Today we take some time to appreciate this captivating and provoking photo album by the famed Japanese glass artist SLOP. Shot in 2011 on the ominous grounds of Fukishima, Japan the city where the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster took place shortly after the Tsunami hit earlier that year. The contrast between the tranquil scenery and the sleek and eloquent pipes help to better convey the question; “Can pipes be art?”. It...

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love anime. My obsession with anime started fairly recently following my trip to Tokyo, I became obsessed with the culture, the food, the language, the landscape, and what interests me most is how much alike our cultures are yet they’re radically different. I believe this comes from their appreciation of their past yet their obsession with the cutting edge, and western culture. I tread...

Kurashiki, Japan is a quaint historical town with a rich and deep history. Since it’s discovery and inhabitation rival Japanese clans have fought over this choice spot along the river. It wasn’t until during the Edo period the Shogunate shut down the area and put the city under their direct rule did the town ever start to see some tranquility. During the Edo period, Kurashiki did heavy trade with the capital city Edo in rice,...

Unlike many of the glass artists living in the west in Japan artists are faced with a few more challenges when it comes to earning a living. Whereas an artist in the states has better odds of being able to make ends meet and build a reputation as just a pipe-maker. In Japan an artist has to dig a little deeper; lamp fixtures, oil lamps, and of course Japan’s famous marble art are just some of the few things an artist living in Japan...

Continuing our Japanese theme  we invite you to watch this inspirational video. As one of Japan’s last remaining swordsmiths, Korehira Watanabe has honed his craft for 40 years. Currently in the process of training his next “disciple”  Watanabe is attempting to recreate the mythical Koto sword, an ancient blade crafted in the 1400′s considered to be “perfect”. The exact recepie has been lost but...

There’s nothing in life better than a trip to the glass shop, spending the day checking out functional glass art and gazing into marbles. Talking shop with like minded people will tempt you to stay for the entire day. Nestled in a tiny neighborhood in the Shibuya district in Tokyo, Japan the Bohemian Boro Shop is the areas hottest spot for borosilicate glass collectors. So when the Glass Otaku and the IgniteMe crew heard about this...

New from Japanese glass artist HACKY SACKY comes the Hello Kitty slide and slide holder. If you’re a literal glass otaku like me, or you’re looking for that special something for the ol’ ball n’ chain the piece comes with: at 14mm Hello Kitty head slide and comes equipped with the rest of her body as well serving as the slide holder. This would look great on anybody’s desk, as well as on any pipe! Buy it now...