others · 15. June 2022

Now that it's difficult to provide actual viewing service with my personal life change, I'm starting to offer showcasing our products' features on the video as an alternative. The concept is the same as an actual viewing. I'd like our customers to have a better understanding before making a decision to purchase and get a sense of satisfaction out of our pieces.

Featured item · 26. March 2022

Spring (April) is the season when new fiscal and school year starts in Japan. Sakura cherry blossom start blooming in this season (end March to early April depending on the year). When people celebrate for a huge departure and a fresh start, Sakura cherry blossom have always been there watching over us warmly. That's the one of the reasons why Sakura is very special for us Japanese in that sense. We'd like to introduce our new items that is perfect for spring!

Japanese culture · 15. February 2022

One simple question from the customer made me wonder and provided an opportunity to write this post. It was when they were browsing a set of chopsticks and then asked me, "Why these 2 chopsticks of the set are different length?". I felt hit by this and was shocked that I had been handling these items without introducing the culture unique to Japan until then.

lifestyle  · 03. November 2021

Spending a little bit of effort and time on your pieces make each one precious and your own. Also I found these work would fairly soothe me in many ways. Reapplying Urushi lacquer is the similar process like Kintsugi, as repeating a little of work at a time for days and weeks, it is very exciting to see pieces changing every time including waiting. This is such pleasure to nurture your items with your own hands.

lifestyle  · 08. April 2021

The impressive aspect in Kintsugi is the moment when unique value is born out of the broken piece. This unique value features beauty in imperfection revived by relying to the power of nature. It shows us the importance of accepting everything that comes their way as well as the value of nature. This is something that I could not understand nor realize when I was younger. I believed perfection and new things are the ideal world. But it actually is not.

Featured item · 11. March 2021

Sayo Kuroki is the artist who creates various pieces that overturns the traditional image of so-called Japanese lacquerwares and that dazzles by the texture which is mistaken for the raw materials. While she uses the traditional technique called "Harigaki" which has been taken over for more than 500 years, beautiful lines of her design that features the fictional plants and flowers are the major charm.

Featured item · 21. January 2021

We proudly welcome this absolute piece from Wajima in our online store - Wajima Kikuhai. "Kiku" is Chrysanthemum which is believed as the symbol of warding off evil and longevity in Japan. Since Heian era(794-1185), people drunk to their health with Chrysanthemum flower in it. That's why there're quite a few Sake that has "Kiku" on its name. Why don't we start 2021 wishing a healthy and prosperous year with this special cup?

Japanese culture · 25. August 2020

What has supported me through this difficult time was "Sado", Japanese tea ceremony. During the lockdown, many things were shifted to online in various ways such as remote work, online learning, online exercise sessions etc...and I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to continue learning Japanese tea ceremony online in a different way. Not every tools and utensils are available at home, however, not to mention tea room. Thus I have learnt the spirit of "Mitate".

lifestyle  · 24. February 2020

It's been almost 2 months since we welcomed the new year. After hectic December (in Japan December is said to be the busiest month in a year as we wrote on this blog) and the hustle-bustle days in January, then February. Now that Valentine's day has totally become a part of Japanese culture, February becomes another shopping month for that event in Japan too. However in the light of original Japanese traditional customs, there's no major events in February.

Japanese culture · 25. December 2019

Another year is coming to an end soon. In Singapore where most of the people celebrate Lunar New Year, it may sound a little bit away, but is there any annual tradition, family event, special customs before getting a new year started?