Happy May! And to all our friends in Japan, Happy Golden Week! If you're not familiar, Golden week is a series of holidays–Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4) and Children's Day (May 5)–that occur around the same time. This week we check out two new Japanese brands that we really like: one is a luggage brand with a flagship store in Tokyo while the other is a brand of gin with a distillery out in the suburbs of Tokyo. Lastly, we feature a fun project that imagines Japanese eras if they had logos. | | the spoon & tamago dispatch | | nengō logō Japanese era names are called nengō and were first adopted in 645 AD. But they weren't really used consistently until the end of the Edo period in 1868. Each have their own styles and aesthetics and a Japanese designer came up with a series of illustrations that imagines what the past era names might look like if they had logos. Read on... | | | Moln Moln is a new Japanese travel brand that's giving us serious wanderlust. What struck us about moln is how polished and clean the brand feels. And it's consistent throughout the entire experience from the product itself to the website and flagship location in Tokyo. Read on... | | | Hachio Gin It's no secret that, in recent years, Japan has been experiencing a domestic craft spirits boom. One of the latest to join that group is the Tokyo Hachioji Distillery, located in Tokyo's western suburbs of Hachioji and producing gin under the clever name Hachio Gin. Read on... | | | | Support independent publishing and Japanese arts & crafts all at once by becoming a Spoon & Tamago member. Learn More! | | tidbits from all corners of Japan | | | It's common to see conbini on the ground floor of condos but rarely do you see one under a minka-style townhouse. | | In early May, Sabagawa River plays host to an unusual yet exquisite tradition. Colorful koinobori, which usually flutter in the wind, are placed back into the river where they belong. | | Mother's Day Gift Guide Looking for unique gifts for that special mother? We curated a gift guide featuring items we think every mom would love! | | | | |