Jan.19

‘The Tokyoiter’, a Double Homage by Pen

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Jan.25

‘The Tokyoiter’, a Double Homage by Pen

Jan.25

This collective offers illustrators the chance to represent the Japanese capital by adapting the style of covers from ‘The New Yorker’. With regard to press illustration, the publication that has long been considered an international reference is The New Yorker, founded in 1925. Across the world, graphic designers have since paid homage to the American magazine,…

Jan.19

Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – MISO SOUP

Jan.19

Like many foods the Japanese currently enjoy, its likely that miso originated in China and traveled by way of the Korean peninsula arriving in Japan in the 6th century,  In the Heian Period (794-1185 AD) miso was considered a precious medicine. By the 12th century, nutrient-dense miso became an important part of the samurai’s daily…

Dec.22

Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – KUMQUATS

Dec.22

Kumquats are called kinkan 金柑 in Japanese, meaning “golden citrus.” The scientific name is Citrus japonica, though the fruit is native to south-east China where they have been cultivated for hundreds of years. There are dozens of varieties of kumquats. The round Marumi and Meiwa are the most popular in Japan while oval-shaped Nagami fruits are more…

Nov.25

Kishio Suga on Paper by Pen

Nov.25

Alongside the first-time English publication of his essays, an exhibition on the Mono-ha artist surveys his extensive work on the medium. Kishio Suga’s sculptures and installations are muted, simple in their elements. But after close observation, one may notice the hidden truths of our surroundings beginning to articulate themselves. An exhibition running from January 15…

Nov.20

The Art of ‘Rakugo’, Sit-Down Comedy by Pen

Nov.20

Inherited from tales by Buddhist preachers and now secularised, this solo performance involves a storyteller making the audience laugh. Rakugo, which literally translates as ‘art of fallen words’, is making a comeback on Japanese stages. Dating back to the 17th century and originating from Buddhist tradition, rakugo experienced its heyday in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and particularly…

Nov.15

The Moon and the Printing Masters by Pen

Nov.15

The white star is particularly celebrated in Japan and has inspired various artists, whose works are featured in this leporello. The moon occupies a special place in Japanese society, one that Anne Sefrioui’s book, La lune par les grands maîtres de l’estampe (‘The Moon by the Great Printing Masters’), seeks to examine. This set, made up of…

Nov.07

Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – POTATOES

Nov.07

The potato is native to the Americas; the Incas are believed to have been the first to cultivate wild tubers along the Andes Mountain range. The Incas boiled, roasted, and fermented potatoes; they also dehydrated them to extend storage. In the mid-16th century, gold-seeking Spanish Conquistadors brought the spud to Europe, and from there it…

Oct.22

Moving at human speed by Gianfranco Chicco

Oct.22

You can tell that September was the busiest time at work when all I could manage to write about was putting tomatoes on handmade ceramic plates and sharing daily Instagram Stories about preparing matcha (抹茶, Japanese powdered green tea) in a proper teabowl using a bamboo whisk. Truth is, these things were a palliative to a hectic period. Running…

Oct.12

Collecting, Making, Using by Gianfranco Chicco

Oct.12

‘Are you a collector or a maker?’ a chatty chap asked me during a ceramics exhibition months ago. He then went on to tell me how proud he was of his Japanese collection. ‘I’m a user’ I uttered without too much thought, and my answer has been lingering in the back of my mind ever…

Oct.06

Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – TONBURI: Caviar of the Fields

Oct.06

How are the three objects pictured above — a broom, a bright pink bush and a package of greenish-black seeds — related to each other? The answer: all are TONBURI also known as hōki-gusa (literally “broom plant”). The scientific name is Kochia scoparia / Bassia scoparia. Considered an unwelcome weed in many parts of the world, in Japan the plant…