Category Archives: fun links

Fun Link Friday: Viewing Cherry Blossoms in Art

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Paula

This week has been conference recovery, so here’s a quick Fun Link Friday for you all. If you’re missing out on cherry blossom viewing this year (either because you can’t travel or it’s best not to gather at crowded sites) … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: A Single Sheet Samurai

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Paula

Are you serious about origami? How serious is serious? Because according to Colossal, Finnish artist Juho Könkkölä might have you beat. Using upwards of thousands of individual folds, Könkkölä spent 50+ hours creating a fully-armored origami samurai figure using only one … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Lego Great Wave

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Paula

Are you a fan of art? Of LEGOs? LEGO art? I think we all are. Which is why it was so cool this amazing piece from Jumpei Mitsui, Japan’s only certified professional LEGO builder (did not know that was a … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Bamboo Art of Tanabe Chikuunsai IV

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Paula

Every now and then the internet recirculates something super cool from several years ago that didn’t make it onto my radar but is perfect for a Fun Link Friday! This week I’ve come across Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, a Japanese artist … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Kimono Craft Past & Present

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Paula

Without a doubt, one of Japan’s most iconic symbols is the kimono. A recent Atlas Obscura article highlighted Chiso, one particular kimono-producing company in Kyoto that has purportedly been in business since 1555. Dedicated to hand-crafted, artisanal details, Chiso’s workshop only … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Snow Monkey Relaxation

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Paula

Are you feeling the weight of winter? Wishing there was a way to relax a bit and just hang? While many of us can’t travel to Japan right now, we can still appreciate those who are coping better with winter … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Contemporary Ukiyo-e in Airbrush

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Paula

Here at Shinpai Deshou we’re no stranger to fun ukiyo-e-related news, whether it’s the chance to make your own mish-mashed print or see prints as animated gifs. Today’s fun link is to the works of a contemporary ukiyo-e artist, Ishikawa … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Food-inspired inks 🍜

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Paula

Just a quickie Fun Link Friday today, folks. In keeping with the love of food-inspired crafts from Japan, I was fascinated to come across SoraNews24’s recent exploration of stationery based on local foods of Nagasaki. The one that particularly caught … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Original Kanji Contest

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Paula

Everyone knows that there’s nothing fun about the pandemic and it’s certainly been on all of our minds for months and months now. This past year Grape brought to our attention that there has been a contest for ten years+ … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Supernatural Cats

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Paula

Are obsessions with cute cats and cat pics global across time and space? An article from September 2020 by Zack Davisson that appeared in Smithsonian Magazine takes a look at this phenomenon in Japan, at least, and explores the appearance … Continue reading →

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