
Forget London phone booths, Japan’s green public telephones are the new trendy icon.
It used to be that London phone booths were the iconic public feature, but since they’ve started being phased out in the U.K., they’re slowly becoming a thing of legend. But that leaves room for something new to take its place…perhaps the Japanese public telephone?
With its almost shockingly bright green color and blocky design, the Japanese public telephone could work up to being as iconic as the historical red booth. It already seems to have a decent following of fans within Japan, which might be why a backpack designed after the green gadget has gone viral on Twitter.
The backpack was created by Twitter user Yu Ogasawara, a Japanese leatherworker and woodcrafter who has won numerous prizes for her unique designs. This particular work seems to get the strongest response when she puts it up for display, and that’s probably because it looks exactly like its namesake, and is not only adorable and wearable, but also durable and valuable since it’s made completely of genuine leather.
It’s also fully functional (as a backpack). The handset is the perfect size for as a pencil-case, and when unzipped, the front panel opens up the storage compartment. There is even a small pocket for storing your phone and earphones on the inside of the front panel, and the coin slot actually serves as a way to pull your earphones through without opening the bag.
▼ Check out that cute pattern! It’s made by hand-carved rubber stamps.
Plus, it looks and operates like a real phone. You can push the buttons, and the handset can be removed from the holder, which uses a strong magnet to keep it from falling off while you’re walking. It doesn’t yet make calls, but with technology progressing as it is, it may only be a matter of time.
When asked what inspired her to make this bag, Ogasawara says that she used to use public telephones all the time when she was a child. Since they’re being removed and phased out as mobile phones become more common, she’s started missing seeing them around, and that’s why she decided to create a design in their honor.
Japanese netizens agree that it’s a wonderful homage. Since the original Tweet on April 10, they have been clamoring to buy one, but because it was a piece she made for school, she isn’t yet able to put them on the market, though she hopes one day that she can. She has so many other cute and pretty designs, like the turtle backpack and zebra purse below, so undoubtedly she’ll be able to build a successful business when she does put her works up for sale.
ウミガメのリュック
— おがさわらゆう(小笠原悠) (@yutoyou_yty) April 10, 2018
カメさんを背負えるよ🐢
甲羅のお花はカーヴィング(自分で叩いて凹凸を付けてます)
なぜかマダム達に人気👵🏻✨#女の価値を決めるバッグ pic.twitter.com/SyYkzirBys
おしりーズ
— おがさわらゆう(小笠原悠) (@yutoyou_yty) April 10, 2018
シマウマのおしりのバッグだよ🦓❤️#女の価値を決めるバッグ pic.twitter.com/MO74lX4csl
Twitter and Instagram are a great place to find some talented artists in all kinds of mediums, from oil paints to paper to even Excel spreadsheets! It’s amazing how much talent there is the world, and it’s really fun to find it in unexpected corners of the Internet.
Source, images: Twitter/@yutoyou_yty





Beautiful bag designed by leather craftsman specially for carrying watermelons is a work of art
Japanese samurai randoseru backpack lets you carry the bushido spirit with you wherever you go
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】