Architecture for Cats

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

"Hibernating Creatures Close Their Doors" (Microseason 47) Although there is the occasional lingering heat, as September rolls out and October rolls in, like clockwork the insect world quickly begins preparing for colder weather. It's easy to forget how sensitive these creatures are to the changing seasons but beetles are one of the first to burrow into the ground, followed quickly by frogs and snakes. The metaphorical act of closing doors to prepare for winter was relatable, especially in ancient Japan when it was common around this time to replace summer bamboo screen room dividers (known as sudo) with heavier paper dividers (known as shoji or fusuma). This activity offered many the opportunity to close one chapter of their lives and begin a new chapter. (Do you want more seasonal events, recipes, poems and art in your inbox? Become a member!) the spoon & tamago dispatch Pixels and Bytes We begin our newsletter in Tokyo where a pixel art exhibition was being staged in Shibuya. One artist who caught our eye was Toshiya Masuda, who makes retro pixelated objects out of ceramics. The exhibition closed this week but you can see more pictures on our blog. Read more... Architecture for Cats Next, we head out to Kamakura, a suburb of Tokyo, two see two of our favorite things: architecture and cats.Tan Yamanouchi, an architect himself, built a home for his family and 2 cats that is basically one large cat tree. Read more... Terrarium Dresses Lastly, at Paris Fashion Week, designer Jun Takahashi unveiled terrarium dresses with flowers and butterflies inside them, once again living up to his reputation as one of the most darkly enchanting, rebellious, and often bizarre imaginations in today's world of fashion. 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 Yesterday was the the harvest moon. Chushu-no-meigetsu (中秋の名月) in Japanese. Here is the fill moon next to Tokyo Sky Tree. Red spider lilies, or higan-bana (彼岸花), are typically in peak-bloom mid-September and are a sign of autumn approaching. But Japan's extreme heat pushed them back a few weeks. Kinchakuda Manjushage Park in Saitama is the place to see them right now. From the Shop You Deserve Butter New in the shop! This Whale Butter Dish is sure to bring a sea of change to your kitchen. Made from sand-cast aluminum, the whimsical butter dish was created in the likeness of a whale that has swallowed a stick of butter in one huge gulp.  The entire process from modeling, casting, polishing, and coating to the engraved eyes, is done in the city of Takaoka—famous for its metalwork—in Toyama prefecture, Japan. It's a collaboration between designer Akira Yoshimura and artisanal metal manufacturer Sanomasa. view item 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.