This post was written by DCist contributor Heather Goss.

A short article in the Post last week led me to one of the most innovative — and practical — pieces of art I’ve seen in a long time. Tokujin Yoshioka designed a chair, called Honey-Pop (pictured), which sits in the basement-level Japanese Information & Culture Center at the Japanese Embassy, as part of its Japanese Design Today 100 exhibit.

What makes Honey-Pop so unique is that it’s made entirely out of paper, folded and glued into hexagonal honeycombs. This meticulous handiwork means the chair is not just a beautiful piece of art, it’s a sturdy piece of furniture as well. I admit wishing the security guard nearby would wander off so I could flop myself into it, but instead settled for carefully inspecting it — noting the slightly crushed honeycombs on the seat area, evidence that it has indeed supported a few previous occupants.