Category: City Life

  • Changing Shibuya

    Shibuya has been undergoing some major redevelopment work for years now, but here’s a great look at what all these changes are going to look like once it’s all done in 2027 — a lot will already be ready ahead of 2020.

  • Muji Hotel

    When I saw this mentioned on Muji’s Instagram account the other day, my jaw dropped: Muji is producing a hotel — along with a new flagship store — in Ginza, set to open in 2019. As this Spoon & Tamago post reveals (and that’s also where you’ll find more details on the Ginza project), it’s…

  • Designart

    I’m very happy to see the arrival of the new Designart (“Design & Art”) festival in Tokyo, set to take place for the first time in October of this year. I’m especially happy because among the founders are Astrid Klein & Mark Dytham, who I of course worked with during my last 6 years in…

  • Muji Books

    Well, since I left Japan, looks like Muji has launched dedicated “Muji Books” sections in some of their stores (pictured, a Muji Books in Shanghai). The big Muji stores — like the flagship Yurakucho one — always had small book sections, but now it looks like we have proper bookstores within their stores. Makes me…

  • Rapha Rides Tokyo

    The always amazing Lee Basford is behind the fantastic video produced for the Tokyo stop of the “Rapha Rides” project (taking place in 20 cities around the world). Not only is it a beautiful look at taking in Tokyo by bike, it also features one of my design heroes (Groovisions). On the negative side, this…

  • Starbucks with Tatami

    If I was in Kyoto, I’d definitely drop by this new Starbucks (opening at the end of the month) that looks more like a traditional tea house than the cafe chain we know. More in this Spoon & Tamago post.

  • Artless Craft Tea & Coffee

    The Artless designΒ agency has opened a new office/gallery/cafe in Nakameguro (a move from the previously smaller space they occupied in Harajuku) and it looks like a stunning space (see photos in this Spoon & Tamago post). The gallery is strangely by appointment only, but the cafe is open to all, and specializes in both coffee…

  • Kurokura

    A beautiful branding/packaging project by my buddy Ian Lynam for the Kurokura sake brand.

  • A 5th of BitSummit

    And another BitSummit has come and gone in Kyoto. As with last year, I’m quite sad I couldn’t be there, and seeing so many of my friends (through social media) have a blast — during and after hours — was a pain. But I am happy to see that it looks like it’s been the…

  • Duncan’s Pop-up Shop

    I missed posting this in time for Duncan‘s pop-up shop that he did this past weekend at Kanno Coffee, but I still love seeing all of his products in one image like this. Via Canvas.