Jonkenpon offers up another new web app: Pikki, a mobile blogging service. Read more, and view a screencast, here.

This month’s “On Design” column for THE JAPAN TIMES is in today’s paper (and online here). In it, I cover Kai House’s Adhoc water dispenser, the Store Bag Store tote, stationery from Craft Design Technology, and Yosuke Watanbe’s Silhouette lights.

Last night was another great “Juliana” party at Soft in Shibuya, courtesy of Tokyo Fun Party. HOME CUT played an amazing funky disco dance set that had everyone shaking, and Chimidoro performed a lively set that was much appreciated by the crowd. I’m of course not forgetting Juliana resident DJs Digiki, SoccerBoy, and KazuNoco — great night guys!

On top, HOME CUT, bringing down the house, with Brad catching it all on video. Bottom, Chimidoro in action.

• The latest issue of PAPER SKY (20) wants to show you how to “Get Warm in the Cold,” by way of a feature on Aomori, with lots of nice onsen picks that will make you wish you could be soaking right now.
• EYESCREAM (2007/02) offers up a “My Best Issue,” which means various creators share lists of their favorite things.
• MAC POWER (206) goes “Hybrid,” which is how they present the attitude required for a new creative lifestyle — think combining themes or ideas in your life. There’s also an interview with Toru Hashimoto, of Cafe Après-midi, Suburbia Suite, and Free Soul fame.
• This month’s REAL DESIGN (9) announces that it’s time to “Change Your Business Office.” It’s a survey of attractive Japanese work spaces — mostly of designers — and also features that too-cool-for-school funky setup of Assistant (with a Snapazoo in the picture!)

Enjoy the “4 Little Joeys” segment from Kiiiiiii’s DVD, courtesy of YouTube.

The 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT has another talk up on their site, discussing the future of design. Just over 2 months before the opening!

Kyouei Design has just announced 4 new products that will be sold from April: Ha Na Ta Te, Kaki, Air Necklace, and Chandelier Bulb.

The next evolution of stationery? Morphing into mobile phone straps, of course. Get Kokuyo classics such as Pritt glue sticks, Campus notes, and that funky geometric eraser here. Link via Tokyomango.

Update
Looks like this collection of Putimo Hi-Tec-C mini-pens would accompany the rest quite nicely.

Finally, Muji is taking a serious retail step in the US — their MoMA Design Store corner doesn’t really count — with the opening of two stores in New York later this year.

PingMag interviews Elephant Design, covering their online service CUUSOO SEIKATSU.

• The New SUS
• Meteor

You can read all of my Gridskipper posts here (or even subscribe to a feed).

Looking to get some up-close time with Rinzen and Airside? That’s exactly what you get to do if you participate in the “International Creative Workshop 2007,” presented by the Intercross Creative Center. The workshop, which will include the production of a book, takes place in Sapporo, February 13-23, and you’ll find all the necessary details on how to apply at the the ICC’s official site (in the “News” section).

Brian Ashcraft over at Kotaku put me in the spotlight yesterday, as I was sporting my new 20th Anniversary Zelda hoodie from The King of Games.

This weekend is definitely looking like a great one — on top of the already mentioned Tokyo Fun Party “Juliana” on Sunday, the night before sees the all-night “FAMIMODE,” produced by the great Kichijoji retro game shop Meteor. I’ll let Jason, aka 6955, tell you why you’ll want to go:

Doors open at midnight, and check out the event’s official site for a peek at the event-specific collaboration tee from The King of Games that will be on sale (at 3500 yen).

Update
I also posted about Meteor and “FAMIMODE” on Gridskipper today.

• The latest issue of BRUTUS (609) follows brain scientist — and all-around celebrity these days — Kenichiro Mogi in a cover feature they call “Mogidas.” Won’t be of much interest unless you read Japanese.
• PEN (191) has a great issue that looks at East European graphics, with of course plenty of works on display, and profiles on various creators. There’s also a piece that looks at documentary film, with a few picks.
• This month’s ELLE DECO (88) is all about possible interior design trends for the year, with its “Deco Trend 2007″ cover feature. Nice to see Jesper get quoted in the piece!
• CASA BRUTUS (83) offers up its annual home design survey, “My Home 2007,” and as always, it’s a bilingual issue that includes a section with English translations of all the main articles.