Arita ware, Fukagawa-Seiji Tea & Gallery – FUKAGAWA SEIJI 1894 ROYAL KILN & TEA

Crafts Pick up

Arita ware, Fukagawa-Seiji Tea & Gallery – FUKAGAWA SEIJI 1894 ROYAL KILN & TEA

Have you ever heard of a traditional Japanese porcelain called Arita ware? It dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns in Korea. Nabeshima Naoshige, the lord of Bizen (part of present-day Nagasaki and Saga prefectures), brought back the potter, Li Sanpei who discovered a high-quality porcelain stone at Mount Arita Izumi, and the first fine porcelain thereafter emerged in Japan. The raw porcelain material that was found in Arita, Saga Prefecture in Kyushu is still used for producing tableware and arts and crafts, and continues to be loved by Japanese families up to these days.

Yoshida Gennojoe-Roho, preserving traditional techniques of Kyoto household Buddhist Altars and Kyoto Buddhist religious objects

Crafts Pick up

Yoshida Gennojoe-Roho, preserving traditional techniques of Kyoto household Buddhist Altars and Kyoto Buddhist religious objects

Kyoto household Buddhist altar and Kyoto Buddhist religious objects are designated as traditional Japanese crafts. They are believed to have originated in the 9th century in Kyoto, the birthplace of Buddhist altars, where traditional techniques have been used since ancient times to produce a wide variety of products for household and temple.Among them, Yoshida Gennojoe-Roho is a Buddhist altar store with a 450-years history, located in Sanjo, Kyoto. Founded in 1572 by Yoshida Gennojoe, this shop boasts years of experience, technique and knowledge, supplying the highest quality Buddhist altar fittings for 15 generations until now. In this article, we will introduce a story about the Kyoto household Buddhist altar and Buddhist statues made by traditional craft techniques in Kyoto and interesting details about Yoshida Gennojoe-Roho.

Kanji Lounge, a Japanese calligraphy service to convert a name or text to kanji and deliver overseas

Art Pick up

Kanji Lounge, a Japanese calligraphy service to convert a name or text to kanji and deliver overseas

Mastering Japanese is not without its hurdles. One of the reasons is three types of writing systems in Japanese: hiragana, katakana, and kanji, often used in a mixed way. Although it is the same Japanese language, origins and history are different. Kanji are originally coming from Chinese, and are ideograms, i.e. each character has its own meaning and corresponds to a word, with many kanji having the same pronunciation. Indeed, Japanese kanji are really cool! In this article, we will introduce calligraphy artist Matsun from Kanji Lounge, which provides a kanji delivery service to overseas customers.

Must-try Japanese drink: How to pick a sake that you’ll like

Drink Pick up

Must-try Japanese drink: How to pick a sake that you’ll like

There are many people who tried a recommended sake for the first time and were taken aback by its unexpected spiciness, sweetness and high alcohol content. As a result, they stopped drinking - it did happen to many Japanese young people. The best way to get the most out of your sake experience in Japan is to enjoy a locally produced sake which is called ‘jizake’.

Aoyama Square, where you can meet handicrafts of Japanese craftsmen

Crafts Pick up

Aoyama Square, where you can meet handicrafts of Japanese craftsmen

I went to Aoyama Square, a gallery and shop where you can encounter traditional crafts from all across Japan.

Bizen Ware and Its Unique Beauty

Crafts Pick up

Bizen Ware and Its Unique Beauty

Bizen ware derives its name from the area where it is produced, which is in Okayama Prefecture, it is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. A key feature of Bizen ware is that the molding and firing processes give it a simple, rustic appearance. No glazes are used.

Everything You Need to Know About Japanese Tea

Drink Pick up

Everything You Need to Know About Japanese Tea

Japanese tea is the most common beverage consumed by many people. With a history that stretches back over centuries, the custom of tea-drinking at the family gathering and welcoming guests has been deeply rooted in a Japanese culture. It is also valued for its health and restorative properties. There are a lot more types of Japanese tea you might’ve heard of or not, however, in this guide, we will introduce the most popular worldwide, green tea.

What is sake? A guide to Japan’s popular drink

Drink Pick up

What is sake? A guide to Japan’s popular drink

Sake is an alcoholic beverage made from rice (steamed rice), malted rice and water. There are myriad types of sake, ways to drink and regional tastes. For those of you who are not avid drinkers, we’ve done plenty of research to get you interested and help to get the most out of your next sake experience!

Discover Miso, a Japanese Power Food

Food Pick up

Discover Miso, a Japanese Power Food

A soybean paste miso is not only one of the staples of Japanese cuisine but also an essential seasoning which brings out the best in many dishes. Besides a classic miso soup, it accompanies many meals and tastes delicious with stir-fried foods, stews, pickled fish and meat, vegetables and fries. Ramen with miso is also popular.