Hello Tokyo

March 6, 2017
Australian graphic designer Bizys bases this quirky, joyful book of creativity on her blog, Hello Sandwich, which draws on her life in Japan. The book is well written and easily understood, and expresses her abundant love of Japanese culture. She provides ideas for making the most of a tiny Tokyo apartment with repurposed vintage items, short-stemmed flower arrangements in tiny vases, and a brightly colored pegboard for photographs and enhanced storage space. Picnicking in the city’s lovely parks is an adventurous, daylong activity for Bizys and her friends that requires musical instruments, games, books, handmade napkins, blankets (called “leisure sheets” locally), and, of course, food. Making a bento box is a major task. Bizys explains the rule of five when assembling a bento: one must include the traditional five colors, cooking methods, flavors, senses, and states of mind while eating. A variety of projects offers something for everyone seeking handmade items: decorated magnets, hair bows, bracelets, folders, and scrapbooks. Clever tricks with gift wrap, tags, and toppers are covered, and the book reveals the many fun possibilities of decorating for parties. Color photographs handsomely illustrate Bizys’s projects, and her background in art direction is evident.

Starred review from April 1, 2017

Australian artist and blogger (Hello Sandwich) Bizys moved to Tokyo in 2010, and quickly fell in love with the city's quirky charm. Her first book is part travelog, part love letter to Japanese culture, and part craft guide. Bizys celebrates everything from bento lunches to bullet trains to her elderly neighbors, presenting snippets of her life alongside clever ideas for home decor and accessories that are easy for crafters of any level to replicate. Readers may wonder where Bizys fits all of her craft supplies, collectibles, and bric-a-brac in her 125-square-foot apartment, but the book is so much fun that it's easy to suspend disbelief. VERDICT Lifestyle-based craft guides live and die on the likability of their authors, and Bizys is a delight. Crafters who enjoy quirky, colorful projects will love this peek into her Tokyo life.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.