Soon the leaves will turn, the air will chill and fall will once again descend on New York. For some, autumn is synonymous with bobbing for apples, haystacks and pumpkin pie. For me, it is the season I throw open the door to my bulging closet and sullenly note that I have nothing to wear. But instead of fortifying my wardrobe with items for which I feel fleeting affection, this season I’m going to accessorize with Milk.

And I don’t mean bringing back the mustache.

I mean the laser-cut products from the ingenious Japanese jewelry maker’s original collection, Chaluette. Simultaneously simple and intricate, the jewelry’s unique way of casting shadows on the body lends an added dimension to the stale clothes cluttering your room. The distinctive necklaces, earrings and bracelets currently highlighted during Felissimo’s accessory week mean that the muumuu in the back of your closet—the one you got a stoop sale 15 years ago, have taken on every vacation and refuse to throw away despite the fact that you have never worn it—can finally be debuted. Because not only does Milk’s jewelry allow you to add silhouetted intrigue without a tattoo that will trigger your mother’s disapproval, this jewelry will make a burlap sack look sexy. Perfect for both those who approach shopping with calculation and rationality and for people with a swollen closet and collection of muumuus like me. Only one question remains this season. Got milk?

My Japanese in-laws live in an apartment in Tokyo, and the only gardening they do is to prune the potted eggplant on the balcony. So, imagine my surprise when one day my father-in-law pulls out the biggest pair of branch cutters I’ve ever seen. Those must be some eggplants, I thought. Then he opens the kitchen window and matter-of-factly hacks a branch off the neighbor’s fruit-laden kumquat tree, growing right outside. Like the orangutans who poke sticks into termite nests to fish out a tasty snack, a healthy dose of opportunism, combined with the right tools, can make for interesting primate behavior.

Perhaps my father-in-law would appreciate a pair of gardening scissors from Otake Sangyo, Co., Ltd. They are made with premium quality steel, manufactured using traditional Japanese iron-making technology. Their blades have the reputation for being as sharp as samurai swords, making them ideal for bonsai pruning, flower arranging, and, perhaps, opportunistic kumquat harvesting.

Bubble wrap has come a long way. From New Jersey, where an unsuccessful attempt at plastic wallpaper created it 50 years ago, to Japan, home of the world's first and only bubble wrap think tank, the ubiquitous packing staple has long been the antidote for idle hands and anxiety-ridden office workers.

Now, with the October debut of Mugen Pop Pop, popping bubble wrap becomes a boundless diversion no longer tied to the UPS man's delivery schedule. Bandai, the Japanese purveyors of cool and quirk who introduced us to Tamagotchi and the Power Rangers, return to the handheld game scene with this pocket-sized, battery-operated square of bubble wrap. Mugen Pop Pop slips easily onto a key chain and features simple games, in addition to straight popping pleasure. The playful stress-buster is already a hit in Japan where the bubble wrap market is saturated with scented varieties, various shapes, and even a high-pressure version—not for packing family heirlooms, but for creating an extra loud pop, of course. Poppity Pop Culture Laboratory, the aforementioned think tank, even decreed August 8 as National Bubble Wrap Day (the lucky day was chosen because the date-hatchi hatchi-sounds strikingly like the onomatopoeic Japanese name—puchi puchi.)

And while we lack a think tank devoted to the stuff, Americans are just as crazy about the cathartic popping paper. Numerous websites and even the iPhone already feature simulated popping for those who find themselves without packing materials or in the library confronted with icy glares.

If you can't wait until October, stop by Fellisimo's Japan-centric exhibit to play with the display models. In fact, head over there anyways to check out the bright green plastic edamame pod, another ingenious Bandai product, which exploits the simple pleasure of popping beans from their husk. What will they think of next? My money is on one of two things: either a set of portable knuckles or everyone’s nightmare—an eternal blemish.

Ironically, living in a city where designers big and small compose whole neighborhoods does not make it any easier to cultivate a distinct look. In fact, it presents added challenges. Invariably, a subway ride or a trip to the grocery store incites indignation when two women, a man and a savvy 5-year-old all wearing the skirt you just blew your paycheck on file by. Instead of being flattered when people compliment you on the street, you regard them with skepticism and develop amnesia when they ask where you found such a beautiful jacket. This week, however, all that changes with Felissimo’s showcase of gorgeous Japanese accessories. Awe-inducing products like Teishin’s modern pearl jewelry and Hishiya’s traditionally inspired footwear will help you regain your memory and your benevolence. And equally seductive is the opportunity to field questions about your unique pieces with a fashionably nonchalant shrug. “Oh this little thing—it’s Japanese.”

Last week the designers from Boford came by to check out the Japan C exhibit.

Here's a picture of them in front of the Japan C sphere.

Last week, the Japan Society brought 30 local teachers to the Japan C exhibit as part of their professional development course From Anime to Pokemon: Using Pop Culture to Teach about Japan.

Check out some pictures from the event.

Teachers that are interested in learning about visiting opportunities can contact Tara Hohenberger at 212-956-4438 ex. 111.

Sugoi (SU-GOY)

The singularly most useful word in Japanese, it means “Wow!”, “That’s terrific!”, or “That’s terrible!”, thereby describing any situation. Even if you don’t speak a lick of Japanese, sugoi is an acceptable response to 99% of situations. For example:

Situation #1: You’re served the most delicious looking sushi.
Response: Sugoi!
Meaning: That looks great!

Situation #2: It’s the most delicious sushi you’ve ever tried.
Response: Sugoi!
Meaning: This is fabulous!

Situation #3: The check comes up to $500.
Response: Sugoi!
Meaning: Grab your bag and let’s make a run for it!

Green Capsule is a portable plant cultivation kit and part of a line of "lohas" products from Boford. Lohas means "sustainable lifestyle". Choose from cabbage, basil, green pepper and cherry tomato seeds. It comes with a cell phone strap so you can watch your sprouts grow anytime, anywhere, or it can be worn on a chain as a pendant. Once your plant grows too big for the capsule, you can replant it.

asobi – A-SO-BEE – play. A testament to the inherent playfulness of Japanese culture, unlike in English, this word is used to describe fun socializing activities for children and adults alike.

Design at Play items will be on display at the Felissimo Design House through Saturday.

Today begins a new feature here at Japan C: Japanese Word of the Day. Be sure to check back every day for new words!

youkoso (YŌ-KO-SO – usually followed by an exclamation mark)

This greeting means 'welcome' and conveys the sentiment of it's nice to see you. Drop by Japan C for a warm youkoso from our staff.

One of the best things about visiting Japan is marveling at the food displays outside of restaurants. The entire menu is displayed in a showcase with amazing plastic replicas. You name it, they can fake it…tempura that still looks crisp, sushi so fresh-looking it glistens, draft beer with a nice head of foam …it’s like the culinary version of Madame Tussaud’s.

There’s a whole artform in Japan dedicated to making things look real. From fake food, miniature robots and dinosaur skeletons, to a tiny, working grand piano, the craftsmanship is impeccable. There’s even a historic battle scene, reproduced with soldiers an inch tall, complete with carnage. Even the more child-friendly edamame keychain has realistically slippery soybeans that you push out of the pods. Why, you may ask? Simply because shelling soybeans is silly, addicting fun. Like the plastic food that makes your mouth water, the plastic soybean dangling from your car ignition is guaranteed to appeal to the primal, bean-popping urges in all of us.

See the Mugen (forever) Edamame and more on display at the Felissimo Design House, now through Saturday.

I like to think of myself as fairly stylish. Maybe I don't live up to New York City standards, but I'm not too shabby either. The pinnacle was when I attended a seminar in rural Virginia where everyone (mostly Canadians) admired my "NYC wardrobe" and I was dubbed the "Carrie Bradshaw of the Woods."

The low point was a few years prior when I met my boyfriend's father - a very dapper, traditional Japanese man. I bought a vintage kimono for the occasion that I believed was very subtle in color and design. I wore it robe-style over a simple black dress, sure that he would be impressed by my fusion of "East meets West." At dinner that night, he commented to my future husband, "That kimono Cathy's wearing looks like an old lady's." Ouch.

Fashion missteps aside, I still love traditional Japanese materials. Lucky for me, there's a trend in Japan known as Jiba that takes traditional manufacturing methods & materials and uses them to create modern products. Notebooks are made with handmade paper and traditional bookbinding techniques, gift cards are adorned with elaborate paper cords shaped into loops and pinecones, wallets are made using traditional dyed cloth from Kyoto, which gives it an organic feel, and vintage kimonos are re-designed to make elegant bags, coin purses, and girly hair ornaments. Jiba cleverly blends the quality of traditional craftsmanship with the charm of vintage fabrics and materials, expressed in a modern design that is stylish and youthful, and not at all like an old lady's.

Limited quantities of exclusive Jiba products will be on sale at at the Japan C exhibition at the Felissimo Design House (10 West 56th Street, NYC) until Saturday.

Monday, at the historic Felissimo Design House, was the opening reception for Japan C - the eleven week rolling exhibition of all things Japanese. Some luminaries were in attendance, such as:

Tobias Wong & Josee Lepage, the creative team that turned the townhouse into a giant origami sculpture for the exhibit.

Shinzi Katoh, the famous Japanese illustrator who designed the towels that Tara (from our office) is sooo in love with.

Taeko Baba, founder of New York-Tokyo.

Nora Abousteit, founder of BurdaStyle.com.

Bruce L'Orange, Director at Street Attack.

Felissimo Group's president Mr. Yazaki, who flew in from Kobe, Japan, and Felissimo New York Director Haruko Smith and her staff, who were all very happy, if a bit exhausted, from all the work.

In case you couldn't make it, here are the photos.

For those of you who keep wishing all the people would get out of the way so you can see the gorgeous displays & products here are some photos of the displays.

Be sure to check out the calendar for more events & if you want to get up-close and personal with some of the products, check out the online catalog.

Japandemonium is taking over the world. Japan’s influence pops up here and there…from creative sushi fusion cuisine (Cuban-Thai-Sushi, anyone?) to thousand-dollar designer bags emblazoned with smiling cherries, to silly things that make you happy, like the electronic “bubble wrap” keychain—for your giddy popping pleasure... MORE+