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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 26, 2016
Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten sells the story of Japanese crafts
"I can't ask a craftsperson to make something cheaply, or to produce 1,000 items. I have to find 10 artisans to each create 100 quality items," says Jun Nakagawa, president of the crafts-revitalization business Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten. "That's what makes it tricky."
Mar 11, 2016
matchbaco
Mar 11, 2016
Ikebukuro Hearts Cafe
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Mar 5, 2016
For fine dining a la mode, Issey Miyake and kilns in Arita are putting Japanese aesthetics on the menu.
For fine dining a la mode, Issey Miyake and kilns in Arita are putting Japanese aesthetics on the menu.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Feb 6, 2016
Sweet design, from Japan, with love
As Valentine's Day approaches, stores are always looking to promote unusual sweet ideas — making it a great excuse for designers to rethink candy and, of course, for the rest of us to enjoy the results.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jan 2, 2016
The little things in life
Now that the season of extravagance is over, it's time to kick back and enjoy some of the little things in life.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Dec 5, 2015
Bathed in good design
The traditional Japanese end-of-year "spring clean" is usually when you discover that some of the home's furnishings are a bit worse for wear. So why not look into some stylish investments now, before you get the broom out for the new year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 1, 2015
Otto Kunzli's real 'statement jewelry'
"Cozticteocuilatl is the Aztec term for gold and it literally translates into 'the yellow feces of the gods,' " says Swiss artist Otto Kunzli, who is standing before his work at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. "It's the yellow poops of the gods," he emphasizes as he breaks into a broad smile....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 10, 2015
Seduced by the Undercover labyrinth
It's undeniable that when designer Jun Takahashi founded Undercover — which celebrates its 25th anniversary with its first retrospective at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery — he was strongly influenced by the pioneers of deconstruction fashion Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto. His first few collections...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Oct 31, 2015
Updating tradition at Tokyo Design Week
Promoting Japan's artisanal history and new design
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Oct 3, 2015
Furniture that goes against the grain
Seeing both the wood and the trees
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Sep 5, 2015
Smarten up the work day
As you rethink your wardrobe for the autumnal chill, why not smarten up your work style too?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Aug 4, 2015
Art nouveau's jewels in the crown
As Parisians of the late 19th century reveled in the heady optimism of economic prosperity and enjoyed the innovations spurred by the ongoing Industrial Revolution, Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress and muse of the time, became enamored by two trendsetters: Rene Lalique, then a jewelry maker,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Aug 1, 2015
Get creative and join the competition
If you went to this past weekend's Maker Faire at Tokyo Big Sight, chances are that all the new ideas — both innovative and kooky — have sparked your own creativity. The timing is good, since there are three upcoming design competitions that are not only free to enter, but will also turn winning...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jul 4, 2015
Design that sounds good and looks even better on paper
Folding Tokyo's icons
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Japan Pulse
Jun 19, 2015
Dominique Ansel caters to Tokyo's (semi)sweet tooth with cronuts and s'more
Long queues will mark the spot where Dominique Ansel wil be serving a vast array of creative desserts and, of course, his famed Cronut.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jun 6, 2015
A few ideas that may ring your bell
Someone in your way? You can ring your bell
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
May 2, 2015
Japan's 'Experimental Creations' at Milan Design Week
Last month's Salone del Mobile Milano, also known as Milan Design Week, had a particularly good turnout of innovative Japanese designers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 25, 2015
History that's been brilliantly objectified
When "A History of the World in 100 Objects" aired its final episode on Oct. 22, 2010, millions of loyal listeners eagerly tuned in.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Apr 4, 2015
Something old, something new, something blue

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