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Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make

Elliot Hale
Apr 16, 2026
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Gorgeous and tiny, yet contains the potential to break spirits and thumbs.

Japan
(art • arts and crafts • beautiful • bonsai • COK • craft • crafts • cute • DIY • interior • miniature • miniature trees • sakura • SNJO • Tokyo)

Mino City’s traditional paper lanterns illuminate its historic streets this fall

Elliot Hale
Oct 10, 2025

The annual exhibition creates an enchanting town of light amid the fiery colors of autumn trees.

Japan
(art • art exhibition • autumn colors • autumn leaves • COK • craft • culture • exhibition • fall colors • fall leaves • Gifu • Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings • Mino City • Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition • paper lanterns • Ryoko Yokota • traditional craft • udatsu • washi • washi lanterns)

Kenbishi Shuzo sake brewery commits to production of traditional wooden sake barrels

Krista Rogers
Dec 11, 2024

One of Japan’s oldest breweries carries on the craft as UNESCO registers Japanese sake brewing as Intangible Cultural Heritage this month.

Japan
(alcohol • barrel • craft • culture • Hyogo • Intangible Cultural Heritage • Kenbishi Shuzo • sake • UNESCO • UNESCO World Heritage)

Make miniatures of your miniatures with this kit from Mozu

Elliot Hale
Oct 10, 2024

Creating the perfect Japanese apartment for the Borrowers in your life.

Japan
(art • COK • craft • crafts • event • exhibition • mini • miniature • Minituart • Mozu • papercraft • Sankei • Saya Togashi • SNJO • tiny • tiny art)

Traditional silverwork pairs with the power of the moon in this stunning Silver Crystal pendant

Krista Rogers
May 23, 2023

We can neither confirm nor deny whether wearing this necklace will transform you into Eternal Sailor Moon.

Japan
(collaboration • craft • Eternal Moon Article • Eternal Sailor Moon • film • Hirado Zaiku • jewelry • movie • necklace • pendant • Premico • Sailor Moon • Sailor Moon Cosmos • Silver Crystal)

Kids magazine comes with functioning ticket gate machine, makes beeping sounds when gates open

Katie Pask
Feb 28, 2022

New edition of children’s magazine Youchien even has adults reaching for their wallets.

Japan
(cool • craft • crafts • densha otaku • JR • JR East • jr ticket machine • kids • kids craft • kindergarten • magazine • papercraft • train)

New clothing collection using upcycled meisen silk kimono aims to reweave modern culture

Krista Rogers
Oct 26, 2021

Pop-up stores in Gunma Prefecture will also showcase these fashion items that bridge the past and present.

Japan
(Ay • clothing • craft • creative reuse • fashion • kimono • meisen • silk • traditional modern • upcycle)

Lego’s new Botanical Collection opens up a world of permanent petal play for stressed adults

Katy Kelly
Jan 9, 2021

Indulge your inner child in a more mature manner with Lego’s new bonsai and flower bouquet sets.

Japan
(arts and crafts • bonsai • craft • florals • flowers • interior design • LEGO • toys • toys for adults)

We build miniature Japanese samurai warrior armour out of metal

Oona McGee
Dec 24, 2020

This palm-sized warrior tries our patience in all sorts of ways.

Japan
(armor • armour • art • COK • craft • diorama • model kits • models • samurai • samurai armor • SNJO • traditional Japan)

We build a miniature Japanese oden stall with gorgeous results

Oona McGee
Dec 21, 2020

The amount of detail in this little yatai food cart will instantly transport you to the streets of Japan.

Japan
(art • COK • craft • diorama • food • food stalls • food trucks • gourmet • model kits • models • oden • SNJO • traditional Japan • yatai)

Crafty and creative Twitter user shares how-to videos for dazzling autumn leaf origami

Krista Rogers
Nov 12, 2019

These simple but clever designs are sure to enchant not only the children but the grown-ups as well.

Internet, Japan
(autumn • craft • fall • leaves • origami • season • twitter • video)

Japanese gamer recreates battle screen from Dragon Quest – using 15,000 cotton swabs

Oona McGee
Sep 8, 2016

The impressive five-piece handmade set also includes an adorable Slime!

Japan
(anime • art • awesome • cool • cotton swabs • craft • crafty • diorama • Dragon Quest • gamers • games • gaming)

Ojiya Chijimi: the amazing centuries-old Japanese craft that bleaches kimono textiles with snow

Oona McGee
Jun 16, 2016

These stunning images show how craftsmen keep their UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage alive during the coldest months of the year.

Art, Culture, Japan
(craft • craftsmen • fabrics • local craft • Niigata • Ojiya Chijimi • textiles • tradition • UNESCO)

Japanese candy craftsman creates new line of lollipops with traditional summer themes

Oona McGee
Jun 9, 2016

Designed to resemble traditional uchiwa fans, these exquisite lollipops are amongst the prettiest sweets in Tokyo.

Culture, Cute, Food & Drink, Japan
(art • Asakusa • Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin • candy • craft • lollipops • Shinri Tezuka • sweets • Tokyo • Tokyo Skytree • traditional sweets)

This needle felting artist is recreating people’s pet cats down to the last furry detail【Photos】

Evie Nyan
Feb 2, 2016

Fancy a purr-fect replica of your very own feline friend? This Japanese needle-felting artist recreates kitties in stunning, realistic detail to order.

Japan
(artist • cats • craft • cute • Kawaii • needle felting)

Japanese candy artisan opens new store below Tokyo Skytree with exclusive sweets

Evie Nyan
Sep 2, 2015

With the Japanese reverence for aesthetically pleasing food, it’s no surprise that candy crafting artisan Shinri Tezuka has made a name for himself with his fantastic sugar creations. As we reported previously, he has been in charge of his own shop, Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin, since 2013, and is perhaps best known for his incredibly lifelike candy goldfish.

Since our last report, Tezuka has been so busy raising his profile by appearing on numerous Japanese television shows and at various events, he’s now been able to open up a second store, right underneath Tokyo Skytree!

Japan
(art • Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin • candy • craft • Shinri Tezuka • Skytree • Tokyo)

Young Japanese artist crafts exquisite animal-shaped candy at his shop in Asakusa

Krista Rogers
May 12, 2015

Remember those traditional Japanese sweets from last summer that were simply divine? Oh, and let’s not forget those cupcakes that were almost too beautiful to eat!

Japan sure knows how to elevate its food to an unparalleled level of art, and today we’d like to introduce you to the works of another master Japanese craftsman of sweets. His life’s passion is creating exquisitely detailed animal-shaped candy, which are so astoundingly intricate that it probably won’t be long before a museum asks to put them on display!

Japan
(art • Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin • beautiful • candy • craft • Shinri Tezuka • sweets)

Cool Nengajo, bro! Check out six of the most awesome New Year’s postcards of 2015!

Evie Nyan
Jan 6, 2015

Nengajo, or New Year’s greeting cards, are a ubiquitous part of the end-of-year season in Japan. Much like Christmas cards in the west, nengajo are sent to family and friends to update them on what you’ve been up to that year. In fact, there are so many nengajo sent at the end of the year that post offices in Japan have to employ students as temporary staff to make sure they meet the delivery deadline of January 1. While there are plenty of preprinted cards available from stationery shops, many people opt to make their own, personalised cards. A nice touch, but results may vary depending on the artistic skills (and sense of humour) of the postcard sender! To show you what we mean, we’ve put together a little list of the best of this year’s nengajo. Some of them are genuinely impressive, while others would make us cringe if the neighbours saw ’em!

Japan
(Anna and the Snow Queen • craft • frozen • Naruto • nengajo • new year • new year cards • oshougatsu • tradition)

Mastered origami? Try the next traditional Japanese paper art: kirie!【Photos】

KK Miller
Dec 24, 2014

Most people who have a fondness for Japan have encountered origami at one point or another. It’s certainly one of the most famous of the Japanese paper arts and the origami crane carries so much more meaning than a simple piece of paper.

Another Japanese art that utilizes the complexities of paper is kirie, or paper cutting art. All it takes is a craft knife, a little dedication and free time and you can turn a black piece of paper into a stand-out work of art. Looking for a new hobby this winter vacation? Look no further than kirie!

Japan
(art • craft • creative • incredible • kirie • paper cutting)

Pawsitively ameowzing! Japan’s crazy cat people create cute crafts with kitty fur

Evie Nyan
Nov 25, 2014

Kitty owners out there will know that the struggle is real when it comes to battling shedding, especially if you have a long-haired cat. But what to do with all those clumps of fur that accumulate after a brushing? Well, netizens in Japan have begun recycling unwanted feline detritus by utilizing an innovative method of crafting to create beautiful works of furry art, meaning that not a whisker needs to be wasted! Join us after the jump for more on these critter creations!