Categories
Design MoCo Loco

This Week at MoCo Loco

080730-zojirushi

My latest Tokyo post is up on MoCo Loco, covering Fumie Shibata‘s ZUTTO kitchen appliances for Zojirushi, news that Plus Minus Zero has launched an international site, and the dates for the Good Design Expo 2008.

Categories
Architecture Stores

Proposed New Louis Vuitton Flagship Store in Japan

080730-louisvuittonflagship

Dezeen posts a few images of what is being described as a proposed new flagship store for Louis Vuitton in Japan by Dutch architects UNStudio. It’s unclear whether this is an actual project that has been approved, and if so, where it would be located (best guesses: Omotesando or Ginza).

Categories
Manga

The End of Young Sunday

080731-youngsundayAfter 21 years in print, publisher Shogakukan’s Young Sunday comics magazine is calling it quits. Anime News Network has details on what will happen to all of its manga titles — most of them are heading to Big Comic Spirits.

Categories
Manga

Fancy Gigolo Pelu

080730-gigolo-pelu

Some good news for fans of the works of Junko Mizuno. Publisher Last Gasp and Patrick Macias’ jaPRESS are translating the Fancy Gigolo Pelu manga. It should be out in spring of next year.

Categories
Design MoCo Loco

Recently at MoCo Loco

While I was out of town, I kept up with my weekly Tokyo posts over at MoCo Loco, but didn’t link to them. Here then is what you may have missed.

tokyo_cina_flashdrive

First, I covered Plus Minus Zero’s Electric Kettle, Cina‘s 4GB USB flash drive, and Naoto Fukasawa’s Noto ballpoint pen.

tokyo_dbros_cups

Second week: the Awagami +1 stationery collection, John Di Cesare’s Parashell umbrellas, D-BROS‘ “Hotel Butterfly” cups and saucers.

tokyo_anddesign_framehanger

Third week: Naoko Kanehira’s works exposed in London, &design‘s Frame Hanger, and Mother Tool‘s Awasefu pass case.

tokyo_shirokuramata_exhibition

Last week: Plus Minus Zero’s Mesh Tarp Tote Bag, the latest Nosigner exhibition, and Shiro Kuramata’s exhibition at Limart.

Categories
Design

On Design for July 2008

080730-ondesign

I’m a bit late on this, but this month’s edition of my “On Design” appeared last week in The Japan Times, and can be read online here. In it, I covered Takumi‘s BeansQtap extension cord, John Di Cesare’s Parashell umbrellas, Kazuhiko Tomita’s Kabon tray, Nihon-Sweden‘s Envelope bags and cases, and the 100% Lamp/Lamp Table Base.

Categories
Books

Curing Japan’s America Addiction

cjaa_cmp_homepage

I’m not quite sure how I missed this — let’s blame it on me being out of the country for the month — but Chin Music Press has a new release, in the form of Minoru Morita’s Curing Japan’s America Addiction.

Mr. Morita argues that President Bush and former Prime MInister Junichiro Koizumi have all but destroyed Japan’s once-burgeoning middle class. He says Japan needs to step back from the US and reevaluate this relationship, which has become more like an addiction than a friendship. Mr. Morita—a rare political analyst who spends more time in the provinces than the capital—tells us what the Japanese people really think about the last eight years of military buildup and market fundamentalism. In a nutshell, they are as fed up with the course of things as we are. Read this book to find out how to put the US-Japan relationship on more stable ground.

This is the first book from CMP to be released as a paperback, and is available now from its website for $15.

Categories
Art Design Fashion

TAB Tokyo Collection 4

080729-tab-tshirts

It’s summer, it’s hot, and you need new t-shirts. Good thing Tokyo Art Beat has just launched its fourth Tokyo t-shirt collection then! They’re doing things a bit different this time out, releasing two new tees every two months.

The first two designs, pictured above, are by Ko-Zou and Tada Reiko (Kiiiiiii), and can be purchased directly from the TAB shop (international orders are very much welcomed). As always, all proceeds go to help support the site, itself a non-profit organization.

Categories
Design

Pneumatic Elevator

Can’t say that I’m really in the market for a pneumatic elevator, but if I was, I’d want the one pictured above, distributed in Japan by NuVa. Photo via Max — here’s a link to a few more.

Update (16/11/26): The photo is no longer available.

Categories
Meta

Back in TYO

080729-pumphouse

Just a quick note to say I just got back to Tokyo, and so you can expect regular transmissions on this site to pick up again.

Pictured above, me enjoying some great local ale at a pub back in Canada (and contemplating what to drink next). Thanks for the photo, Bones!