With the hot summer months around the corner, Design Setta Sango is a fashionable alternative to the ever so common flip flop. Inspired by Japanese designs as well as more pop prints, the variety of colors, designs and textures assures that there is something for everyone. The setta sandal is...
We all know wasabi as that spicy green condiment that comes with our sushi and sashimi. Yet little do many know that in most cases what we’re eating is just a mix of horseradish, Chinese mustard and green coloring. Real wasabi, also known as Wasabia Japonica, is rare to come...
In the last 20 years, the kimono has undergone something of a revival in the fashion scene. Thanks to the advance of gender neutrality, this genderless garment has found a new appeal. Meet Y. & Sons, a major player in the modern rise of the Kimono, located in Tokyo’s Kanda...
Located in Hamacho Hotel in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Tokyo Craft Room is a space is for those who’re looking for authentic yet comforting design. Based on a culture of creation that keeps a strong connection with nature and the environment, the quality and thoughtfulness towards local resources are integrated into each...
Housed in a 90 year old building registered as tangible cultural property, Kaikado Cafe is a hidden gem in Kyoto, displaying parts of Japan’s rich cultural history and appreciation for long lasting craftsmanship . Originally a brand specializing in handcrafted canisters from tin plates imported from England following the Meiji...
Hikizome (brush dyed textiles), translated as pull dying is a technique used as one step of the dying process to make Kimonos, a traditional Japanese garment. Requiring carefully controlled environments and steady stroke patterns to brush the dye onto the fabric, Hikizome is considered well done if the final product...
Mizuhiki, a word closely associated with the Japanese word musubu (connection, tying) are twines of “washi” rice paper tied in knots to decorate gifts and small envelopes. Its cultural significance lies in it being a beautiful finishing touch on presents, and as a symbol of affection or togetherness, just as...
The Tsutsumi family has been specializing in the making of urushi lacquer since 1909. Takuya Tsutsumi, the successor of the business, has been rethinking the use of Japanese lacquer “urushi”. Urushi is the natural resin collected from the lacquer tree, a plant native only to Asia. Refined into a coating...
Certified as a Living National treasure, Kinzaburo is an aging incense craftsman based in Sakai in the heart of Osaka prefecture. As a one-man operation, he spends his time producing and selling his incense sticks in a small studio-shop. Despair in the face of the near complete disappearance of his...
Nestled in the hills of Kyoto prefecture lies the village of Miyama, known mostly for its traditional thatched roof buildings and also for being the home of Hiroyuki Shindo and his prodigious work with indigo. Equal parts gallery, workshop, and residence, the Little Indigo Museum is more than meets the...
One of the staples of Japan known in western culture are paper lanterns, and for good reason. Paper lanterns bring a beautiful warmth, a sense of peace and safety to the atmosphere. That is difficult to achieve with common lightning. This is especially remarkable in the streets of Kyoto. A...
This year was the 4th year of the “Lexus New Takumi Project” where young crafts people across the country are challenged with creating the “next-generation traditional crafts”. 150 young crafts people and designers participated and their work was showcased in the basement of the Kyoto Shimbun (Newspaper) Building, the Heian...
