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 Mio Yamada

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Mio Yamada
A freelance arts and lifestyle editor and writer, Mio Yamada focuses on design, crafts and architecture. When she’s not visiting galleries and trade fairs, you'll find her taking photos of everything and being distracted by shiny objects. She's also surprisingly British.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Mar 31, 2019
Baku Sakashita: In light of good design
Designer and artisan Baku Sakashita sheds light on his striking Suki series of lamps and the history of design in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Mar 24, 2019
Japan is ready for Milan Salone 2019
As Salone del Mobile (April 9-14) in Milan, Italy, approaches, some of Japan's top designers are now releasing teasers for their contributions to the world's largest interior and furniture fair. This month On: Design previews a few installations that look set to promote Japan's industries in a show-stopping way.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Feb 24, 2019
Japan's hotels design new experiences
Among a crop of new hotels in Japan are several unique establishments aiming to support local artisans, while offering guests experiences that go way beyond a comfy bed and fine dining.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jan 27, 2019
The last 2018 concept winners
Now 2019 is in full swing, On: Design takes a final look at a few of 2018's end of year noteworthy prizewinners.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 22, 2018
Ayako Minase can put a song in your heart
Singer-songwriter Ayako Minase's 'mature pop,' with its fun retro-influences and contemporary sensibilities, comes from the heart.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 12, 2018
Shared spaces, locally produced goods and everyday objects
Making physical connections with people, whether via large-scale events and spaces or design concepts, and a continued celebration of traditional crafts, appeared to be a key direction for design in Japan this year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Dec 2, 2018
When the thought really counts
This month's On: Design focuses on a few everyday items that offer much more than meets the naked eye.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Nov 4, 2018
The kitchen is where the party is
The kitchen may be home to the most everyday objects in the house, but that doesn't mean they all have to be boring in design.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Oct 19, 2018
Designart Tokyo 2018 looks beyond 2021
Designart, Tokyo's annual festival encompassing all creative genres, is a cornucopia of design-related presentations and exhibitions within galleries, shops and event spaces. Celebrating its second iteration at a larger scale this year, the festival has its eyes set on the future: beyond 2021 to be precise....
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Sep 30, 2018
Retro Japan makes another comeback
From Showa Era-style stationery to Heian Period-inspired tenugui towels, contemporary remakes prove 'retro' can still be modern
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Sep 2, 2018
Seeing things from another angle
Design that thrives on different perspectives of the innovative, the classic and the traditional
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 25, 2018
Making the cut in Japan's film industry
Film producer Yukie Kito talks about making movies, her favorite actor and how the entertainment industry in Japan differs to that in the U.S.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Aug 5, 2018
From balancing games to playing with poop
Inspired by the 2018 Good Toy Awards winners, announced in May by the NPO Japan Good Toy Association, this month's On: Design takes a look at a few aesthetically pleasing items to help keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jul 28, 2018
Photography: A journey of passion and joy
Name: Nico Perez
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jul 1, 2018
From Tokyo to London: This is the house that Japan built
As London's new cultural hub of all things Japanese, Japan House London's minimalist interiors, striking central spiral staircase, displays of nnovative design, art and architectural works and classy top-floor restaurant impressively avoid the all-too-easy preconceptions about Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jun 9, 2018
Takaoka crafts a new tourism industry
In the entrance of Nousaku in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, a group of schoolchildren skip by and point excitedly at an eclectic display of hundreds of brightly colored objects. Other visitors, meanwhile, look down in wonder toward the concrete floor, where a huge golden silhouette of the Japanese archipelago...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 13, 2018
Twenty-five years in the company of Maywa Denki
Maywa Denki, Japan's 'parallel-world electric company' celebrates quarter of a century of wacky art performances, peculiar gadgets and lots of humor.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / NEW IN TOWN
May 2, 2018
Kungyokudo, Japan's oldest purveyor of incense, upgrades for launch of Tokyo flagship
The first branch of Kungyokudo, Japan’s oldest incense supplier, opened near Tokyo Station on April 26, and despite how it might appear on paper, it’s a very good fit.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Apr 28, 2018
Hawken King: Staying on his game in Tokyo
Designer-programmer and founder of games studio Dadako talks about unlocked achievements and life in Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Apr 4, 2018
Artist Rob Judges: A boombox of creativity
Inspired by retro vibes, hip-hop, street slang and graffiti, artist Rob Judges says be unique and don't succumb to all the new tech of today.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?