A stunning weekend in Tokyo, gorgeous weather, great times with friends and another successful S.A.I.A.S event at And Zone cafe in Shinjuku.

Live painting by TiFdyL and Kyorik was surrounded by awesome design and creation supported by TOKYOMADE and LADE Clothing.

Bros Wear Designs was a sell out with many of the t-shirts in the range unavailable by the end of the night.

We have a big report planned for you, lots of pics and news from yesterday's event and also need to announce the winner of the November give away which was drawn last night by Hitoshi of LADE Clothing.

In other news, Shojono Tomo has splashed her color even more wildly around here at TOKYOMADE.

The latest tee by Shojono Tomo for the Enoc Douter range - Ribbon.

A boat neck and cropped sleeves add to the slinky Shojono Tomo style of the Ribbon tee.

An original piece of Japanese street style featuring pretty bows all in a row. The front bottom shows off a Shojono Tomo funky dancer the back offers bows, butterflies and a bouquet.

Traffic Radio by Shojono Tomo

With his buck teeth nu rave savvy style, Radio-kun airs the traffic jam on non stop replay.

A Shojono Tomo original illustration for the Enoc Douter range, printed onto silky smooth, heavy duty white cotton.

Stay tuned for more exciting Tokyo adventures!!

And the winner is...
We have contacted the 105th person on the Tokyo Fan Club mailing list. They are the winner of the November fan club giveaway. We asked Hitoshi of LADE Clothing to pick a number any number and write it on the back of a TOKYOMADE coaster. He happily obliged and struck an ultra cool pilot pose to show off the number. Thanks Hitoshi!

Thank you to everyone involved! A huge thanks to And Zone cafe in Shinjuku. Intense gratitude to LADE clothing for their support. Of course a huge thank you to all TOKYOMADE designers, friends and family...you make it a success!

On the hunt for a new venue. Shimokitazawa here we come!

The Metropolis, Japan's No. 1 English magazine, has just released their 2007 Gift Guide.
Congratulations to Discrete Bags and LADE Clothing who each had one of their creation featured in this year's super sleek gift guide.

A huge thank you to Metropolis mag for supporting Japan-based artists and creation.

Join the club and be one of two winners this month! For the month of December we have two prizes to giveaway to two Tokyo Fan Club members.

Pon-Z Nano 3 Pod Canvas and Tsubaki Nano 3 Pod Canvas.

The November give away has been sent off to Scotland! Yeah for international give aways!

Gambatte (good luck)

How we love you so! The December 2007 issue of N.E.E.T magazine is out with a deliciously good spread on why we should all be buying handmade this holiday season!


Check out N.E.E.T for "grassroots creativity" and tons of hot picks from super cool handmade sellers from all over the world, including TOKYOMADE.

Introducing our latest brand, de Boer by designer and stylist Sonja de Boer. A graduate from the Fashion Academy of Amsterdam, Sonja is an established creator here in Tokyo. An eye catching display of her original, Japanese inspired fashion pieces at this year's Design Festa lured the attention of many intrigued by the beauty of color, pattern and design of her creations.


Sonja is currently working on some huge and exciting projects here in Tokyo and we are thrilled to have her as part of the TOKYOMADE team.

Sonja also designs and creates the ever popular laptop bags for the Discrete Bags range.

Check out the de Boer range for culturally inspired, vibrantly colored and eclectically styled illustrations and apparel.

Eiko Yamaji has released a new range for the Tiny Azure label. The always eye catching and original etching and treasures encased in resin now comes attached to a simple antique look chain.

Stylish, super affordable and typically sweet the new Tiny Azure pieces are a perfect gift for someone special - like you!

EEK! The BLITZ Kiss bounty is in full effect. Supa Novas, Day Glo Dazzlers, Bow Ties and Play Girls!

Party time peeps!

Tokyo treasures to you all!

Being an Earth conscious, eco-friendly, anti plastic bag shopper just got a whole lot funkier!
The latest range of canvas totes by Japanese illustrator and all round hipster, Shojono Tomo are super stylin' and ideal for your grocery shopping adventures.

Say no to plastic and YES to rockin' supermarket style!

The super size makes for an awesome carry all!
Size
Handle 57cm(22.4in)
Length 35cm(13.8in)
Width 39cm(15.4in)
Depth 10cm(3.9in)

We have some cuddly new friends staying with us at the moment. Created by Parisian super talent J*WLS the Supa Plushes are inspired by the tanuki and it's magical myth in most of Asia. They can turn themselves into anything they want and are considered lucky charms here in Japan. They love to play and pull tricks on humans, but if you decide to adopt one of them, they will surely become your best companion.

Each character is hand made here in Japan, using fabrics and accessories from all over the city. J*WLS gives each of the little rascals their own French name and meaning. Every cuddly critter has a unique personality and can be adopted individually or as a family.

For more smooth style by J*WLS check out her blog creativeaddiction.

Check out Josephine the super kawaii muffin muncher and Leon the colorful chameleon. More Supa Plushes up for adoption soon!

If this really is the season to be jolly then Tokyo is the place to do it! Winter in Tokyo is a divine time to find yourself strolling through the streets and ambling through ally ways to find never before seen boutiques and jam packed shops. This city has it's fair share of high rises, mass produced madness and rehashed mayhem but the real treasures are just on the outskirts of the inner gridlock. Leaving the pulsing mass of Shinjuku behind just a few stops out on the Chuo Line you will find perfect shopping pit stops such as Koenji and Kichijoji. Filled with used clothes stores, international design and color and some great natural food cafes the stops along the Chuo line offer a relaxed but entirely fulfilling shopping adventure.

We live in Nishi-Ogikubo, five stops from Shinjuku on the Chuo line and one stop before Kichijoji. I must say that moving from the center of Shinjuku I was a little apprehensive about missing the hussle and bussle of the overpowered business district. What I hadn't realized is that there is a whole new world beyond the sky scrappers and boys with big hair. A world of independent style, artistic creation and holistic health consciousness.

A short walk from Nishi-Ogikubo station and you will stumble upon a variety of independently owned boutiques with some of the most grab worthy treasures. Known for it's antique store walking trail, maps of the area can be picked up at any of the used and antique stores to help point you in the right direction.

Moshi Moshi Moshi Moshi began as a gallery in Portland, Oregan selling Japanese cuteness. In May of 2007 Moshi Moshi Tokyo was opened. The cosy little store has the most amazing array of funky vintage toys and accessories as well as art, apparel and posters from the US.

Honey Bee The sweetest store on the street, Honey Bee is a Blythe lovers paradise. Also stocking other adorable toys such as Care Bears and My Little Pony as well as indie toy brands from around Japan. This weekend is their one year anniversary and according to their blog it is set to be a super kawaii party.

Hims A used and select clothing shop, I adore Hims for two reasons. Firstly it always has a rack of 315 yen vintage clothes hanging at the front of the shop beckoning me and owner Hiroyuki Sekiguchi is one of the funkiest but friendliest dudes in our neighborhood (he even offered to hunt down some grey and blue animal print tights I was looking for!)

Just a few of the many treats on offer...

Eiko Yamaji, Tiny Azure creator just keeps on surprising us with new treasures. Especially made for the Sunday Afternoon Indie Art Show held earlier in December these bag charms were a hit and we only have two left to offer here on TOKYOMADE.

Individually styled and handmade right here in Japan. Check out all of the Tiny Azure treasures.

Wishing you all a gorgeously joy filled holiday! Warmest wishes from a chilly yet snow free Tokyo.

"Remember that giving, whether your gifts are tangible or of the soul, always feels good, whatever the occasion. However you prefer to celebrate the holidays, practicing the ideals of the season every day means experiencing the beauty of the holiday season all year long." Daily Om

Yes, we are open all day, every day right through the holidays. There will be no break in the shipping schedule so come hang out with us at TOKYOMADE any time.

Happy Holidays!!

New Year's Eve in Japan is traditionally a time to be with family. A time for visiting temples, clearing out the old and bringing in the prosperous and new and sending joyous wishes to family and friends.

One of the important things that is traditionally done during December is the making and posting of Nengajou. Nengajou are New Year cards. Much like the Western tradition of sending Christmas cards, New Year postcards are sent to family, friends and colleagues to share well wishes for the new year.

Each year families, couples and individuals design or purchase a new style of card. The design usually includes the New Year Chinese Zodiac animal. In 2008 it is the year of the rat (we prefer mouse because it is much cuter!) Right now the department stores, craft stores and stationers are dedicating huge spaces to postcard making materials. The ever popular rubber stamps are ideal for adding a personal yet conventional touch to handmade postcards. Naturally this year shelves are stocked with a wide array of rat stamps from the cute and fluffy to traditional and sketchy. As usual Snoopy gets his fair share of shelf space along side some other cute Disney characters.

Many families print family portraits onto the backs of cards to send to loved ones, especially if there is a new baby or small children in the family.

The most commonly used type of postcard is a prepaid white card with red lottery numbers stamped on the address side. This shares warm wishes and a possible small fortune. These can only be sent domestically and if posted before a given date are guaranteed to bee delivered on January 1. As you can imagine this makes for a whole lot of sorting and delivering towards the end of December and on January 1. The busiest time of the year for Japan Post requires that employ extra staff for the onslaught of nengajou.

This year we have many thanks and wishes to send to a great deal of people here in Japan so have opted for the prepaid lottery postcards. Masao and I wrote messages on the back of each one and stamped them with a funky gold rat.

Happy New Year card making. This is a tradition that could easily be adopted wherever you are. Making the cards has been a lot of fun. Adding your own personal style with a wish for a happy and bright future is uplifting to say the least.

New and oh so very yummy holiday treats have arrived here at TOKYOMADE. Gorgeous handmade treasures and Japan made critters never stop flowing.

Rock it Earth-lover style! Saying no to plastic bags and extra packaging means saying yes to funky eco totes that add super chic style to your shopping adventures. High on the ultra hip list are the new and totally funky totes by Japanese illustrator Shojono Tomo. Being an Earth conscious trooper is super sexy, so be one!

Adopt a handmade, Japanmade, cuddly Supa Plushes today! Each one comes already named and has individual style and personality. Meet Lili and Lucus. Lili is ange de la nuit which is French for angel of the night. Her celestial sweetness shines and sparkles. She is super soft and ultra ready for night snuggles. Hold her tight and feel her beauty. Lucus is half cat, half panda. With his angelic, long white hair and deep black eyes he will charm you and then snuggle in close. Handcrafted by Parisian beauty and Tokyo-based designer J*WLS.

Handcrafted treasures by Japanese designer Lissita are snapped up quickly here, and rightfully so. New to her collection are the Vintage Butterfly and Dragonfly Ring.

Enjoy!
Holiday happiness from Tokyo to you.

It is definitely that time of year. Wandering through Kichijoji today the New Year food (osechi) sights and smells were abundant. Despite the crowds you can see the joy on people's faces as they buy up the specially prepared foods in preparation for family celebrations. New Year is a time for joy and relaxation in Japan. After a long hard year of work you can really feel things winding down. New Year's Day will be an especially carefree and happy one. In Japan it is important to spend the first day of the year worry and anger free.

Kagami mochi can been seen everywhere at the moment from convenience stores to luxurious department store food markets. Kagami mochi is a Japanese new year decoration which is made of two rice cakes and a mikan. Often they are decorated elaborately with other food items, paper and golden or red ribbons.

Many families today were buying up mochi cakes to eat during their celebrations. Mochi making festivals have been going on in many parts of Japan recently. Mochi is made by pounding rice into a paste and then molding it into small pancake, ball or block shapes. Super sticky and often tricky to eat, mochi can be hazardous if not eaten with care.

Our favorite New Year tradition which we certainly don't reserve just for the special eve is the slurping of soba noodles. Soba are seriously delicious and healthy noodles made of buckwheat flour. During winter they are served in a hot, clear, brown soup and can be topped with negi or nori. Slurping up these noodles before the clock strikes midnight is symbolic of longevity. Someone once told me the longer the slurp of the noodle without it breaking the longer your life is supposed to be. We intend to slurp long and hard.

Slurping away 2 years ago.

Hope you are all having a great time preparing for whatever the passing of the old and the entering of the new year is going to bring for you.

Warm wishes.

This little story about lucky bags was written for sushi zume back in January 2006, I was reminded today of the new year excitement surrounding fukubukuro in Japan so I thought I would repost my old story here.

As a child I remember paying 20 cents for a lucky dip at the lolly shop or toy store. After handing over my hard earned money to the guy/girl behind the counter, I would almost burst with excitment as I plunged my hand through a messy hole cut into the top of a cheaply covered cardboard box. The lucky dip boxes were usually separated by gender, often there was a 'boy's' box and a 'girl's' box, of course I always grabbed from the girls box but wondered long and hard what might be in the 'boy's' lucky dips. The results were often not so lucky, I'd usually make away with a cheap useless toy or some sort of lolly, which didn't seem so bad at the time. Looking back, it was not the prize that mattered it was the rush I got when I saw a) that the shop had a sparkley lucky dip box and b) that I had enough money in my pocket to throw around on such things. It was not the the result that mattered so much, it was the anticipation, the excitment, the hope that I might get 'lucky' and end up with some value for money or at the very least more 'stuff'.

Perhaps it is that same excitment, anticipation and expectation of luck that compells 25 000 Tokyoites to line up on a freezing cold winter morning, at the front of an inner city department store, to get their lucky dip. Fukubukuro (fuku meaning luck or fortune, bukuro meaning bag) are found in most Tokyo stores at the end of the year. These 'lucky sacks' come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Fukubukuro are usually categorised by size, product type, brand, colour and of course price. Young girl's clothing stores were selling brightly coloured bags for 5000 yen, while some electronic stores were selling various fukubukuro for 10 000 - 30 000 yen. The real eye openers were the 'fortune bags' being sold for a small fortune at some of the leading Tokyo department stores, sparkling price tags putting a 50 - 100 million yen price on luck. The odds would have to be pretty high for the average shopper to plunge their grubby mitts into that kind of lucky dip.

To an outsider, this yearly tradition may appear to be a very lucrative way for an over stocked shop to clear it's merchandise. But according to a local Tokyoite, "many people believe that if they get something that they want...it's gonna be their year".

Some fukubukuro even have enticing names. The 'ren-ai kachigumi' (winner of love) might tickle your fancy? Or how bout the 'hatsu-yume' (first dreams of the year)? Sounds tempting.

And yes I was lured for a moment, to perhaps try my luck, plunge my hand into that lucky dip for old times sake, but I have a feeling it's 'gonna be my year' anyway, so maybe I'll pass on the 'lucky bag' for now.

Lots of fuku to you all!