If exhibition officially opens September 1st at Ginza Tsutaya. Read more... Tokyo Hotel Rooms Speaking of Tokyo, and illustrations, another great illustrator by the name of Kei Endo has a new book out that we love. Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman. And she also enjoys staying at hotels, which was the beginning of a wonderful side-hustle that brought together the best of both her worlds Read more... Made from Soy Sauce Lastly, we check out this tiny cafe in Kyoto with a stunning facade of weathered copper. The architect achieved this beautiful color by oxidizing the copper with soy sauce, speeding up a 10-year process in just a matter of days. Read more... For just $5 per month, support independent publishing, and Japanese arts & crafts, by becoming a Spoon & Tamago member! tidbits from all corners of Japan We were saddened to learn that renowned Ghibli art director Nizo Yamamoto passed away last weekend due to cancer. He was 70.  He worked on numerous anime films, not only by Ghibli, and his dynamic clouds earned the nickname "Nizo Clouds." An Osaka-based umbrella maker created a "silent umbrella" for those with impaired vision who depend more on their ears. Taking inspiration from laundry nets, the company managed to dramatically dampen the sound of rain by adding an additional layer of mesh fabric to the umbrella. From the Shop The joy of stacking rocks New in the shop! Designed by Nara-based studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; 'stacking stones' in Japanese) are a set of 5 blocks individually hand bevelled into asymmetrical shapes by local artisans. These tactile objects are meant to nourish your sense of balance and creativity, while also transporting you back to that river where you stacked stones as high as you could. view items Copyright © 2023 Spoon & Tamago, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Spoon & Tamago 253 Tompkins Ave Brooklyn, New York 11216 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.