Category Archives: Made In Japan

June 26

The Cat Shaming Vending Machine

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How did you guess that the moment I caught a glimpse of this vending machine filled with cat shaming gachagacha, all my laundry coins would be history? There was only one problem… I got the first four before running out of coins, but how could I not come back to try for the mystery cat? […]

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June 09

Dinosaurs Delightfully Invade The Real World

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I hope you’re in Japan right now, because dinosaurs are invading the Marui Annex in Shinjuku! These delightfully believable photos of the archaic denizens mingling with the good people of Earth (and their pets) will be on display for your infinite enjoyment from June 12 – 23 (2019). These photos are from artist/scientist Ken Tsuchiya of the Gunma […]

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June 08

Japanese Gift Boxes of Overwhelming Cuteness

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Gifting in Japan requires that the wrapping be nearly as precious as what’s inside, but I can never remember how to tie a traditional silk furoshiki without the book that reminds me how to fold and tuck the corners so it doesn’t turn out looking like I’m offering someone a wad of laundry. But even […]

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May 31

Move Over, Monkeys! See-no Evil, Hear-no-Evil, Speak-no-Evil Cats Are Here

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Sticking to the straight and narrow has never been cuter, thanks to these adorable kittycat gacha-gacha toys, and the vending machine that dispenses them on the Yanaka Ginza shopping street. But most of all… • While you’re in Japan, read a novel set in Tokyo! “A genuinely gripping crime thriller which wrong-foots and perplexes the reader […]

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May 25

Crispy Intestine Snacks

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Despite the fact that this new snack is called “Addictive Intestines,” I’m afraid you won’t find me bingeing a bucket ‘o crispy innards while Netflixing my way through a Saturday night, even though they boast not just one, but two kinds of squicky bits. They do make it easy to pick through the mix for […]

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February 02

Tokyo International Quilt Festival 2019 PART TWO: Just Beautiful

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It was so hard to choose only a few quilts to feature from the embarrassment of riches at this year’s Tokyo International Quilt Festival, but here are some of the overall stunners, and a couple that had details to die for. • You can see why this piece won the 2018 Machine Quilting Award… • […]

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January 25

Tokyo International Quilt Festival 2019 PART ONE: Eyepopping Japanese Motif Quilts

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I didn’t think it was possible to be more blown away than I was in 2016, by the sheer artistry and sewing chops I ogled at the Tokyo International Quilt Festival, but yesterday it happened again. In fact, there are so many quilts I want to show you, I’m going to break this into two […]

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