The covers of さぶ / SABU from 1991 feel like quiet acts of courage. Bold, intimate, and unapologetically sensual, they exist at the intersection of art, identity, and underground publishing. Created by Ben Kimura, these images are not just magazine covers. They are historical markers. At a time when queer representation was still largely hidden or coded, SABU offered visibility. Not diluted. Not softened. Fully formed.
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Windows by Yoshiyuki Okuyama: Seeing the City Through Glass
Born in Tokyo in 1991, Okuyama has built a career that walks the line between intimacy and observation. His photographs often feel like secrets half-rev...
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The Quiet Neon Glow of Artist Minami Kobayashi
If you’ve ever stood in front of a Minami Kobayashi painting, you know that she doesn’t just want you to look, she wants you to linger. Born in Nagoya and now based in London, Kobayashi is quietly building a reputation for creating scenes that feel both disarmingly...
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Artist Hiroko Igeta Crafts Eerily Lifelike Humanoid Sculptures
Japanese artist Hiroko Igeta creates jointed dolls that initially shock with their disarming posture and combinations but ultimately spotlight the human form as percivable art. Born in Tokyo in 1967, Igeta has honed her doll like sculpture skills since 1986. Her dolls feature movable limbs.
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Inappropriate American Tees in Asia
It’s sort of like how Americans often sport Chinese symbols in tattoos or clothing without really knowing what it could mean. Same goes for Asia. These fine people go about their day blissfully unaware they are wearing something with an extremely crude and/or inappropriate message printed across their chest. See the vast collection below:
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Cycle by Kouhei Nakama (Video Short)
A beautifully poetic computer animation titled “Cycle” by Tokyo based artist and designer Kouhei Nakama. The short follows dancing figures from birth to death playing with shapes and substances. “Life is a cycle. We are dying from birth, reborn till death.”
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100 Years of Beauty in Japan (Video)
Cut.com has created a new addition to their 100 years of beauty series by adding their most recent 16th attachment 100 Years of Beauty in Japan starring model Mei Kurahashi in 100 years worth of Japanese beauty. cut.com
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Michelangelo’s David Turned Into an Action Figure!
Action figures known for representing favorite block buster super heros, monsters and more has taken a different unexpected turn towards art history. We best know artist Michelangelo for his famous statues in their iconic poses. But now thanks to Japanese manufacturer Figma you can adjust historically famous artworks that including David of Michelangelo, the Venus de Milo and The Thinker by Rodin all in action figure form. They are available hereat the GoodSmile website.
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Japanese Game of Thrones Manga Covers
The worldwide phenomenon of Game of Thrones has inspired countless adaptations, from television to fan art, but in Japan the novels take on a unique visual identity. Renowned artist Noriko Meguro reimagines the book covers in a manga style, giving each volume a distinctly Japanese interpretation while maintaining the spirit of George R.R. Martin’s original epic.
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Lindsey Wixson by photographer Karen Collins
Lindsey Wixson brings her signature charm to Numéro Tokyo’s June 2015 issue. Photographed by Karen Collins, the editorial is simple yet striking. The focus is on pastel color blocking, subtle flirtation, and effortless elegance. Each look feels approachable while still exuding high-fashion sophistication.
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Malaika Firth by photographer Giampaolo Sgura
Malaika Firth stars in a visually dramatic editorial for Vogue Japan’s May 2015 issue. Photographed by Giampaolo Sgura, the story blends fashion with cultural motifs, creating an arresting narrative where couture meets tradition. Malaika embodies a vivid, almost theatrical presence, wearing pattern-mixed designs styled to complement intricate sugar skulls.
