Japan Archives — Colossal

a small paper figure made from numerous layers of colored paper on a flexible central axis so that it looks like an anthropomorphized pear

Say Hello to PÉPET, a Pear-Shaped, Palm-Size Paper Pal

September 11, 2026

a gif of Blackwing pencils being produced on a conveyor line

Go Behind the Scenes of Blackwing Pencils’ Ode to Analog Creativity

September 4, 2026

an aerial view of a carpet of colorful dahlias in Brussels' Grand-Place, arranged in a magenta-and-orange iteration of Hokusai's "Wave"

Brussels’ Grand-Place Is Carpeted with 750,000 Fresh Dahlias in a Tribute to Hokusai

August 19, 2026

a silkscreen print by Ay-O of a prismatic, abstract volcano

‘Modern Japanese Printmakers’ Celebrates Vibrant Mid-20th-Century Innovation

December 31, 2025

a carved wooden sculpture by Ikuo Inada of a figure standing with a blanket over their head as if very sleepy

A Japanese Exhibition Places Contemporary Woodcarving Within the Continuum of Art History

October 22, 2025

an installation view of a room-size installation by Yasuaki Onishi made of hundreds of copper forms connected by wire

Yasuaki Onishi Suspends Thousands of Copper Foil Molds in an Undulating Framework

September 4, 2025

a color woodblock print of a couple of boats along a coastline with trees and rocks

Vibrant Woodblock Prints Traverse a Bygone Japan in ‘Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road’

May 6, 2025

Tomoko Kubo’s Hiragana Embroideries Double as Japanese Language Learning Devices

April 7, 2025

a detail of a multi-paned glass wall sculpture featuring a clear rectangle of solid glass with a frosty impression inside of plants with bubbles

Rui Sasaki Encases Spectral Flowers in Intimate Glass Assemblages

March 10, 2025

an illustration of a black cat wearing a kimono, standing in front of a pink background and holding a blue-and-white bowl with daffodils as a white betta fish swims in front of its face

Felines Evoke ‘A Floating World’ in Tùng Nâm’s Illustrations

February 19, 2025

a large ceramic sculpture of a an abstract face in a green-to-pink gradient, installed on a pallet-inspired wood pedestal

Whimsical Ceramic Sculptures by En Iwamura Evoke Ancient Traditions and Childlike Curiosity

February 6, 2025

an abstract wall hanging made from rice straw

Rice Straw Sculptures by ARKO Contemporize a Traditional Japanese Material

December 23, 2024

a bright white and blue facade of a castle-themed love hotel in Japan along the roadside

Quirky Facades of Japan’s Love Hotels Feature in François Prost’s Vibrant Portraits

December 16, 2024

a backpack made from small strips of leather and brads to resemble samurai armor

A Samurai-Inspired Backpack Elevates Leather Scraps to a Bag Befitting a Warrior

November 14, 2024

a blue hydrangea made from resin and wire

Spider Lilies and Cherry Blossoms by Sakae Unfurl in Wire and Resin Hair Pieces

October 9, 2024

a multi-exposure photograph of a woodland at night with fireflies indicated by tiny blurred yellow spheres of light

Kazuaki Koseki’s Dreamy Photos Capture Japan’s Forests Shimmering with Fireflies

September 30, 2024