Japanese art, design & culture https://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mjujzinv6c27Shizuoka Aims to Reclaim Top Tea Status With New Branding Project https://spoon-tamago.com/japan-tea-shizuoka-branding-project/19 Apr 2026 18:03 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjujzinv6c27https://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mjjzjfo3jk2bthe Kyoto Aquarium and Tokyo’s Sumida Aquarium keep obsessive tabs on the complex relationships of their penguins. They’ve just released updated 2026 flowcharts and this year they’re available in English: https://spoon-tamago.com/japanese-aquarium-penguin-relationship-flowchart/15 Apr 2026 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjzjfo3jk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mi2zlkiies2zIn an exhibition that opens next week, Kenya Hara offers a rare look into his design process https://spoon-tamago.com/kenya-hara-draw-exhibition/27 Mar 2026 21:07 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi2zlkiies2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mi2cpcxjns2zNYC steakhouse Smith & Wollensky is opening a location in Ginza on May 1. They join the ranks of Wolfgang's, Benjamin's and Peter Luger, all of which have opened up shop in Tokyo in recent years27 Mar 2026 14:17 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi2cpcxjns2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mg34up25p22kKazumasa Nagai, the pioneering graphic designer whose work helped define postwar visual culture in Japan, has passed away.02 Mar 2026 11:15 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg34up25p22khttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mfi5ccrp2c2vOur latest travelogue just dropped! If you want to explore some paths less traveled in Japan, check out our guide to Tohoku https://spoon-tamago.com/a-spoon-tamago-guide-to-tohoku/22 Feb 2026 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfi5ccrp2c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mebunh64ts2iif you’re looking to combine some gallery hopping in between the ohanami, here are five art exhibitions not to miss in Japan this spring. https://spoon-tamago.com/five-art-exhibitions-to-see-in-japan-this-spring07 Feb 2026 16:46 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mebunh64ts2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mdvozwxjuk2oCats to Blame for Octopus Deity Enshrinement Delay https://spoon-tamago.com/cats-to-blame-for-octopus-deity-enshrinement-delay/02 Feb 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdvozwxjuk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mdc7h64tdc2rWe take a look inside this new cafe and shochu brewery in Miyazaki, designed by Kengo Kuma and running on sweet potato biofuel: https://spoon-tamago.com/kirishima-brewery-starbucks-cafe-miyazaki/26 Jan 2026 02:34 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdc7h64tdc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mczrhnsva22t私たちの消費生活（Our consumer life） By illustrator Shunpei Kamiya22 Jan 2026 18:03 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczrhnsva22thttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mczal2j5wc25For Tokyu Hands 50th anniversary, illustrator Enya Honami created a new cross-sectional floor guide. Check it out if you’re in Shibuya:22 Jan 2026 13:01 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczal2j5wc25https://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mcabosctzk2nWe don’t say this often - thank you, Japanese government. For the first time in over a decade an obscure law will transform a regular workday into an additional holiday known as “othello holiday” (オセロ休日)12 Jan 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcabosctzk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mc6efp53dk2vWe’re ringing in 2026 with a look at 6 new art and architecture projects that we’re looking forward to seeing this year. https://spoon-tamago.com/new-architecture-opening-in-japan-in-202611 Jan 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mc6efp53dk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbxcx7otek2lJapan has a new stationmaster cat. At a ceremony yesterday, Yontama was announced as the successor to Santama and will assume responsibility effective immediately.09 Jan 2026 01:13 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbxcx7otek2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbohz3tblk2hA horse escaped from Meiji University’s stables this morning, and took a stroll around the neighborhood causing quite a commotion. After about 30 min it quietly returned home. No one, including the horse, was hurt. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d3d344b237282f9409087a36f5f6071e89e588f805 Jan 2026 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbohz3tblk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbmtbbjzhc2uHappy New Year of the Horse 🐴 We’ve assembled a few nengajo from some of our favorite artists that features this year’s zodiac animal. We hope they will inspire everyone to have a dynamic and transformative year! https://spoon-tamago.com/japanese-designer-new-years-cards-of-2026/04 Jan 2026 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbmtbbjzhc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbjn2ye2u22qTokyo Metro has already refreshed their manner posters featuring the 2026 zodiac animal03 Jan 2026 14:36 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbjn2ye2u22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbekhy4fgs2z“Amerika” (mid-1850s) by Hiroshige Utagawa Hiroshige created this image of what he thought symbolized America: an elaborately garbed white aristocrat on horseback. The image reflected Japan's curiosity / apprehension about the outside world after isolation. P.S. 2026 is America's 250th birthday!01 Jan 2026 14:07 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbekhy4fgs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbdefhl53k2jManga publisher Shueisha took out a full-page ad in today’s Yomiuri and Sankei, celebrating their 100-year anniversary. Copy reads: ‘100 year? Still just a youngster’01 Jan 2026 02:45 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbdefhl53k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mbdd2cmpdk2fHappy New Year! We hope everyone’s 2026 is as chill as these capybaras taking a yuzu hot bath01 Jan 2026 02:21 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbdd2cmpdk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mb342ynftk2mAlong a narrow residential street in Beppu City is an inconspicuous 2-story home with gaping holes carved into it, revealing a cavernous interior: https://spoon-tamago.com/art-collective-me-beppu-kanawa-space-ii/28 Dec 2025 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mb342ynftk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mar5jib3v22uAccording to the National Archives, this is the very first image of Santa Claus to appear in Japan in 1900. His name name was too foreign sounding so the author called him 三太九郎 (さんたくろう) https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1168287/1/124 Dec 2025 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mar5jib3v22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mamuxa62o22tThese are incredible: street scenes of Roppongi recreated entirely from cardboard. On view now at Mori Art Museum. https://spoon-tamago.com/zugakousaku-kurieito/23 Dec 2025 04:10 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mamuxa62o22thttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mamugf3bbk2tJapan’s PM assembled an expert panel today to discuss Japanese content overseas but it looks more like a group of misfit villains23 Dec 2025 04:01 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mamugf3bbk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3maliq3jh3c22Friend: hey im going to Japan for the first time next month do you have any recommendations? Us: hmmm maybe a few22 Dec 2025 14:59 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3maliq3jh3c22https://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3majw6zvlhc2yFrom travel destinations and language-learning to reviving craftsmanship and discouraging food loss, these were the stories that mattered most to our readers. https://spoon-tamago.com/spoon-tamago-most-popular-posts-of-2025/21 Dec 2025 23:55 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3majw6zvlhc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mahilphufs2yVery happy to see that duct-tape typographer Shuetsu Sato has been recognized by the Japan Sign Design Association this year! Congratulations Sato-san!21 Dec 2025 00:46 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mahilphufs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3mah2aiy76k2xThe winter solstice is on Monday the 22nd, but the monkeys at Tobu Zoo in Saitama got an advance yuzu bath today: https://www.sankei.com/article/20251220-MSFDOULR5VMJDFEYZAME5B2IMU/20 Dec 2025 20:29 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mah2aiy76k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3magzcffxuk2wIf anyone missed the Algae × Hello Kitty exhibition at Osaka Expo, it's now on display at the Kanayama Minami Building Museum Wing in Nagoya through 2/15/2026. cte.jp/hello-kitty/20 Dec 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3magzcffxuk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/spoon-tamago.bsky.social/post/3m7xzrcvlnc24Sadly, Japan has bid farewell to a beloved cat. Ken-chan, the local feline whose epic battle with a security guard at the Onomichi Museum of Art in Hiroshima became a fixture, passed away in September. https://spoon-tamago.com/onomichi-museum-cat-ken-chan14 Dec 2025 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:kod2lixttpkov7ctwnklbypp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7xzrcvlnc24