Somewhere between architectural origami and a cherry blossom tornado, the Sakura Cyclone Table looks like it’s been frozen mid-whirlwind. It’s chaotic at first glance, like a wooden explosion held together by wishful thinking. But then you notice the precision. Each bent strip of plywood is fixed to a central disc with a single screw, and the whole thing is tensioned into place using thin wire, creating a spiraling frame that’s just… perfectly on edge. Designed by Tomoaki Kageyama, who moonlights as an associate professor at Nagoya City University, this table is a nerdy love letter to Japanese aesthetics, filtered through a Western lens. It’s quite tiny (at least the prototype is), with a footprint of 400 by 400 millimeters and a matching height. But it makes its presence known. Underneath the glass top, the lattice of curved plywood feels like it’s moving, even though it’s not. And then, when the lights go down, the magic really happens. Designer: Tomoaki Kageyama Kageyama was chasing shadows, quite literally. Inspired by Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows,” he wanted to design a table that wasn’t just about how it looked in daylight, but how it transformed at night. So he built it to cast shadows that resemble cherry blossoms. When a pendant light hits it just right, the legs bloom across the floor in petal-like patterns. It turns a normal room into a little theater. Quiet, reflective, oddly emotional. Getting to that point wasn’t simple. The plywood pieces aren’t just randomly curved. Each one follows a radius of 500 millimeters, and they’re all adjusted by wire to hit the right angles for the shadow effect. Kageyama prototyped this in the Hida region, which is kind of like the Kyoto of furniture making. The process was full of trial, error, and shadow testing with different lighting setups until everything aligned like a scene from an old anime finale. In fact, Kageyama’s table even won a Silver prize at the A’ Design Award and Competition this year. The post This Japanese Sakura Table Casts Petal-Shaped Shadows When Lit first appeared on Yanko Design.

Wireless mics fail when they rely too much on perfect conditions. BOYAMIC 2 fixes that by making every part of the system self-contained. Each transmitter records on its own. Each receiver controls levels, backups, and signal without needing an app. Noise is filtered in real time. Recording keeps going even if the connection drops. Designer: BOYAMIC There’s no need for a separate recorder or post-edit rescue. The unit handles gain shifts, background interference, and voice clarity without user intervention. Everything shows on screen. Adjustments happen through physical controls. Files are saved directly to internal memory. This system is built to capture clean audio without depending on external gear. It records immediately, adapts instantly, and stores everything without breaking the workflow. Industrial Design and Physical Form Each transmitter is small but solid. It’s 40 millimeters tall with a ridged surface that helps with grip and alignment. The finish reduces glare and makes handling easier. You can clip it or use the built-in magnet. Placement is quick, and it stays put. The record button is recessed, so you won’t hit it by mistake. An LED shows when it’s active. The mic capsule stays exposed but protected, avoiding interference from hands or clothing. Nothing sticks out or gets in the way.   The receiver is built around a screen and a knob. The 1.1-inch display shows battery, signal, gain, and status. The knob adjusts volume and selects settings. It works fast, without touchscreen lag. You can see and feel every change. Connections are spaced cleanly. One side has a USB-C port. The other has a 3.5 mm jack. A plug-in port supports USB-C or Lightning. The mount is fixed and locks into rigs without shifting. The charging case holds two transmitters and one receiver. Each has its own slot with magnetic contacts. Drop them in, close the lid, and they stay in place. LEDs on the case show power levels. There are no loose parts, exposed pins, or extra steps. Every shape and control supports fast setup and clear operation. You can press, turn, mount, and move without second-guessing. The design doesn’t try to be invisible; it stays readable, durable, and direct. Signal Processing and Audio Control BOYAMIC 2 uses onboard AI to separate voice from background noise. The system was trained on over 700,000 real-world sound samples. It filters traffic, crowds, wind, and mechanical hum in real time. Depending on the environment, you can toggle between strong and weak noise reduction. Both modes work directly from the transmitter or through the receiver. The mic uses a 6mm condenser capsule with a 48 kHz sample rate and 24-bit depth. The signal-to-noise ratio reaches 90 dB. Two low-cut filter options, at 75 Hz and 150 Hz, handle low-end rumble. These are effective against HVAC, engine hum, or low vibration. Gain is managed with automatic control. The system boosts quiet voices and pulls back when sound gets too loud. Built-in limiters stop clipping during spikes. A safety track records a second copy at -12 dB for backup. This makes it harder to lose a usable take even when volume jumps suddenly. Each setting is adjustable on screen. You don’t need a mobile app to access basic controls. Everything runs live and updates immediately. There are no delays or sync problems during capture. Recording and Storage Each transmitter records internally without needing the receiver. Files are saved in 32-bit float or 24-bit WAV formats. Internal storage is 8 GB. That gives you about ten hours of float audio or fifteen hours of 24-bit. When full, the system loops and overwrites older files. Recording continues even if the connection drops. Every session is split into timestamped chunks for fast transfer. You can plug the transmitter into any USB-C port and drag the files directly. No software is needed. This setup protects against signal loss, battery drops, or app crashes. The mic stays live, and the recording stays intact. Each transmitter runs for up to nine hours without noise cancellation or recording. With both features on, the runtime is closer to six hours. The receiver runs for about fifteen hours. The charging case holds enough power to recharge all three units twice. The system uses 2.4 GHz digital transmission. Its range can reach up to 300 meters in open areas. With walls or obstacles, it drops to around 60 meters. Latency stays at 25 milliseconds, even at long distances. You get reliable sync and stable audio across open ground or indoor spaces. Charging is handled through the included case or by direct USB-C. Each device takes under two hours to recharge fully. Compatibility and Multi-Device Support The system supports cameras, smartphones, and computers. USB-C and Lightning adapters are included. A 3.5 mm TRS cable connects the receiver to most cameras or mixers. While recording, you can charge your phone through the receiver, which is useful for long mobile shoots. One transmitter can send audio to up to four receivers at once, which helps with multi-angle setups or backup channels. The receiver also supports stereo, mono, and safety track modes. Based on your workflow, you choose how audio is split or merged. Settings can be changed from the receiver screen or through the BOYA app. The app adds firmware updates, custom EQ profiles, and gain presets for different camera brands. But the core controls don’t depend on it.The post BOYAMIC 2 Rebuilds Mobile Audio with AI and Onboard Capture first appeared on Yanko Design.