Kirby’s Adventure – 1993 Developer Interview
—How did you come up with the idea for the adorable character of Kirby? Sakurai: Just after I joined Nintendo, they were accepting game design plans for “a game that anyone could enjoy.” That go…
The archive
Art & Culture
Browse art & culture in the Akihabara archive.
Mozu Studios creates impressive tiny rooms full of details
led by a young japanese artist, mozu studios creates incredible tiny rooms that are full of details. the initiative started as a class project where mozu did a tiny replica of his own room which took…
Art Student’s 407-Piece Hand-Carved Wooden Clock Literally Writes The Time
Suzuki Kango is a 22-year-old senior student in product design from Zao City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, close to Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, where the university is located. After h…
Mile-Long Wooden Xylophone Plays Bach in Japanese Forest
While music and design may not seem to go hand in hand at first glance, a giant mile-long xylophone certainly fits the bill for both. After all, it’s likely the only instrument on the planet tha…
Stump Chair by Satoshi Itasaka
Designer Satoshi Itasaka has created Stump Chair, a highly durable, functioning chair made entirely from excess fabric from the fast fashion industry. This excess fabric is typically disposed of at b…
“Morisada’s Sketches”: A One-Man Encyclopedia of Edo-Period Cultural Differences
Japan’s long-running rivalry between the west of the country, including the old capital of Kyoto, and the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo) in the east has fostered regional cultural differences. K…
Aomori Art and Archeology
Aomori’s artistry thrived all the way back in the Jomon period (13,000–300 BC). This era was named for the cord markings on its pottery, a decorative practice that would develop into intricate variat…
Design Art Tokyo kicks off this week, transforming the city into an open air museum
Beginning this Friday, October 23, 2020, the annual Design Art Tokyo descends upon the city, transforming retailers and cafes and all sorts of venues into galleries. For 12 days, Tokyo becomes an ope…
Seasonal Winds of Change Blow Through the Colorful Paintings of Ayune Shojima
Japanese painter Ayune Shojima creates colorful oil paintings filled with flora and fauna that seemingly overflow from the canvas. In her new series titled “Circle of Wind,” Shojima illustrates the s…
Kenzo Takada remembered for style that meant 'freedom for the woman’s body'
The fashion world has paid tribute to the Japanese designer Kenzo Takada, who has died aged 81 after contracting Covid-19 in France, describing him as a man of “energy, kindness and talent” whos…