Pictured is the poster that greeted everyone at the entrance of Cafe Pause during the event, designed for the event by Luis Mendo (GOOD Inc.) — the flyer design was adapted by Hiyoko Imai.

Below are larger versions of the poster and both sides of the flyer.

Behind the glass showcase display we featured the entire run (10 issues) of the now defunct Tokyo-based independent culture magazine OK Fred. The magazine’s founders, Yoshi Tsujimura and Audrey Fondecave, are getting ready to launch a new title called TOO MUCH, with the first issue set to come out this fall.

This year marks the 15 anniversary of Tokyo-based independent magazine publisher Knee High Media — behind titles such as Tokion, Mammoth, Planted, and Papersky — and so a special collection of 15 titles was on display, featuring one issue for each year of existence.

We include here an essay from Knee High Media founder Lucas Badtke-Berkow on why he makes magazines.

Magazine = MOVEment

I’ve always loved magazines. I used to not just read magazines, but study the paper they were printed on, the illustrations, designs, photographs, concepts and presentations behind each story. The more I did, the more I wanted to make and create magazines. I made my first magazine in 6th grade and it went on to win two prizes- Best School magazine in California and Best Designed magazine in the district.

Ever since, I’ve never stopped making magazines. To me magazines are ART, LITERATURE, CULTURE and HISTORY all wrapped and sandwiched between two covers. They are to me what a canvas is to a painter, or an instrument to a musician, magazines are my artistic medium. Magazines, for me, are a medium in which I can contribute my part to making the world a better place by presenting ideas, emotions, people and places that will hopefully become seeds for a new WIDESCREEN way of thinking.

In short, magazines at their best are MOVEment makers, and at their very best they create change for the better. Since arriving in Japan in 1993, I thought about the magazine’s I’ve made and what they MOVED: TOKION (Japanese youth MOVEment), MAMMOTH (kids culture MOVEment), PAPER SKY (travel MOVEment), METRO MIN. (the free magazine MOVEment) and PLANTED & PLANTS + (plant MOVEment). Today, I look forward to participating in the next MOVEment that will make our world a better and more peaceful place for everyone.

Lucas Badtke-Berkow
Knee High Media, Creative & Editorial Director

When you give an exhibition a name like SNOW Magazine Cafe, even if it is about magazines, it makes sense to include some sort of menu to go with event, which is what we did. The special menu — which is available for the duration of the event — includes three items, all following the theme of “white,” which is in keeping with the “SNOW” name.

SNOW LASSI
Peach Lassi
￥600

SNOW COCKTAIL
Malibu Rum and Milk
￥700

SNOW PUDDING
Annin Tofu and Tapioca
￥500

Pictured above, the SNOW PUDDING, which we can assure you is as delicious and cool as it looks.

Lynam, a Tokyo-based art director, has had a long love affair with the zine scene — creating quite a few himself — and what he has contributed gives a good overview of the genre. Thanks to Eyeone we were able to include a fairly comprehensive collection of graffiti zines — Eyeone himself is the creator of the zine Lost. Staples, “The Bearded Hobo,” is behind the Paper Cuts Collective co-op, and creates the travel scrapbook zine Whenever I See a Bearded Hobo on the Street, I’ll Think of You and Smile.

Below is the complete list of contributing titles:

- A View on Harvard GSD
- AL Magazine
- Anorak
- ArtAsiaPacific
- Bakteriekultur
- BYPASS
- CUTOUT
- DWDD
- Fantom
- FLAG
- Grafik
- Gym Class Magazine
- Hate
- Journal de Nîmes
- Lavagina
- Mammoth
- Megane
- Nico
- Papersky
- Pidgin
- Poetry Is Dead
- Popshot
- Present Joys
- Preston Is My Paris
- 10. [tenten]
- Qlix
- RAAK
- Rap-Up
- Slanted
- Tank
- The New York Times Magazine
- The Ride
- White Fungus

Throughout the month we’ll post more details about each magazine. Note that each title can be picked up and read at the cafe.

Throughout the month, this special blog will cover different aspects of the event, including photos, coverage of the magazines included, as well as other things that will be happening through the month.

The exhibition includes a selection of 33 participating titles from around the world, as well as a large selection of zines kindly provided by Ian Lynam, Eyeone, and Jeremy Staples, and a special display to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Tokyo-based magazine publisher Knee High Media (Tokion, Mammoth, Papersky). Everything mentioned so far can be read while on the premises, so come in for a read.

Behind the glass is a display of all ten issues of the now defunct Tokyo-based independent culture magazine OK Fred — a new magazine by the creators will launch later this month, to be included in the show.