Category Archives: fun links

Fun Link Friday: Miniature Bonsai Sculptures

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Paula

In the past we’ve featured some neat Friday features on bonsai, like magnetic tree bases for your favorite trees or bonsai in space, and this week there’s even more fun to be had! Forbes recently featured the Japanese artist Takanori Aiba, … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Early Sound & Video Footage of Japan

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Paula

This week is a quick Fun Link Friday, as I don’t have much info on the origins of these audiovisual materials. These videos have been making their rounds lately, and so far as I can tell people have taken them … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Rice paddy art of Inakadate 2018

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Paula

Every year when I remember that Inakadate in Aomori prefecture has new rice paddy art for us to enjoy, I get excited all over again! Each summer they pick new themes and create dramatic, beautiful images from variations of white, … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: The view from the shogun’s (toilet) seat?

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Paula

In case you needed a little more excitement on your visit to the bathrooms at Kyoto station, The Asahi Shimbun reported that through August 16, the subway station paneled the inside of two of their stalls (one in the men’s … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Portraits of samurai

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Paula

I’ve been majorly guilty of neglecting our Fun Link Friday posts, being busy this last month running the medieval komonjo workshop here at Michigan, but as the summer winds down I’m starting to catch up on my blogging duties! So … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Food Waste Tableware

Posted on June 15, 2018 by LM

Anyone who has the pleasure of working with me knows I take food waste and garbage sorting Very Seriously. I found this Design Boom article on Japanese designer Kosuke Araki, who creates series of tableware and vessels using daily food waste with the intention to make … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Japanese “tips”

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Paula

Travelers to Japan are often surprised to discover that tipping at restaurants is not expected. So what is left behind after our meals at a restaurant? Starting in 2012, Yuki Tatsumi began to think about this question. Working as a … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Traditional Japanese Colors

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Paula

A quickie fun link for you all while I’m out of town! Have you ever been told that the color of a gift from Japan is in a very traditional color? Or wondered, when translating, exactly what color that kanji … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Japanese gift wrapping

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Paula

Are you the kind of person who loves or dreads wrapping their gifts at every birthday and holiday season? Those who have been to Japan are probably very familiar with the seemingly mystical power of store clerks who wrap your … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Jomon-pattern tattoos

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Paula

Thanks to Corey Noxon over at ArcheoJapan, I became aware of an exhibit that was reported on back in 2016 connected to both ancient culture and traditions in the archipelago and modern tattoo practice. A collaborative project between the well-known tattoo … Continue reading →

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