Bizys Ebony - Hello Tokyo: 30+ handmade projects and fun ideas for a cute, Tokyo-inspired lifestyle

30+ HANDMADE PROJECTS AND FUN IDEAS FOR A CUTE, TOKYO-INSPIRED LIFESTYLE

EBONY BIZYS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOCO

ABRAMS | NEW YORK

This book is dedicated to you, my lovely little Sandwiches, for all your constant and ongoing support. For reading my Hello Sandwich blog, leaving Instagram comments and likes, for coming along to my workshops, buying my books and zines, for sending sweet e-mails, and for your unfailing encouragement and enthusiasm.

Without you, this would never have been possible. Arigatou, Sandwiches!

Love Love,
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Welcome to Hello Sandwich world: a tiny apartment in a little corner of Tokyo that opens onto a vast expanse of creative inspiration. Im an Australian artist, designer, blogger, and author: My daily life in Tokyo is documented on my blog, hellosandwich.jp; on social media; and now its here in this little book you are holding in your hands.

Living in Japan has been an unexpected whirlwind with a trail of creative projects that I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. Ive collaborated with some of my favorite Japanese brands; hosted workshops at Tokyu Hands and Isetan department stores; appeared on Japans national television station, NHK; dabbled in Japanese radio programs; and published two Japanese craft books.

I can pinpoint the beginnings of my Tokyo creative journey to one event in particular. It took place just a few weeks after I moved to Tokyo. I was very eager to sign up to do something creative, so immediately upon arriving, I applied to take part in the Tokyo Art Book Fair. It was at this event that I met Mio-san, from Japanese publishing house BNN, who had an interest in Hello Sandwich. Mio-san promptly organized a feature in a new girls zines book, and from there the opportunities multiplied. Honestly, I still cant believe it when I walk into a Japanese bookstore and spot a Hello Sandwich publication. Im constantly pinching myself to see if this is all just one big dream.

I hope you will enjoy this peek into the city that I see every day and love dearly. And if you can, please come along and visit Tokyo!

Love Love,

HELLO SANDWICH

xoxo

* Find hellosandwich on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Being a foreigner in this citybeing able to see the city with fresh eyesis so, so utterly inspiring

DAILY LIFE
*
in Tokyo

Ive been living in Tokyo for five years now, and not a day passes that I dont catch myself smiling at something uniquely Japanese on my travels. It might be the striped tape seal on a brand-new package of plastic wrap, the Tiffany-blue garden hose around the corner from my apartment, or a passing polka-dot truck. The inspiration in this city is never-ending. One of my favorite pastimes is wandering around the local suburbs looking for photos, as I call it.

TOKYO CITY SCENES It blows my mind that Im lucky enough to be able to live in this incredible city. Spending lots of time in my local neighborhood, its easy to forget that I live in such a megametropolis! Every now and then, I love to stop for a moment and catch a glimpse of the city from a high-rise building. Its mind-boggling. Looking down over the vast city from these heights, Im amazed that somehow Ive made a life for myself among the millions of people living here.

SEASONS Tokyo really is a four-season city, and its fascinating to watch the city change from one season to the next, especially in the local shops. Supermarkets sell umeshu (plum wine) kits and green curtain kits (to keep out the sun) at the start of summer, bamboo decorations for the new year... and so on. Without a calendar, you could safely guess the date with just one visit to a supermarket.

Each season comes with its own unique events. Spring brings a week or two of hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties) and picnics. My favorite parts of summer are the festivals: I often sit in my studio and hear the drumming of passing processions. In autumn its time to travel to Hakone to see the changing colors of the leaves, and in winter its time to look forward to the snow.

Tokyo is very well equipped for each season. Trains have heated seats in winter and strong air conditioning in summer. Cafs offer hot wine, blankets, and heated hand warmers in winter, and kakigori (shaved ice) and frozen beer in summer. No matter what the season, its wonderful exploring and living in this amazing city.

YUKI (SNOW) Coming from Sydney, I rarely ever saw snow, especially not in a city environment. Its such a brilliant experience to see your city nestled under a blanket of white. On occasion, it snows where I live in Shimokitazawa, usually in February. Waking up to the quiet of a new snowfall is utterly incredible. The snow absorbs all the neighborhood sounds, and its the most beautiful silence you can imagine. You know it is there before you peek out your window.

In February 2014, Tokyo experienced its heaviest snowfall in forty-five years. I arrived back from Kyoto on the shinkansen (bullet train) just in time to see it. I wasnt even able to roll my suitcase from my local station to my house. My bike was completely covered, and the following morning I could only just make out the top of the washing machine on my balcony. It was a great excuse not to do the laundrymuch wiser to spend time building a snowman, right?