April and May in Tokyo 2014

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Hello Sandwiches!

This might just be the last post before I start in-depth whinging about summer in Tokyo. Apologies in advance. For the time being though, there are some nice days when I can enjoy the last chance to wear my winter sweaters, and others that end with cans of beer in short sleeves on my tiny balcony with beautiful cool breeze. Some afternoons are spent chatting with friends in shady spots in local parks until mozzies ruin the mood. And for the moment, I can live in a lovely airy mini-me apartment before it's too hot to open the windows.

Here are some of the things I've been enjoying over the last two months.

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Sparkling wine with Hiki-chan on Omotesando rooftops. If this was Australia, it would be law to have some kind of fencing around the balcony. But this Tokyo style sure makes for a nice spot for an afternoon drink.

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Go to your happy place. Shibuya's Hachiko scramble crossing.

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Mini flea markets in Ebisu.

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Sophie et Chocolat, Fragola and Sandwich.

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Gorgeous house-in-house shop design at L'atelier du savon in Daikanyama.

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Tefutefu oyatsu plate set at Annon Cook in Daikanyama.

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As I was enjoying Tefutefu's sweets plate I stumbled across Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide in Casa Brutus 2013 Tokyo City Guide! Such a nice and unexpected surprise. いつもありがとございますEguchi-san.

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Right by our seats at Annan Cook we found Tefutefu-san's original zines circa 2004. Each zine was made in a very small edition and each one was handmade using photocopies from the convenience stores. True zine style. Truly beautiful.

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My little Hello Sandwich Confetti Bows were on sale at the Sophie et Chocolat Pop Up Shop in Daikanyama. You can buy them online here.

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Work wise, I've been making lots of wedding samples for Tokyu Hands using Martha Stewart Crafts punches.

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I'm not sure I ever could have imagined that I'd have my crafts on display at Tokyu Hands (currently in Shinjuku 8F and soon to be in the Kyoto and Yokohama stores).

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I also held a few workshop at Tokyu Hands.

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This month I went to Tokyu hands every second day to host craft demonstrations. I kind of made myself at home there.

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There was also a little Hello Sandwich display at Coen store in Shinjuku. Coen are a sister brand to United Arrows and have approximately 70 stores across Japan.

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Hello Sandwich x Martha Stewart Crafts x Coen Workshop.

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Lunches at home. Eat the rainbow (but no tomato for this Sandwich. Ewwww).

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Treated myself to this little Kalita copper and gold coffee pot. Worth every yen.

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The last ohanami for 2014 was a relaxing and colourful one.

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Cuties Yuko-chan and Mami-chan.

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Last chance ladies! Wear your woolies while you can. Razzle dazzle.

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Check afternoon with DA,B. Check放題.

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Amazing long lunch at Martin's fancy new apartment. He baked this delicious roast, had his fancy champagne glasses washed and back in the cupboard by the time we sat down to lunch, and even ordered a delivery of tonic incase I wanted a Gin + Tonic before lunch! さすが Martin!!! 楽しかった!

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Love you Shibuya.

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The. Biggest. Sandwiches I have ever seen in Tokyo! Nice work, Martin!

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Look what amazing present arrived from the super wonderful Castle!!! Do you remember when I lost one of my castle pillowcases when it was blown off my little Shimokitazawa balcony in strong winds? And as a result now indulge in precautionary 'intense pegging' (as named by one of my lovely followers)! Oh, it's so lovely to have some dotty pillow cases to chose from now! Thank you so much lovely Rachel! I will treasure them!

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Rooftop wines in Ebisu with Luke.

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Boco-chan and I found an amazing NZ restaurant in Tomigaya. I am so obsessed with Tomigaya at the moment.

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On the walk home from Daikanyama.

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Green building spotted on the walk to Shibuya.

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On the walk home from Shinjuku.

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Mamasando inspired me to buy some seeds the other day and its a bloody miracle that these teeny lettuce leaves and parsley eventually grew from seeds on my Shimokita balcony!

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C-set lunches in Shimiokita with Mark. Afterwards we wandered around Shimokita's recycle stores and second hand bookstores and sat in various parks drinking cool drinks. Hanging out with Mark is like living in his real life witty flickr.

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I'm currently:

Dreaming of taking the Seishun 18 Kippu and spend some slow time travelling on trains. Where to go...

Planning ways to filling Hello Sandwich HQ with indoor plants.

Researching smoothies to make in my crazy expensive new Vitamix. Anyone have any favourite recipes? Also, coconut water, ewww.

In the market for some new wine glasses. These would be fine.

Wishing I could live here.

Planning my new zine for the Tokyo Art Book Fair.

Loving the new issue of Oz magazine.

About to buy this camera. Which is cuter, Sandwiches? The silver and black or the plain black.

Excited to settle in to watch this film.

Listening to this lovely song. ありがとう David.

Planning lunch at this sweet cafe.

Happy Sunday, Sandwiches!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Paper Mania People Book

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A big thank you to Editions de Paris for the little eight page Hello Sandwich profile in the new Paper Mania People book!

There are so many great profiles in this book such as Paper x Trip, Paper x Work, Paper x Wrap, Paper x Hand, Paper x Book. After YEARS of trying to capture Japanese 'kawaii' style, I can't believe they picked me (a gaijin!) to be the Paper x Kawaii profile!

If you love paper, you'll want to head over to amazon Japan pronto and pick yourself up a copy of this paper lovers book.

While you're on amazon you might like to pick yourself up a copy of this book. My friend, who designed the book, sent me a copy the other day and it's definitely one not to miss if you're a paper lover like Sandwich.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Kamakura Kyushoku Day Trip!

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My very first Kyushoku (Japanese school lunch) at an elementary school in Kamakura!

On Monday my friend invited me to her son's school for Kyushoku open day. It was a little strange, all of the mothers gathering, and then me, Hello Sandwich, an imposter armed with her DSLR. But I'll do almost anything for a good instagram.

The day started off with a 40 minute presentation about the nutritional information regarding Kyushoku. Below is some of what I *think* they said:

"The bread is 30grams for younger students and when the students become older the size of the bread stays the same, but the thickness is increased"

"The spaghetti with meat sauce is very popular. Some kids even say the food here is better than their own mothers"

"We don't serve oranges very often because they are difficult for children to eat. But we serve them sometimes so that when the kids become older they will be able to skillfully eat oranges"

After filing into the classrooms to observe the children serving and eating their Kyushoku, the mothers (and imposter me) were ordered to put on our aprons and head scarves and line up for our own Kyushoku. It struck me at that point that almost everything I own is patterned. I was standing there wearing check slippers, 70s patterned apron, floral shirt and my Mum's paisley head scarf. Way to fit in, Sandwich!

The homemade Kyushoku was delicious and I felt so lucky to be able to experience this. Although eating seaweed and then drinking milk is NOT easy. Also, frozen mikan!

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Elementary school stools in mint and pale blue.

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These little bags, many of which are handmade, contain spare clothes for the kiddies. In case they fall into the nearby pond, I was told.

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Little Japanese school shoes izakaya genkan style.

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At this little Kamakura school the kids grow their own rice! Only in Japan.

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Next, a walk around town. I adore everything about this little retro Sandwich shop. Kyushoku nijikai?

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The most incredible toy shop. The wall of this building fell down in the quake and the community joined together to help repair it.

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The walls inside the toy shop are lined with retro photos of many of the children who have bought toys to play with from this store. Some photos so faded you could barely make out faces.

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The lovely couple who own the toy shop. Step back in time.

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The Kamakura tour continued past this used book store. Hours could be spent here.

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Speed Queen.

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Once bank, now tiny bar.

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My friend joked that she would find more cleaning stores for me to photograph on my next trip to Kamakura. I guess I should have been taking photos of the nice rice shop, or the samurai sword shop turned knife store but I found these retro buildings much more interesting.

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We wandered down backstreets and into hidden restaurants in old Japanese houses where bathtubs were filled with floral installations. 

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One of the only things I like about summer in Japan is the beautiful greenery. And frozen beers. And kakigori.

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A stroll up to a small temple.

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May is the best time to visit this rose garden at the Kamakura Museum of Literature.

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Hmmmm...so different to Aussie beaches...

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Sweetest little trains.

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And soon it was time to head back to Tokyo. I had grand plans of reading my new Japanese study book on the 1 hour train trip home, but, in true Japanese train travel style, I nodded off all the way to Shibuya.

Thank you so much Ruth for a special day! 

As I sit here and write this I'm looking out of my apartment window watching my neighbour, an older man, tapping the dust from his and his wife's blue and pink futons as they hang over his balcony in the sun. Oh, Japan.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo


Tokyu Hands File Folder Workshop!

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After such a fun workshop at Tokyu Hands last month we have decided to host another one!

Let's make a little file folder together at Tokyu Hands Shinjuku on 18th May!

There are three workshop times, the first one has sold out, but reserve your spot in the other two workshops now. If you can't speak Japanese, I can reserve your spot for you! Simply email me at hellosandwichblog (at) gmail (dot) com and I will save a special space for you. 



Tokyu Hands Shinjuku
8th Floor
18th May
2pm - 3pm or 4pm - 5pm
Only ¥600!


東急ハンズ新宿店 追加のワークショップ開催決定!

5月18日(日)
11時~12時
14時~15時
16時~17時

代金600円+税

定員1回 6名

5月3日 10時より予約受付開始です!

詳しくは下記のリンクにて↓↓


http://happy-event.tokyu-hands.co.jp/event/index.php?event_id=143&store_id=6&sec=1704301ah5bb94tnfrapmaef2s7mc8k4



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Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Tokyu Hands Workshop!

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Goodness! I never thought I'd see my name on the Tokyu Hands website! Favourite. Shop. Ever.

I'm hosting workshops on the 8th floor of the Shinjuku store on Tuesday 29th April. The first workshop has sold out but there are still a few spots in the other workshops, so please reserve a spot if you'd like to come along. I'd love to see you there!

If you aren't confident in Japanese, just send me an email (address on the right hand side of this blog) and I'll reserve your spot for you :)

Martha Stewart Craftsのパンチなどを使いカードを作ります。 講師:ハローサンドイッチさん
  • 開催期間
  • : 4月29日(火・祝)12:00~18:30
  • 参加費・条件
  • : 600円+税
  • 所要時間
  • : 約90分
  • 定員
  • : 1回6名(1日18名)
  • 開催場所
  • : 8F
  • 受付場所
  • : 8F









P.S. Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Japan Hobby Show workshop! On Saturday the workshops sold out within 5 minutes of opening! You guys are the best!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Japan Hobby Show

 
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Hello Sandwiches!

We have a booth at the Japan Hobby Show again this year! 23rd - 26th April. I'll be hosting workshops everyday and it would be so nice to see you there!

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This year my company made me a little special workshop room with a peek through window to the maini booth! So cute!

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The Kokusai-Tenjijo installation boys. Where is the 'サ' from Sandwich? Ha ha.

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And how cute is Sophie et Chocolat's booth! CHOU KAWAII!

ぜひぜひ来て下さい!

ワークショップのお知らせ

HELLO SANDWICH ワークショップ

25日(金)11:00~ 15:30~     2回

26日(土)11:00~ 13:30~ 15:30~ 3回

各回 店員 8名 (所要時間1時間)

ワークショップ代 1000円 今回特別ゲスト SOCO’S Anniversary 代表 辰元草子さんを

講師にお招きしたワークショップも開催します。

SOCO’S Anniversary ワークショップ

25日(金)12:30~13:30 店員8名 1000円

ワークショップの予約は、当日ブースでのみ受け付けます。

先着順とさせていただきますのでご了承下さい。

では、みなさま当日会場でお会いできるのを楽しみにしております。

P.S. Next week I will be hosting workshops at Tokyu Hands Shinjuku on 8F on 29th April! And on 10th and 11th May I will be hosting workshops at

Coen store in Shinjuku

. Details on the right hand column of my blog. Come along!

Also - Thank you Naru-san for the photos! 

Love Love

Hello Sandwich

xoxo

 

Craft Book Team Ohanami (Hokkori Team)

 
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A little ohanami party, my second last for the season, with the editorial team from the very first book I made in Japan. Boco-chan called our team 'Hokkori Team' which I'm told means something like a group of people that are comfortable to hang out with. Let's hope it doesn't mean number three on this list.

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We went to Shinjuku Gyoen where they have some late blooming Sakura trees.

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They also have a 'No Alcohol' rule for the park which isn't so fun.

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Team Hokkori!

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Such a colourful and delicious feast.

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Get into it!

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This man set up his tripod practically on top of our leisure sheet, with his photography gear actually on the leisure sheet. Minutes later he was sitting with us, chatting away, drinking and eating with us, and comparing photos with my book photographer! Love you Japan! And love you new tomodachi photographer man!

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ボコちゃん!大好き!

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Sakura trees always turn into Sakura snow way too fast. Tomorrow I have pictures from one last ohanami picnic to share with you. Then, sob sob, that's it for 2014.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo