From Tokyo, Jean Snow's unique perspective on Japanese design yields five notables - from compact prefab to sticky notes.

PACO

Jo Nagasaka (Schemata Architecture Office) comes up with the perfect solution for pre-fab/temporary housing with the all-in-one living unit Paco. Amazingly compact, yet remarkably functional.

READING LAMP

Jun Yasumoto collaborates with Alban Le Henry, Olivier Pigasse, and Vincent Vandenbrouck on the Reading Lamp, a side lamp (or yes, reading lamp) that automatically turns off when you place your book on it. Even doubles as a bookmark!

YAMAGIWA COLLECTION

Earlier this year, light manufacturer Yamagiwa launched a collection featuring lamps by a who's who of today's Japanese designer celebs. My favorites were Tokujin Yoshioka's ToFU, Naoto Fukasawa's Wan, and Shiro Kuramata's K-Series.

KUDAMEMO

The Kudamemo is another fun design idea by D-BROS, this time sticky notes shaped like fruit. Even better, you can by them in "crates" of six, each individually wrapped like they would be at a grocery store in Japan.

AWA

Nosigner collaborates with the Tokushima Wood-Bamboo Workers Association in creating the AWA line of beautiful wooden furniture. I really like the Triangle /Square /Rhombus magnetic desk organizers and the Hex sofa.