Artist Maki Ohkojima is inspired by life and the environment. UpcycleLino is creating completely recyclable products that produce zero waste. It makes sense that these two would collaborate, and their new items ask people to think more about their relationship with nature. With a theme of ‘circulation,’ these items will be on sale at participating shops around Japan and online. 

UpcycleLino × MANDALĀJU Big Band Collared Shirt

UpcycleLino × MANDALĀJU Sketched Tote Bag

UpcycleLino × MANDALĀJU Scarf

The ‘Tree of Life’ project is inspired by the theme of coexistence between the environment and all living things. It is important to protect limited resources for future generations. UpcycleLino is a completely sustainable company, using fabric scraps from other projects to create brand new clothes. 

People, animals, insects, plants, and all other living things exist in the circle of life, and this is the message conveyed through Maki Ohkojima’s art. What can we do to better coexist with the planet? 

©角川武蔵野ミュージアム

Sendai PARCO will begin a 10-day event focusing on the idea of sustainability starting September 17 and concluding September 26, 2021. ‘Love Earth, Love Us’ will highlight sustainability-related products and services available at the shops within Sendai PARCO, and a web page has already been opened to get people thinking about this important subject. Those purchasing or using any of these products and services will receive certain added bonuses, as a way to raise awareness and give back to those making an effort to support the health of the planet. 

The main visual used in promoting the event was drawn by Toshiya Nakashima, and depicts Mount Vinicunca in Peru, often called Rainbow Mountain. The drawing was commissioned by Heralbony, an art gallery featuring pieces by those with intellectual disabilities, who will also hold a limited-time pop-up shop inside Sendai PARCO during the event. The shop will sell unique items, including hand towels featuring this gorgeous portrait of Rainbow Mountain, so don’t miss out!

Meguriwa, a project promoting sustainability in Japan, will hold a two-day market and exhibition on November 12-13, 2021. The venue for the event isn’t a large convention center, but rather an old house forgotten by time in southern Shibuya, surrounded by new development. The space blends traditional Japanese atmosphere with a modern Western style, and promises a sense of nostalgia to all who attend. 

The event will bring together a large collection of artwork, products, and materials from creators and companies all over Japan who focus on recycling-centric creation. This includes products made from wood sourced from forest thinning, as well as those using a portion of proceeds to support environmental conservation efforts. In the midst of major societal changes, humans must continue to coexist with natural phenomena like climate change, viruses, and earthquakes. With this in mind, Meguriwa hopes to share their vision of a ‘circular bioeconomy,’ in which mankind doesn’t separate themself from nature, but instead both fears and appreciates it. 

The event is advertised as a place where people can both learn and have fun while considering our impact on nature, and how we can impact the future. An online seminar, ‘The Meguriwa Study Hall,’ will take place each week for a month prior to the event!

This event is for a great cause. Get to know local craftsmen and more about long-term sustainability this November!

Innovation Design launched its new ‘Art For Social Change’ project at haishop in Shibuya Scramble Square on July 21 which sees artwork made from waste.

According to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, 42.74 million tonnes of garbage has been thrown out since 2019. That’s the equivalent of around 115 Tokyo Domes, or 918g of waste per person everyday. The waste cannot be exported, and so real action is required to reduce the amount of waste create on the island country of Japan, especially when thinking 20 years down the road.

That’s where haishop comes in. Using caps from detergent, which are actually no longer sold, as well as plastic caps and other materials resulting from waste, it will create a new identity for waste together with consumers in the form of art. Art For Social Change aims to send a message to society to make real transformations in the world through the medium of art.

It’s easy to imagine what happens when creating a product up to its completion, but considering what happens to it after it’s been used is a lot more difficult. Every year, the available capacity at final disposal sites decreases more and more. The important topic at hand is getting everyone in Japan to really treasure the products they buy, to conceive ideas on how to prolong longevity of the things that people purchase, and construct a new society centred on recycling and reusing. And this isn’t just a Japan problem – it’s a global one. That’s the message which Art For Social Change carries.

The only conditions on participating with the project is that you agree with its goal and that you use materials on sale at haishop. Everyone is invited regardless of age or gender.

The artworks in action

4th year students from Nitobe Bunka Elementary & Junior High School used waste materials to create ‘souvenir’ theme products which the children are helping to sell at the shop. The proceeds go back to the school itself while helping teach children about new ways of reusing and recycling.

Souvenirs created by the students of Nitobe Bunka Elementary & Junior High School

Mascara bottles made using caps from detergent bottles

As part of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project, Shiraraso Grand Hotel is offering a new experience for guests to create shades for warosoku traditional Japanese candles from July 7 to August 31.

Warosoku aren’t made with ordinary wax, they’re produced from plant-derived Japanese wax. Wakayama was once the biggest producer of this wax. Guests at the hotel will ghet to make their own shade decorations for these candles using decorations like the sea, food, hot springs, and panda.

The hotel is also offering free panda bookmarks to those who post a photo of their shade on Instagram, Twitter, or Instagram with the Japanese hashtag #白良荘グランドホテル.

GLASS-LAB released their new GLASS-LAB NEW PRODUCT “WA” collection of bangles made from Edo Kiriko cut glass bottles on their official website on July 1.

GLASS-LAB NEW PRODUCT “WA” Sustainable Clear | ¥18,370 (Tax Included)

GLASS-LAB NEW PRODUCT “WA” Sustainable Black | ¥18,370 (Tax Included)

GLASS-LAB NEW PRODUCT “WA” Sustainable White | ¥18,370 (Tax Included)

GLASS-LAB NEW PRODUCT “WA” Sustainable Green | ¥18,370 (Tax Included)

GLASS-LAB was opened by the Shiina family in 1950 in Koto, a city known for the production of Edo Kiriko, a traditional type of Japanese glassware. The owner eventually passed the factory onto his sons. It is now run by Takayuki Shiina who is highly skilled at sandblasting, so much so he can cut glass to a fine 0.09mm.

This new collection was made in collaboration with designer Yukio Fujita of ‘design shop YU.’

AMBUSH® is set to release a new outdoors collection in collaboration with the thermal-wear brand STANLEY and YOSHIDA-KABAN’s main brand PORTER on June 25.

AMBUSH® x STANLEY STANLEY BOTTLE 1 – ¥8,580 (Tax Included) / AMBUSH® x STANLEY STANLEY BOTTLE 2 – ¥6,380 (Tax Included)

AMBUSH® x PORTER NYLON CROSSBODY LARGE BAG – ¥52,800 (Tax Included) / NYLON CROSSBODY BAG – ¥42,900 (Tax Included)
AMBUSH® x PORTER NYLON ECO BAG | ¥24,200 (Tax Included)

The AMBUSH® x STANLEY collection features vacuum bottles and flasks. Stylish and simply designed, the “Go Series” bottles are easy to carry around and are perfect for both outdoor and everyday lifestyle. Hang the finger loop of the bottle from your iconic carabiner by AMBUSH®︎ and enjoy it as an accessory to spice up your outfit. The light and slim stainless steel single walled vacuum insulated flask suits scenes like outdoor camping and even at your kitchen at home.

The AMBUSH® x PORTER collection feature three types of bags.  They come in two colours: black and blue. The CROSSBODY LARGEBAGs have a pocket on the front just the size for STANLEY Vacuum Bottle to fit in. What seems to be a wallet is a foldable eco bag, which can be used as a tote bag when you unfold it.

The sustainable collections come during a month of environmental awareness in Japan as designated by the Ministry of the Environment. It’s also during a time when outdoor festivals and camping are starting up again in the country, and are also handy for jogging and shopping, in an effort to cut plastic bottles, cups, bags, and so on.

Comment from AMBUSH® founder VERBAL

“For this collaboration, I was interested in how PORTER and STANLEY’s products are easy to use, which matches today’s lifestyle. I actually use STANLEY bottles in my studio and when I order coffee at coffee shops, so this was a collaboration I’m happy to have done. PORTER’s bags are just the right size. I wanted something that was thoroughly made down to the finest details, so I feel new possibilities [from this collection] which focuses on the necessities. PORTER bags are handy for popping outside so I can use them in the day or at night, and STANLEY bottles I use at work and at home <laughs>”

A section of Deloitte Tohmatsu Group and FC Imabari’s educational book Watashi, Chikyu (Me, Earth) has been turned into a short movie featuring Hello Kitty. Released on YouTube on Wednesday, the video is aimed at elementary school children to educate them on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global initiative to create a sustainable future.

The 9-minute video takes Hello Kitty on a journey through earth’s life from 4.6 billion years ago, animal life on the planet, and the drastic changes that have come about from human activity.

At the end of the video, Hello Kitty has a message for kids: “I wanted to be in this so I can learn about what I can do for our future. I would love for this to get lots of people thinking about what they themselves can do, even if it ends up only being one person.”

Kai Corporation and BARBER SAKOTA have teamed up to release the ‘world’s first’ cardboard razor. The first 100 people to purchase a BARBER SAKOTA t-shirt or cap at Tsutaya Books Daikanyama in Shibuya between June 15 and July 2 will receive a free one.

Kai Corporation is no stranger to manufacturing grooming products, but this speciality razor comes for those people who want a product that really lets them enjoy the satisfaction of their grooming routine.

The razor was also developed in line with the SDGs, resulting in a more sustainable product that opts for paper instead of plastic. The stylish designs come in various colours with street-style typography that reads ‘KAI.’

Japanese cosmetic brand Shu Uemura is set to release its new origami-inspired ‘mindfully crafted in japan’ collection on June 18, but presales opened on their online shop last Tuesday. The collection is a display of Japanese tradition and craftsmanship with sustainability at the core of its concept.

ultime8 ∞ sublime beauty cleansing oil (Limited Edition Design) | ¥12,650 (Tax Included)

hard formula hard 9 (seal brown 02) (Limited Edition Design) | ¥2,860 (Tax Included)

petal 55 foundation brush (Limited Edition Design) | ¥6,600 (Tax Included)

The collection focuses on three aspects of mindfulness with Japan as its focus: mindful of Japanese nature with locally and sustainably resourced ingredients, mindful of Japanese resources by taking only what is needed, and mindful of Japanese traditional craftsmanship by preserving traditions from the past.

Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oil is one of the brand’s most notable sustainable products, preserving everything important about Japanese culture from its history to its natural environment. Using traditional methods passed down the ages, the product is made from plant-derived ingredients sourced sustainably, and the packaging is made from 100% recyclable plastic. The Cleansing Oil bottles were also added to Shu Uemura’s new recycling program which began on May 5 which enables bottles to be reused.

Don’t miss out on this special new collection by Shu Uemura.

Japanese girl group NiziU are set to feature in a new television commercial for LOHAS Pharmaceutical’s “ALFACE+” cosmetic face masks which will roll out in Japan on July 1.

ALFACE+ is a skincare brand that sells products that are not only moisturising but accessible to a variety of skin types too. Their face mask collection includes 10 different designs, all of which are presented by each of the nine NiziU members.

NiziU have stepped away from their usual energetic look for this shoot, instead serving more grown-up vibes.

atmos teamed up with Nike as part of their ‘Move to Zero’ sustainability project to release a collection of Japan-exclusive colours of the Space Hippie model on Monday.

The Line-Up

NIKE SPACE HIPPIE 01 | ¥15,400 (Tax Included)

NIKE SPACE HIPPIE 02 | ¥18,150 (Tax Included)

NIKE SPACE HIPPIE 03 | ¥21,450 (Tax Included)

OVER PRINT T-SHIRT (GUCCIMAZE) | ¥6,600 Each (Tax Included)

OVER PRINT T-SHIRT (COIN PARKING DELIVERY) | ¥6,600 (Tax Included)

OVER PRINT T-SHIRT (BOTANIZE) | ¥6,600 (Tax Included)

Free EMAKE CUSHION to the first 50 people

Space Hippie is Nike’s exploratory footwear collection inspired by life on Mars—where materials are scarce and there is no resupply mission. Created from scraps, or “space junk”, Space Hippie is the result of sustainable practices meeting radical design. The uppers are made from recycled polyester, and soles are a combination of Nike’s impact absorbing material used when making their ZoomX foam and material scraps. The plain shoebox, too, is made from recycled materials.

This new sustainable collection are upcycled designs made in collaboration with atmos, atmos pink, UNDEFEATED, BAI, and X-girl. There’s also a collection of t-shirts which are available on first-come, first-served basis to those who pick up a pair of Space Hippie sneakers. Designs were made by popular graphic artists GUCCIMAZE and COIN PARKING DELIVERY as well as the up-and-coming shop BOTANIZE.