Ahh, natsu (夏)… It means “summer” in Japanese, and also happens to be the first two syllables in the word natsukashii (懐かしい), which is “nostalgic.”…

Movie sign painters are very scarce in Japan. Once a thriving career in the golden age of cinema, only a handful of them are active…

Last year, the Heisei Period ended after about 30 years and here we are now in Reiwa, the new era of Japan. Time flies by…

Some of our readers may recall the work of Japanese illustrator Rokuban 六番, whom we first had the pleasure of introducing in 2018. At the…

Gogo no Kōcha and Pocky: A Popular Valentine’s Day Collaboration In February 2015, Kirin Beverages’ popular black tea brand Gogo no Kōcha 午後の紅茶 and Glico’s…

As she explains on her Tumblr profile, Sapporo-based illustrator TAO is particularly fond of cats, Showa Era things, and sneakers. With their cheerful tone and…

“I want to make art that somehow resonates with the viewer” Japanese illustrator Rokuban draws fictional cities and urban megastructures that seem to combine a…

A wintry coat of snow can make the best sightseeing spots of Japan even more appealing, as we’ve seen in Kyoto, for example. However, in…

The neighborhood of Yurakucho in Tokyo is known today as a shopping and dining area, but also for its rows of restaurants and casual eateries…