Tag Archives: fun link friday

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 →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged fun link friday, gifts, Japan, Japanese culture, paper, wrapping | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged ancient Japan, culture, fun link friday, Japanese art, photography, tattoo | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Tea-making Robot

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Paula

Although I try to keep our Fun Link Fridays in English so that they’re accessible to readers of all levels, I can’t resist this hilarious tea-making robot, which appeared yesterday in Yahoo! Japan news. Identified as Sadō Robo 151A, this … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged fun link friday, Japanese culture, tea, tea ceremony, traditional Japanese culture | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Japan to build wooden skyscraper

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Paula

Though this news broke a couple weeks ago, it’s still fascinating to read about and making the rounds on various online news outlets. A Japanese wood products company, Sumitomo Forestry, is presently making plans to create a gigantic wooden skyscraper … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged architecture, construction, environment, fun link friday, Japan, wood | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Laser-cut Stationery Surprises

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Paula

Although this is old news by internet standards, This is Colossal posted last week about a new memo pad produced by the Japanese company Triad that reveals hidden architectural features or objects as you use up your everyday notes. Called … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged architecture, art, fun link friday, Japan, Japanese culture, laser-cutting, paper | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Traditional Indigo Dyeing

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Paula

A quickie Fun Link Friday today for those of you slogging your way back from the holidays! Great Big Story recently posted a video on traditional indigo dyeing in Japanese culture. Did you know that indigo is fire-retardant? Or even … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged dye, fun link friday, indigo, Japan, Japanese culture, Textiles, traditional arts | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Tsumami Zaiku/Kanzashi crafts

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Paula

Ever wonder how your tiny flower or animal ornament omiyage in Japan are made? The art of tsumami zaiku or tsumami kanzashi, in which a person carefully folds and glues tiny squares of cloth into elegant designs dates back to the … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged fun link friday, Japanese art, Japanese crafts, tsumami kanzashi, tsumami zaiku | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Newspaper Animal Sculptures by Chie Hitotsuyama

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Paula

Who says the age of newspapers is over? Artist Chie Hitotsuyama has certainly found a good use for them! She creates masterful, incredibly realistic sculptures of animals and people using primarily rolled up newspapers. The effect of carefully manipulating sections … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged art, fun link friday, Japanese art, paper, sculpture | 1 Comment

Fun Link Friday: Haiku Contest!

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Paula

A quickie fun link for those haiku (and tea!) lovers out there. The well-known tea company Oi Ocha is hosting a “new haiku” contest that is open from now through February 28. All ages and nationalities are welcome to submit … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged contest, fun link friday, haiku, ocha, Oi Ocha, poetry | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Learning the Language of Crows

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Paula

As if crows weren’t terrifying enough around the world (and especially in Japan, where they are basically the size of small dogs), new studies are taking our interactions with them to the next level. Recently highlighted in an NHK World video, researcher … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged bird, birds, crows, fun link friday, Japan, nature | Leave a comment