Now that our first issue of 2026 is out in the world — you can peruse it all here! — I am feeling rather nostalgic and thought it might be nice to revisit some of my favorite magazine pieces from the past few years. The first that comes to mind is Ben Cooke’s gorgeous, moving, heartbreaking profile of the photographer Lee Chapman, whose images deal with transience in a way that’s hard to put into words. I won’t spoil it; read the whole thing here.
Other highlights from the archives:
The story of Koji Kinjo, who has worked tirelessly to save Okinawa’s coral reefs from collapse. A few years ago, he came across what might be a miracle solution.
Tabi shoes and billowy pants have become ubiquitously trendy lately — but their origins are actually quite utilitarian. A look into how Japanese construction uniforms went high fashion.
If you’ve been to Tokyo, you’ve probably come across a Tenga product in the aisles of Don Quijote or somewhere similar. The adult toy company is much more than its famous vacuum cups, though, and it has quietly revolutionary aims.
— Callie Beusman, Editorial Director
One day, I won’t be here anymore. The same goes for anyone else who reads this. That’s the deal we make in life. This concept doesn’t only apply to people; it also applies to places. Tokyo is an ever-changing city, and parts of it live and die just like we do. One day, an old building or store will be there, oozing with the charm of days past and reflecting the lives of those who’ve inhabited it throughout the years. The next day, it could be gone.
This concept of transience and life and death is something that British photographer Lee Chapman understands in every sense imaginable.
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Other highlights from the archives:
JAPAN LIFE
Koji Kinjo has pioneered a way to successfully transplant farm-grown coral back into the ocean. Could it help save the seas from ecologic catastrophe?
FASHION
Between tabi shoes and nikkapokka pants, Japanese workwear has taken the world of high fashion by storm.
DESIGN
Famous for its eponymous, bright red vacuum cup, Tenga has a lofty goal: normalizing pleasure and sexual expression.
Travel in Japan:
A subtropical paradise famed for its panoramic vistas, Awaji Island is also home to some of Japan’s most striking modernist architecture.
The surprisingly touching, unbelievably true story behind the massive sculptures in Sun Messe Nichinan park.
Located on the island of Shikoku, Kagawa is a quaint and magical prefecture — the smallest in Japan.