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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.
For Mio Yamada's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jul 28, 2021
Mate-mono: Changing the fabric of Japan’s textile industry
With mate-mono, Komatsu Matere is taking the inevitable quantities of leftover and cut-off fabric that come from manufacturing and creating stylish sustainability.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jul 4, 2021
No time to die, but a great time to wear a maekake apron
Once standard workwear for tradespeople, Anything Co. Ltd.'s maekake feature contemporary graphic designs, iconic ukiyo-e prints, manga characters and sports team logos.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jun 20, 2021
Getting the dirt on Japan’s latest clay creations
Today, tiles are an architectural staple. Many are still made using traditional techniques, and some manufacturers are finding creative ways to revamp their wares for a wider audience.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
May 23, 2021
Japan’s latest woodwork designs go against the grain
“On: Design” introduces innovative new products inspired by traditional bamboo and wood crafts.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Apr 18, 2021
Boutique design hotels for the discerning staycationer
Beautifully designed and reasonably priced, “On: Design” checks out four new hotels that offer out-of-the-ordinary stays.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 17, 2021
‘Culture Gate’ brings top-flight artworks to Japan’s airports
Dozens of works are now on display in terminal buildings across Japan as part of a major media arts exhibition split between seven airports and one international cruise port.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Mar 27, 2021
Keisuke Sugiyama: ‘Being able to experience the past through art is extremely exciting’
As an associate professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design, Keisuke Sugiyama is using a wide array of tools to convey his love of art.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Mar 20, 2021
Japanese designers make haste to reduce waste
With Earth Day coming up next month, “On: Design” looks into a few initiatives that address Japan's plastic waste problem.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 28, 2021
Top 5: The sweetest of Tokyo's wagashi offerings
A traditional confectionery, sweet Japanese 'wagashi' pair exquisitely with green tea and are definitely a sight to behold.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Feb 27, 2021
Aichi Design Vision: Manufacturing collabs inspire creative homeware projects
As a way to promote manufacturing industries in Aichi Prefecture, Aichi Design Vision paired companies with up-and-coming designers to create brand new homeware products.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Jan 23, 2021
The ultimate colors to illuminate your 2021
“On Design” looks at a few recent product releases that highlight Pantone's newest color(s) of the year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Dec 26, 2020
Cow design collaborations to steer 2021 in the right direction
“On Design” looks to 2021, the Year of the Ox (or cow, depending on who you ask), with a few design collaborations featuring the auspicious bovine.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 19, 2020
There’s a story behind each of Makiko Minagawa’s textiles
The former textile director of Miyake Design Studio is still pushing the boundaries of natural fabric, craftsmanship and sustainability.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 3, 2020
Issey Miyake and New Balance tie-ups take textiles to the next level
Exhibitions showcasing the fashion brands' creative collaborations with artists highlight the evolution of fabrics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Nov 28, 2020
Material Market finds beauty in recycling Japan’s craft waste
With a slick, minimalist design, Material Market is one of the few ventures in Japan that allows the general public to purchase craft waste materials.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Nov 22, 2020
Work from home in style with these design-focused office goods
As remote working becomes the norm, “On: Design” picks its favorite interior goods designed to help make the home office space less of an eyesore.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Oct 29, 2020
Designart Tokyo forges ahead with hybrid approach
Like many industries, design, art and fashion has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic — from major exhibitions and trade fair cancellations to drops in consumer sales.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Oct 24, 2020
‘Handmade in Japan’: A cross-country journey with traditional artisans
Irwin Wong's personal project, which began with photos of craftspeople he admired, is now an insightful deep dive on Japan's traditional crafts.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Oct 18, 2020
Niigata Prefecture’s Hyakunen-Monogatari crafts a home in Tokyo
The project's theme is “The Tools are Suitable for u2018Ourselves From Here On.'” Here are a few “On: Design” favorites from the initiative.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 27, 2020
Goro Koyama, PI: A private investigator who serves the international community
From trailing secret lovers to suspicious dentists, Goro Koyama says his job isn't quite what you see portrayed in film noir.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces