Tag Archives: japanese

Ainery Blue creates a modern Furoshiki denim bag using traditional Japanese design

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It’s easy to take modern products for granted because of the ease of manufacturing and the ubiquity of some materials. Not everything that is new is good, however, and not everything that is old is obsolete. Newer synthetic materials eat away at our planet’s life, while the easy way of producing things doesn’t always yield long-lasting results. Sometimes, we have to take the hard-earned lessons of the past to heart in order to make something beautiful, enduring, and, more importantly, sustainable. That’s the message that Blue Ainery’s compact Furoshiki denim bag tries to send by using traditional dyeing and weaving methods to create a fashionable storage accessory whose very design pays homage to Japan’s history and tradition, many of which still apply today.

Designer: Ainery Blue

Click Here to Buy Now: $82 $94 (10% off). Hurry, only 5/10 left!

Almost everything about the Furoshiki denim bag is a nod to Japan’s past culture, design, and fashion. The term “furoshiki” itself is a reference to the traditional Japanese wrapping cloths for goods, bento boxes, and informal gifts. When worn as a bag, the Furoshiki looks more like an “Azuma Fukuro” that predated today’s modern tote bags by about four centuries. The design might look basic and even old-fashioned, but there’s also a certain charm to its minimalism. More importantly, its uncomplicated shape leaves enough room for plenty of items inside.

Ryukyu Indigo Dye – A type of natural Indigo dye that has been produced in Okinawa, Japan since ancient times. “Ryukyu” is another name for Okinawa.

The bag looks made from your typical denim material, but there is nothing typical with how it’s actually made, beginning from the way it’s dyed. It uses the Ryuku Indigo plant to create a rare natural dye using traditional and manual methods like microorganism fermentation. The warp yarns undergo a traditional soaking method to make sure that the Ryuku Indigo dye really seeps into the core of the yarn. The end result is a material that doesn’t fade quickly no matter how many times you wash it.

Uses “Kase-zome”, a Traditional Japanese Dyeing Technique – The warp yarns are soaked, then taken out and exposed to air to let the dye oxidize. This procedure is repeated during the dyeing process. By soaking the yarns over and over again, the Ryukyu Indigo dye seeps all the way deeply into the core, resulting in a unique texture.

The denim is woven using more traditional shuttle looms that yield more durable high-density fabrics compared to modern looms. That said, the fabrics are sewn by machines, but there’s still an element of quality production thanks to how it’s handled by a factory in Okayama that is also used by famous but unnamed fashion brands. Right from the start, the Furoshiki bag is made with traditional methods and materials to ensure the same long-lasting quality of traditional bags that last for decades, not just years.

Of course, the denim bag isn’t just all about the past. It also applies the lessons of modern manufacturing and design, like the use of reinforcing rivets to make the bag stronger. It is also designed with modern aesthetics in mind, like the use of denim fabric, even if the shape and form don’t conform to the modern ideas of bags. It’s a perfect example of how good design never really goes out of fashion.

The Furoshiki denim bag demonstrates how modern design thinking can apply the lessons of the past to create something that will also endure the test of time. Stylish, durable, functional, and sustainable, the bag easily stands out among modern tote bags as something that blends the past and the present in a harmonious way. Given how it’s designed not to fade easily and to match almost any fashion style, the $80 early price tag is almost perfect for a long-lasting bag to carry your stuff with you.

Click Here to Buy Now: $82 $94 (10% off). Hurry, only 5/10 left!

The post Ainery Blue creates a modern Furoshiki denim bag using traditional Japanese design first appeared on Yanko Design.

These Japanese-inspired office pods offer an oasis in busy workplaces

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Design trends come and go. Some even say they swing back and forth like a pendulum. Office cubicles and room dividers were once deemed impersonal and anti-social, but open floor plans that replaced them are now considered too distracting and unproductive. Whichever way that design pendulum swings, the workplace will always be a busy place, and people in that space will always be in need of some safe, quiet area from time to time. Rather than building permanent walls and rooms, office pods have become a more economical alternative, offering an enclosed sanctuary even for just a few minutes or hours. This minimalist work pod promises the same but adds a touch of Japanese-inspired aesthetic to bring a visual and aural retreat right in the midst of a chaotic office.

Designer: Staffan Holm

The Zen Pod is designed to blend with its surroundings, but its beauty makes it stand out easily as well. Inspired by Japanese design, the small boxed room exudes serenity and quiet, both with its uniform lines and conventional shape as well as through its material construction. The slatted oak wall fitted into the glass barrier creates an enclosure that is private but not isolating. People can still see each other on both sides, maintaining a smidgen of human interaction even while enjoying some moments of peace and quiet.

The pod doesn’t just embrace a person inside a beautifully minimal space, it also protects them from outside noise and distraction. The materials used in the Zen Pod’s construction were chosen not just for their beauty but also for their acoustic properties. It is able to dampen sounds by as much as 31dB, freeing people inside to converse comfortably and privately, whether for work or for fun.

It’s easy to get lost inside this visual and acoustic oasis. The choice of “sympathetic” materials like wood, wool, glass, aluminum, and steel all contribute to conveying a character of warmth and elegance that you’d typically encounter in Japanese design. For those who need a few moments to retreat from the frenzy of the workplace, nothing says “detachment” better than leisurely sipping a comforting drink while watching the action unfold outside the safety of the room’s glass walls.

The Zen Pod carries a tinge of irony in its design and purpose. Intended to look relaxing and to protect its occupant from the hustle and bustle of an office floor, it is also meant to be a place of intense work or serious conversation, not really allowing the person to fully escape the duties and responsibilities of the day. Built-in power outlets, shallow angle lighting, and adequate ventilation all work together to also induce a productive working atmosphere. It strikes the perfect balance between work and calm that cubicles and full office rooms can’t provide.

Best of all, the Zen Pod is designed to be less stressful to build and install in spaces that need this small escape. Although it will hardly be economical to fill an office floor with these small booths, it’s the kind of safe space that every workplace needs to have. Plus, it looks great, too, which can help uplift the atmosphere in a busy work environment, standing out like a beacon of hope for anyone who needs to take a break once in a while.

The post These Japanese-inspired office pods offer an oasis in busy workplaces first appeared on Yanko Design.

These high-quality towels bring the Japanese design spirit to your bath and home

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It’s too easy to ordinary everyday objects take for granted precisely because they are mundane and common. It is, however, where great product design shines the most. It isn’t enough for something to work as advertised; it also has to make the user feel great about it, both in body and in mind. Bath and hand towels seem to be odd objects to fuss over, but it’s also the perfect example of how low-quality materials and poor design can ruin what should have been a relaxing bath. Premium towels, however, don’t need to cost an arm and a leg, and neither do they have to look extravagant. In Japanese culture and design, simple, understated solutions are often the best, and these Japarcana Imabari towels prove that point.

Designer: Taisei

Click Here to Buy Now: $37 $44 (15% off). Hurry, for a limited time only.

After taking a bath or even after heavy exercises, our skins tend to be more sensitive than usual. Our minds are also often put into a state where we become more attuned to the things around us, especially what we put near or on our bodies. A soft, absorbent, and durable towel is the perfect complement to a soothing bath and the perfect cap for an exhausting workout, but most towels you buy off the rack aren’t made to be that way, especially after even just a few months.

The imabari Towel Brand Mark – Only given to towels that have passed quality standards in Japan’s largest towel producing area, Imabari.

The Japanese towel industry based in Imabari has long solved this problem, and Japarcana wants to bring that to the rest of the world. Simple and time-proven weaving techniques, high-quality cotton, and strict quality standards all come together to create a towel with excellent water absorption, soft texture, and long-lasting durability. These towels have the imabari towel stamp of approval, something that isn’t just given out to any towel brand.

Yudono – A highly absorbent and durable towel.

Japarcana towels come in two flavors. Yudono, which means “to bathe” in Japanese, is designed to be light, thin, and perfect for almost everyone. Make no mistake, it is also made to be very durable, solving one of the biggest problems with cheap towels. Its softness feels great on the skin after a bath, and its loop pile weaving lets it absorb water with a single swipe, no scrubbing necessary. And to further cement its Japanese roots, the towel’s label utilizes an ukiyo-e illustration depicting traditional Japanese baths, clearly pointing to the towel’s primary function.

Wipes Dry With Excellent Water Absorption – This towel will absorb all liquids with just a simple wipe.

Smooth, Velvety Touch – Has a soft, smooth, and elegant feel to it. It has a moderate thickness and softness that you can enjoy.

Omiyage – Increased volume and softness increased.

For those who want a bit more heft and softness to their bath towels, the Omiyage line is a perfect choice. It uses 100% high-quality Superior Pima Cotton and untwisted yarn to produce a thicker towel that retains its water absorption qualities and even increases its fluffiness. It delivers a more luxurious and premium-feeling towel, befitting the feudal lord or “tono-sama” ukiyo-e illustration on the towel’s label. And just like its name, which means “souvenir,” the Omiyage is like a gift that you give to yourself, one that you’ll treasure for a long time.

Using Untwisted Yarn, Increasing Softness – The yarn in ordinary towels are twisted to give them a durable toughness, but untwisted yarns make the surface fluffy and extremely soft.

It’s a good thing, then, that these towels are made for keeps. Unlike regular towels that thin and wear out after just a few months, these Japarcana towels will last far longer and retain their softness and water absorption long after other towels have given up. It’s like buying the equivalent of three or more towels that you’ll just throw away after a short period of time, making the price of a Japarcana Imabari Towel feel more like a long-term investment than a simple one-off purchase.

Click Here to Buy Now: $37 $44 (15% off). Hurry, for a limited time only.

The post These high-quality towels bring the Japanese design spirit to your bath and home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Kehai wall clock makes you look at the passage of time in a different light

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Being able to tell the time of day may have been critical to survival in ancient times, but our modern lifestyles have unsurprisingly put a different twist on that. More often than not, the ticking of the clock, literal or figurative, is a source of stress for some people, a glaring reminder of how little time they have left in the day or in their lives. Minimalist clocks have tried to change our attitude towards time by changing the way we look at clocks themselves. This wall clock continues that tradition by applying a good measure of Japanese minimalist aesthetic to create a timepiece that tries to make you feel more detached from the burden of keeping time.

Designer: Makoto Koizumi

It starts with the very shape of the clock, a simple and familiar circle. The custom aluminum frame is made in Japan using a casting technique to create a thin yet durable container for the wall clock. Available in white, yellow, and gray, the clock almost disappears into the wall if placed on a surface that nearly has the same hue. Without any extraneous marks inside or outside, the minimalist appearance of the clock’s frame tries to avoid inducing stress whenever you look at it.

The clock’s hour and minute hands are not only plain, but they’re also literally flat and look almost broken. The two together almost give the clock a skewed face, as if the hands were floating in some murky soup of time and space. The frosted glass on top adds to the obscurity of the hands and the clock in general as if making it harder to read the time. Its ambiguous design, as the designer called it, tries to make us rethink our sometimes unpleasant view of time and the clocks that represent them.

In contrast to the rest of the clock, however, the second “hand” easily stands out and calls attention to itself. It’s just a big red dot that looks almost like a zit on the clock’s otherwise pristine face. It is so unlike traditional seconds hands, not just in appearance but also in movement. Where most hands move either in staggered motions or sweep swiftly around, the size of the red circle means it travels smoothly and more slowly as it circumnavigates the clock’s edge. In some sense, it removes the tension when watching the Kehai clock, unlike the gripping suspense of watching the second hand hit 12 as seen on TV.

Kehai is a simple and beautiful interpretation of a clock that is both Zen and playful at the same time. In a way, it almost represents that same ambiguity we have towards clocks and time itself. The murky glass is seemingly creating a barrier between us and the clock, while the red dot tries to remind us that every second counts. Time passes at the same rate, whether we rush or not, and this clock tries to blur our skewed perception of it while also giving any wall and any room a unique character.

The post Kehai wall clock makes you look at the passage of time in a different light first appeared on Yanko Design.

Japanese-inspired designs to add some zen + minimalism to your daily life

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The Japanese design philosophy has slowly but surely taken over the world by storm – ever since it was discovered by the rest of us! There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life! Whether it is furniture designs, stationery items, or even kitchen appliances, we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs! From a sleek self-heating bento box that aims to completely eradicate microwaves to an eclectic candle that transforms into a Japanese lantern the longer it burns – these surreal and soothing product designs are all you need to introduce into your day-to-day life, to experience some Japanese zen and peace!

1. Outside In

Outside In is a multifunctional, shapeshifting table that incorporates hand-carved grooves into its timber frame to resemble the raked ruts of Japanese zen gardens.

Why is it noteworthy?

Japanese zen gardens have supplied ceaseless inspiration for designers. While the sheer meditative quality of zen gardens is enough to insight some new ideas, the artful design of zen gardens rakes its own creative vision for designers. Melbourne-based furniture, lighting, and object design company Sabu Studio found its own creative vision by way of Japanese zen gardens when designing the minimalist Outside In table.

What we like

  • Features a sinuous timber surface that resembles the hand-raked grooves of a zen garden
  • Outside In is a crafty piece of furniture that would look right at home in hospitality common spaces or even event halls

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

2. The Chouchin

The Chouchin is a pillar-shaped candle, styled to look like a traditional Japanese ‘chouchin’ lantern.

Why is it noteworthy?

The candle comes made from two different grades of waxes, one on the inside, which burns the way a normal candle would, and one on the outside, which serves as the candle’s exterior, mimicking the effects of a lantern by diffusing the light that passes through it. As the inner wax candle continues to burn, the flame glows right through the outer shell, getting diffused into a gentle, warm light in the process.

What we like

  • The outer shell uses a patented non-melting wax, which lends a beautiful subtle translucency to the candle as the wick burns downwards
  • On the inside sits a more traditional candle, with a burning time of 60 hours – offering a few months’ worth of light with daily usage

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

3. The Ofuro Bathtub

Ofuro Bathtub

Antoniolupi’s latest product, the Ofuro series, comes from the traditional Japanese bath that involves soaking and relaxation.

Why is it noteworthy?

The use of the name gives the inspiration to create a bathing experience that is truly calming and comforting. Showers may not be enough, so bathtubs are preferred in some situations when you really need to destress and decompress. A few moments in the tub allow not just purification of the body but also of the soul and mind, as it is where you can be free from all the stress and worry of the day.

What we like

  • Antoniolupi’s Ofuro series is a response to such a need for wellness and healthy living
  • The idea of full immersion in hot water is why the Ofuro bathtub is large, looking like a large basin perched in the corner of the bathroom–just like the Japanese tradition

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. Electric Chopsticks

Electric Chopsticks

Electric Chopsticks Information

Chopstick innovations and redesigns have been presented, but nothing like this project introduced together by Kirin Holdings and the Miyashita Laboratory (Meiji University Dr. Homei Miyashita Laboratory of the Department of Frontier Media Science, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences). The chopstick device comes with an electrical stimulation waveform that together work to adjust the taste of low-sodium food.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chopsticks can make low-sodium food taste salty. So you can enjoy the food more but sans the high sodium content. This idea can benefit those who need to go on a low-sodium diet. Right now, chopsticks can be used, but other utensils can also take advantage of the system. Salty taste enhancement is possible with electrical stimulation on a utensil. With the goal of improving the electric taste sensation, more people can enjoy what they eat even with reduced salt.

What we like

  • The device uses a weak electrical current in transmitting sodium ions from the food to the mouth
  • Creates a sense of saltiness

What we dislike

  • It’s still in the prototype stage!

5. The Japanese paper Memo Block

The Japanese paper Memo Block comes in to provide a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.

Why is it noteworthy?

There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.

What we like

  • Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper
  • Uses high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. The Wooden Pen Holder

There’s something almost poetic about the act of picking up a brush or a fountain pen from an inkwell, drawing your strokes, and dipping it back in to be ready for when the next inspiration strikes, a feeling that’s almost lost even with the most elaborate and extravagant pens today. Not unless you have a pen holder that brings back that atmosphere, like a block of wood that could be the most Zen pen holder to ever adorn your desk.

Why is it noteworthy?

This wooden block is both unassuming and, at the same time, beautiful in its simplicity, as many minimalist products are wont to be. Made from genuine maple wood, each piece has grains and patterns that make it unique and special. Without saying explicitly, it’s an assurance that each black will be one of a kind, giving you the feeling that this pen holder was crafted just for you. Together with an equally stylish pen, this block transforms any desk into a thinker’s workbench, where the tools of the trade are just at an arm’s reach.

What we like

  • The Wooden Pen Holder has a gently curving depression that can accommodate any pen with a standard size
  • When you pick the pen up, you almost believe that the ink will also follow it up from an invisible well of ideas

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

7. MEALZTIME

If Steve Jobs were less of a tech enthusiast and more of a culinary specialist, maybe we’d be staring at a state-of-the-art culinary heating device instead of the M2 MacBook Air. Although that reality didn’t quite pan out, we still have the MEALZTIME, an incredibly slim, self-heating bento box that’s leak-proof, easy to clean, and works on a single-button interface.

Why is it noteworthy?

MEALZTIME hopes to make the office microwave obsolete. Given the sheer number of people who use the microwave on a daily basis (and that occasional dimwit who heats up their tuna casserole in it, ruining it for everyone), MEALZTIME was designed as a personalized alternative that heats your food up to the right temperature for you, without you having to wait in line. All you do is press the power button on your bento box and MEALZTIME gets to work, automatically shutting down after your food’s been heated. It does so without needing to be plugged in too, so you could potentially grab a hot meal on the subway, in your car, in the outdoors, or even at work during a power cut.

What we like

  • Great replacement for the microwave
  • MEALZTIME lets you heat up to 4 meals on a single charge, so you really have to juice it up just about once or twice a week

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

8. Lur

Lur is a furniture collection that includes pot planters which also double up as seating in the most organic manner. It was designed for Alki, a brand that is always seeking to collaborate with local businesses which makes it even more special because it unites distinct know-how and materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

To create the Lur collection, designer Iratzoki Lizaso went to Goicoechea Pottery and work with the local team. The pottery workshop is based in Ortzaize in Lower Navarre, just a few kilometers from Alki. The Goicoechea family has been working with terracotta for three generations. The materials used, the solid oak, and the clay from the Goicoechea family quarry are here entirely natural.

What we like

  • All the products have smooth curves and organic shapes featuring a warm aesthetic thanks to the choice of materials and CMF details
  • The collection is centered around the idea of plant pots that can work double duty as shelves and coffee tables

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

9. The Quick-Access Organizer

More often than not, the reason why we lose keys, glasses, or even wallets, is because we misplace them by just placing them anywhere when we take them out of our pockets. We develop that bad habit because it sometimes takes too much work to actually drop them in proper storage, like a desk or shelf organizer, partly because the storage box itself doesn’t make it easy to use it. Having to think which item goes where can be a mental burden when it has to be done multiple times a day, and the seconds you lose opening and closing most boxes add up over time.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Quick-Access Organizer tries to smooth out by making the act of organizing your everyday carry tools as effortless as possible. The lid has sections that can fit only some kinds of objects. This makes it easier to know what to put there, so you won’t have to waste precious time making that decision every time. Pretty soon, it will be second nature to put your glasses, AirPods case, or keys in those sections, so they won’t have to end up lost in uncharted territory ever again.

What we like

  • The box’s real special talent is how that lid quickly and effortlessly swivels out of the way, revealing the spacious cavern inside
  • This storage box is a minimalist beauty of contrasting and complementing elements

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

10. The Bamboo Food Steamer

Compared to traditional bamboo steamers, this product is cleaner, more portable, and easily accessible for consumers who are less familiar with Chinese culture and cooking techniques. The steamer seems very-user friendly, as it only has one control: a circular LED timer. Simply plug in the device, and set your timer- no extra on/off switch is needed. These small touches make the Bamboo Food Steamer the easiest purchase you could make in order to support healthy and environmentally-sustainable choices.

Why is it noteworthy?

But what is the advantage of using the Bamboo Food Steamer? First off, bamboo steamers have been a staple in Chinese cuisine for over 5,000 years. They consist of stackable layers with slatted bottoms, making it possible to cook multiple items simultaneously. The bamboo also absorbs excess steam, which keeps vegetables from becoming too soggy. As a bonus: the Bamboo Food Steamer promotes environmentally-friendly practices in addition to healthy eating because, unlike trees, bamboo stalks grow back after being cut and require minimal effort from their farmers.

What we like

  • Encourages steaming of food – one of the healthiest methods of cooking
  • Promotes eco-friendly practices as its made from bamboo

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

The post Japanese-inspired designs to add some zen + minimalism to your daily life first appeared on Yanko Design.

This cubic Japanese memo pad is the perfect platform to unleash your creativity on

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All of us experience distractions at one time or another, sometimes even more than we can actually handle. Some of those distractions come from external sources, like a co-worker dropping by to have a word. Other times, we are betrayed by our own brains that try to push ideas to the forefront when we don’t need them yet. In both cases, the simplest and most effective way to get back into the zone is to write down whatever comes to mind or to our attention the moment it arrives. That would, of course, presuppose that you have something to write those thoughts on, something you’ll be sure to be able to retrieve later on when you do need those ideas. That’s where this beautifully minimalist Japanese paper Memo Block comes in, providing a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.

Designer: Tenkei Project for Ito Bindery

Click Here to Buy Now: $18

In an age where a smartphone is almost always nearby, some might brush off the need for a dedicated paper pad to write things down in a snap. Given how most phones work, however, it takes more than just a few seconds to unlock the phone and get to your favorite note-taking app. Your computer might not even be available at that moment, so typing it out might not work either. Both devices also offer plenty of distractions, and you might find yourself getting sidetracked by other thoughts even before you could type the first one. In both cases, the best solution is one that has existed for centuries and has almost no opportunity to get in your way.

There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.

The Memo Block Black has the same properties but adds a little extra, especially for creatives. Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper. It also adds a bit of flair to your notes, too, since you’ll be using ink that’s quite different from the one you use for mundane writing. Plus, the memo pad itself radiates personality, defying the usual conventions of memo blocks that come in white or bright colors.

Both white and black Memo Blocks use high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs. Its smooth texture and durability generate both comfort as well as confidence in use, transforming the act of writing from something mechanical to something enjoyable and almost meditative. The recycled cardboard base offers a pleasant contrast to the paper’s colors and brings stability to the pad so it won’t be sliding around when you write on it. A perfect companion to our Japanese Drawing Pad, this Memo Block will look at home on any desk while also giving a temporary home to those transient notes.

Click Here to Buy Now: $18

The post This cubic Japanese memo pad is the perfect platform to unleash your creativity on first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bring the coveted Japanese paper to your desk with these minimal drawing pads

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In an age of sophisticated apps and devices, the simplicity of paper can actually help remind us to think outside the box.

There are definitely many things that apps on our computers and mobile devices can do that would be nearly impossible in the physical world. They can turn back time to undo mistakes, make multiple copies of a project, and use a single stylus for both drawing in pencil and painting in color. Those conveniences, however, can sometimes turn into crutches, and these digital tools can sometimes bring more distractions and confusion to our consciousness. That’s why many creatives from different disciplines still have a love for paper, and this simple yet evocative drawing pad is the perfect break that your brain needs to get those ideas flowing.

Designer: Tenkei Project

Click Here to Buy Now: $24

There is something to be said of paper, both as a medium and as a metaphor for creativity. Despite physical limitations, the blank canvas invites the mind to wander and put your indelible mark on it. At the same time, the physicality and texture of paper also serve as a bit of anchor and distraction to some parts of our brain, leaving the creative side to work better. To some extent, it is one of the earliest forms of what would be categorized today as fidget toys.

When it comes to the different kinds of paper, Japanese paper is often held in high regard because of its smoothness, softness, and ironic toughness. It is often the paper of choice for calligraphy, drafting, and many other disciplines that require paper that can withstand the merciless stabbing and slicing of a sharp pen nib. It is also perfect for sketching art, creating designs, and any other creative pursuit, accepting your ideas and your mistakes with the serenity and openness of a blank page.

These are the thoughts and emotions that will welcome you whenever you take out these Drawing Pads mounted on a black base. The classic white paper invites a clean start, while the contrasting color of the black mount gives a foundation of stability, anchoring the infinite to the finite. The black paper, in comparison, intrigues and challenges the mind, blending seamlessly into its black base. It’s like the darkness at the infancy of the universe, the pause before a Bing Bang of creativity.

The Black Mount isn’t merely for show, of course. It holds the paper sheets together right at the perforated header, making it effortless to tear off pages, hopefully for filing. It is also made from recycled cardboard, making both paper and base a statement of sustainability as they are of creativity. Even when the end of their use comes, your conscience remains as clear as the paper this pad once held.

Whether it’s for professional work or for simply letting your creative juices splash, paper remains the perfect medium that will withstand even this age of apps and computers. Simple yet beautiful, bare yet full of potential, this Drawing Pad Black Mount lets you ponder, draw, and design with simplicity, a striking visual reminder that sometimes, the best designs and the best products are the simplest ones.

Click Here to Buy Now: $24

The post Bring the coveted Japanese paper to your desk with these minimal drawing pads first appeared on Yanko Design.

This prefabricated home combines Scandinavian simplicity with a breezy Californian twist

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Adobu and Koto Design collaborated to design a prefabricated backyard home with off-grid capabilities, marrying Scandinavian design with sustainability.

Based in the English seaside village of Westward Ho!, the architecture studio Koto Design captures the mellow vibe of a day spent at the seashore and translates it to the home space. Inspired by Scandinavian simplicity and Japanese minimalism, the result comes through breezy, open floor layouts and organic building materials.

Designer: Koto Design x Adobu

The architecture studio is known for its extensive catalog of sustainable, prefabricated tiny homes that can be transported to locations across the globe. In a recent collaboration with the USA-based, backyard home-building company Adobu, the two studios worked together to construct a tiny, prefabricated home that marries Scandinavian design with a Californian twist.

From the outside, the backyard cabin appears like one of Koto Design’s signature tiny homes, topped off with a slightly torqued roof. While its original look maintains an elemental, wooden look without any paint, buyers can choose from an array of different finishes. The organic facades merge with large, floor-to-ceiling windows that are meant to embrace a semi-outdoor lifestyle, a common touch in Californian architecture.

Inside, the large windows work to keep the interior living spaces airy and bright, like a day spent seaside. Integrated storage compartments line the perimeter of the interior rooms to maintain the flexibility that an open-floor layout provides. Additionally, built-in furniture, like a window bench in the dining area, creates space for guests and residents to relax without introducing more furniture pieces to crowd the floor.

Koto Design is committed to delivering sustainable, prefabricated homes that don’t compromise on comfort. Each tiny home built with Adobu takes around four months to finish offsite construction, while the onsite assembly is completed in some weeks. In collaboration with Adobu, the two studios can now offer carbon-neutral homes in the USA that have a 60+ year lifespan, on and off-grid capabilities, and are built to full housing standards.

Once the tiny home finishes offsite construction, Adobu can assemble the tiny home onsite in a matter of weeks. 

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A Japanese joinery method integrated in these reusable pencils helps utilise those tiny pencil stubs

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Tsugite is a reusable pencil system that uses a Japanese joinery method called tsugite.

Sometimes the most innovative and long-lasting designs are rooted in simplicity and tradition. Trusted to construct temples, shrines, and homes in Japan, Tsugite is an ancient joinery method that connects pieces of timber together without nails. Cut into artful finishes, each end of timber links together with its corresponding timber end by sliding into place, like a plug into a socket. Inspired by this masterful craftsmanship, Korean designer Jaewan Park created a collection of pencils called Tsugite that uses the joinery method to replace pencil tips.

Designer: Jaewan Park

Once pencils are too short to use, we have DIY solutions that offer temporary relief, but usually, we end up just reaching for a new pencil. Sticking a pen cap to the pencil’s eraser end helps give the pencil some length, but at that point, you might as well use the pen. In an effort to reduce the waste collected from finished pencils, Park conceptualized a reusable system. Tsugite is essentially made up of two pieces: the pencil’s body and the pencil’s detachable tip.

Park conceptualized Tsugite to come in a pack, stored with around twelve pencil bodies and their corresponding ends. The pencil body was crafted to form an arrow-shaped end piece that links into a horseshoe-shaped pencil tip. Once the pencil’s tip is too dull for use, the same body can still be used and another tip piece can be attached. While no hardware or joinery pieces are required to join the two modules together, users can rest assured the pencil tip and body are secure in place considering this same crafty joinery method is relied upon to build homes.

Park conceptualized Tsugite to come in a pack of 12 pencils.

Both ends of the pencil’s shaft will have slots for other end modules to attach.

If it weren’t for the different wood gradients, the two pieces would form a seamless connection. 

Once the modules are connected, the pencil tip is securely fastened and won’t go anywhere.

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Top 10 Japanese architecture trends of 2022

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There’s something about Japanese-inspired architecture that instantly soothes your soul, and envelops you in a warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe it’s the unique minimalism, the timeless elegance, the artful usage of wood, or simply the zen-like essence of the structures. Whatever it may be, whenever I come across a Japanese-inspired building, I instantly feel like making it my home, or else I feel like Marie Kondo-ing my own home and giving it a makeover, hoping to integrate some of the clean and clear Japan design philosophy I just encountered. In this spirit of admiration for Japanese architecture, we’ve curated a collection of simple, tasteful, and heartwarming designs that’ll add a bit of Japanese zen to your otherwise hectic workday! From Japanese tiny homes that feature a honeycomb frame to a Japanese A-frame structure that looks like it jumped straight out of a cozy Ghibli movie – these intricate structures promise to be the epitome of Japanese warmth and minimalism.

1. 2nd Home

2nd Home is a series of tiny homes planned and built by Japanese startup SANU with minimal building material to immerse travelers in the wonder of nature for a quick respite from the hustle of city living. In planning and constructing the collection of honeycomb timber cabins, SANU ensured a lightweight, replicable design using only a small number of building materials to get the job done. Each 2nd Home cabin is built prefabricated from 100% Japanese cedar and fastened to the site by six piles, which hardly impact the preexisting landscape. Considering the cabin’s easy assembly system, SANU built 2nd Home to be easily dismantled as well, allowing the building materials to be reused for future projects.

2. Hara Hara

The Japanese studio Takeru Shoji Architects created a tent-shaped home named Hara Hara in an agricultural village in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. Designed to look like a tent, the home was created with multiple openings, inculcating a direct connection with the neighborhood and surroundings, allowing neighbors to stop by and have a quick chat in ease. The client wanted an open and welcoming home, that encouraged free-flowing communication with the surrounding buildings. Hara Hara is a simple and minimal two-story home built from timber, with a sloping triangular roof, adding to the tent-like impression of the home. Workshops, events, meetings and other gatherings held in the home can easily extend beyond the house as well, creating an extensive, engaging, and communal space where people can conveniently meet, connect and interact.

3. Minima

Minima is a 215-square-foot (20-square-meter) prefab module designed to be a flexible structure to serve as a standalone tiny home or as an additional unit in the backyard that can be used as a home office or spacious guest house. It is constructed with CLT (cross-laminated timber) which is a sustainable material and cuts down on the carbon emissions that concrete produces. The modern micro-home is giving me major Japandi vibes! The boxy exterior is clad with a skin of cypress battens and a steel roof which maintains its minimal look. The unit has a streamlined, modern profile that still feels warm and human-centric.

4. The Nook

Brimming with artisanal goods and artwork of local craftsmen and artists, The Nook was designed to bring the handcrafted touch of the old world into the modern era. Described as a “collection of stories,” Belleme designed The Nook to link his personal history to the surrounding forest and architecture of the cabin. The tiny cabin is constructed from a collection of locally felled trees that Belleme memorized during a five-year stint spent in the Appalachian woods, during which he learned primitive building skills like creating a path of hand-split logs that leads to The Nook’s front entrance. The timber that gives rise to The Nook varies between white oak, red oak, black walnut, and black locust all to mirror the trees that surround the tiny cabin.

5. The House in Akashi

Designed by Arbol, The House in Akashi is a minimal bungalow created from timber, placed in a quaint neighborhood. The home’s most intriguing feature are the three artfully hidden interior courtyards, which can be used for growing food and drying laundry. The courtyards form the central section of the home, with the remaining space and rooms facing towards them. Subtle openings and slits in the wooden facade allow one to look out into the street, and also bring in natural ventilation and lighting into the home. The entire home seems to be lacking doors, with each space flowing freely into another, with only small steps or changes in the floor finishing to create a differentiation between them.

6. Four Leaves Villa

Four Leaves Villa designed by Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS) is a form of organic architecture with a gently twisted, multi-tiered roof that mimics the sloping curve of fallen leaves and a central garden courtyard, the home’s concealed centerpiece. Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture with a primary goal of harmonizing human habitation with nature. Following the philosophy of organic architecture, the varying orientations of Four Leaves Villa’s living and dining spaces were specifically chosen with consideration to the use of each space and the amount of natural sunlight that might benefit each room’s function.

7. Goan

Japanese architect and architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori is known for his quirky teahouses and fondness for unusual city structures. His latest tea house transports an elf’s cottage from the pages of a fairytale to the concrete of Tokyo. Featuring grassy facades, timber treated with yakisugi, and a lofty vista point, the teahouse, called Goan, is sightly positioned in front of the new National Stadium of Tokyo where it remained until 5 September 2021 in celebration of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Poking out from the corner of one facade, visitors can crawl through a circular hole, traditionally known as a ‘Nijiriguchi,’ to gain entry to the tea room’s interior. Moving inside, visitors pass through the grassy exterior and are welcomed by an entirely unstained wooden first floor. Functioning as a reinterpretation of ‘Nijiriguchi,’ a small wooden staircase and ladder connects the bottom floor with the upper tea room.

8. The Cardboard Sleep Capsule

The Cardboard Sleep Capsule was designed for those experiencing displacement from natural disasters like earthquakes or medical emergencies, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Atelier OPA constructed the Cardboard Sleep Capsule to unfold into two floors, containing two sleeping areas, a set of stairs, and a separate working space equipped with a desk and chair. The capsule shelter comes prefabricated with a foldable design, comprising a compact shipping size when folded, shrinking down to ¼ the size of its unfolded dimensions. Carrying such a small folded size, the Cardboard Sleep Capsule has been received positively by international governments, who have thought of storing the cardboard castles away before use in public gymnasiums and emergency arenas.

9. Kengo Kuma’s Pavilion

The designers behind Harumi’s temporary pavilion used a steel frame as the structure’s base, over which CLT panels were overlaid to create a multi-paneled facade that spirals and crests towards the open sky. CLT panels, or Cross-Laminated Timber, are appealing for their prefabricated, lightweight yet durable quality and their neat installation process which has a low overall environmental impact. While the CLT panels form a zig-zag pattern and overlap one another from their orthogonal gluing process, exposed gaps of open-air needed covering. Preparing for fits of bad weather, KKAA bordered the gaps of air with transparent pieces of copolymer film called, TEFKA.

10. Iam Sauna

Iam Sauna is a lovely tent-style sauna provided with a wood-burning stove that allows people to enjoy the outdoors even in the cold weather to regain the lost energy after a long day. A Japanese-style sauna tent is extremely portable; you can carry it along whether you’re biking it up or driving for a picnic with your family. In addition to portable design, the sauna tent is effortless to set up. A single person can install the tent in under a minute. One will be required to stretch out the pull tabs on all four sides and instantly, a stable and usable tent is ready. Heat up the wood-burning stove and in minutes you have your personal sauna ready. Whether you’re tired after a hike or simply want to experience a sauna by the lake, Iam Sauna can let you do that.

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