Dokudami, Knot Hotel, Yuzushu

Dokudami

Dokudami, or the scientific name: Houttuynia cordata. A native of South Asia, Dokudami is found in Japan, China and Southeast Asia. Its scientific name, Houttuynia, comes from the name of a Dutch doctor, and cordata means "heart-shaped" in Latin. Some people find this flower has a particularly strong odor and many people find this flower unpleasant. However if you grew up with this smell it is not unplesent.

 It begins to bloom in the middle of May and the lovely white flower tells the arrival of the rainy season coming up soon. It is said that Dokudami in bloom is at the best time of harvesting to make herb tea.

After weeding out Dokudami plants, you can make the best use of them by washing out and hang dry in shade. Thankfully, the fishy smell will be gone once they get dry completely. The dried Dokudami leaves can be used to make tea, location etc. It says Dokudami is a detox herb, and Dokudami tea in package and Dokudami location in bottles are often sold at drug stores in Japan.

Fresh leaves of Dokudami is also eatable, but you might find that the Dokudami growing in Japan has a too much strong smell to eat.

 Another advantage is that Dokudami is good for burns. If you get a burn wound, wash clean a leaf of Dokudami and knead to juice, then put it on the burn wound that will help relieve the pain.

Since long ago, Dokudami's crude drugs (or herbal medicines) have been popularly used for healing wounds. They are like superstars in the world of Japanese herbal medicine as well as Chinese and Korean medicine. Dokudami's crude drugs work well after being rubbed with salt, or being crushed and rubbed. When they are applied on insect bites and cuts as well as purulent portions, they work very effectively.

The whole plant is dried and brewed, and used for treatments such as diuretics, antipyretics, pus removal, detoxication, swelling, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis, constipation, colds, and paranasal sinusitis.

Folk medicine: There are the so-called old wives' tales that had been passed on during the days when people had no special medical knowledge or information. People learned from experience, the effects and benefits of Dokudami, an item that was readily available. Simple treatment methods, such as rubbing fresh Dokudami leaves and filling them in the nose to improve nasal congestion, have been handed down in various parts of Japan.

Since the old days, people often used Dokudami as folk medicine. The current name, meaning "accumulating poison" in Japanese, prevailed after the 17th or the 18th century.

We are very happy when we see dokudami blooming because it is such a handy herb for mosquito bites, bug bites, scratches and is very nice as a detoxifying tea and it is a magical cleaner of poisons and toxins. We highly recommend adding this herb into your life. You can find this tea in most Asian stores and drugstores and online as well!

The Knot Hotel:

If you visit Japan, please check out the Knot Hotel in Shinjuku. The first and second floors are an open area where guests can eat, work, relax, play or just admire the artwork on the walls.

Tastefully furnished with vintage and custom-made chairs and sofas, these floors form a single, expansive space that unites the restaurant, bar, lounge and lobby. It is also in front of Shinjuku park and it’s always nice to be in that area.

This space is also open to the public. Many people like to come for dinner or drinks and there are always interesting exhibitions. Guests could also rent, “Tokyo Bike” a wonderful brand of city bikes. However due to corona virus, this service has been temporarily suspended.

4-31-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

https://hotel-the-knot.jp/tokyoshinjuku/en/restaurants-bars/

Yuzushu

This unfiltered Yuzu liquor has become a real best seller over time. Very surprising like all the liqueurs of Asahara Shuzo, the Nigori Yuzushu has the special feature of leaving the palate fresh and clear, despite a very beautiful aromatic persistence. On citrus fruits, it has a beautiful acidity and liveliness.

Yuzu is a rare and highly popular citrus fruit in Japan. It has an irregular surface and its pot produce a very refreshing fragrance. For those who discover for the first time, this is a real surprise! The variety used by the brewery of Asahara is special because the skin of the fruits is thicker and thicker than the Yuzus in other areas. This liquor is to be enjoyed as an aperitif or a light digestive, fresh or on ice, and is a really interesting cocktail base.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Brewery: Asahara Shuzo (Saitama Prefecture) 

Tanabata Star Festival, Fashion 1945 - 2020, Eau de Ki

Tanabata, literal translation "Evening of the seventh" on July 7th, also known as the Star Festival Hoshi matsuri, is a Japanese festival celebrating the meeting of the gods Orihime and Hikoboshi.

According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July. The celebrations are held at various days between July and August.

Orihime (Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (Sky King, or the universe itself), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天 の 川, Milky Way, the Kanji literally means, "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (Cowman / Cowherd Star, or literally Boy Star, also referred to as Kengyū) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime would no longer weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter's tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come because of the rise of the river and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. The rain of this day is called "The tears of Orihime and Hikoboshi".

Incidentally, Tanabata is celebrated during rainy-season so the chances of rain are very high.

At this time, the custom was to use dew left on taro leaves to create the ink used to write wishes. These days, writing your wish on a tanzaku (small pieces of colored paper) and hanging it on a bamboo stalk on the evening of July 7 is one part of celebrating Tanabata. As the date approaches, long, narrow strips of colorful paper tanzaku, vibrant ornaments, and other decorations are hung from bamboo branches, enlivening the decor of homes as well as brightening shopping arcades, train stations, and other public spaces. Before they are hung, tanzaku are inscribed with a wish.

Bamboo is thought to have become a part of the tanabata tradition for its propensity to grow straight and tall, with upward stretching branches bearing wishes to heaven on the wind. The plant was also believed to ward off insects and was displayed to protect rice crops and symbolize hopes of a bountiful harvest. It was also believed that deities could come down and drive away evil spirits.

The traditional food of the star festival is sōmen. The long, thin noodles evolved from a woven sweet known as sakubei, whose intertwined strands were thought to resemble both the Milky Way and the weaving threads worked by Orihime. Sōmen is commonly enjoyed in a light dipping sauce. Many parents will amuse their children by topping noodles with star-shaped slices of boiled okra.

It’s a day were it’s popular to wear colorful Yukata’s and enjoy the festival.

Fashion in Japan 1945-2020 at National Art Center Tokyo

The World’s First Major Exhibition of Postwar Japanese Fashion from Monpe Work Pants to the Kawaii Phenomenon!

Japanese fashion designers began gaining worldwide acclaim in the 1970s. Until now, Japanese fashion has been discussed as if it suddenly came out of nowhere with the emergence of these designers, but this is not the case. After Japan began modernizing, dressmaking and tailoring were introduced in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) and became widely popular after World War II, and Japan developed its own unique sartorial culture.

This exhibition follows the unique trajectory of Japanese clothing, especially in post-World War Ⅱ Japan, as seen from both sides: that of designers who transmit culture by creating clothes and ideas, and that of users who receive it by wearing the clothes and at times create era-defining grassroots fashion movements. It offers a comprehensive overview that references the predominant media of each era, such as newspapers, magazines, and advertisements.

Prologue: 1920s - 1945 From Traditional Japanese Clothing to Modern Dressmaking

In the Meiji Era, Western-style dressmaking and tailoring were introduced as part of a national modernization policy. While people gradually adopted the new clothing, they did not abandon traditional Japanese attracts. In the 1920s, however, “modern girls” (young women dressed in Western styles and leading relatively liberated lifestyles) appeared in increasingly hyper-consumerist urban areas, and glamorous images of them were splashed across various media.

During World War II the entire population was mobilized for the war effort, and de facto civilian uniforms called kokumin-fuku (lit. “national attract”) were designated as appropriate dress for a wide range of situations, from everyday activities to formal occasions. As fighting intensified, almost all men came to wear kokumin-fuku. Several varieties of “standard attract” for women were also decreed, but in practice, the most widely worn women's garments were work pants known as monpe.

1945 - 1950s: The Postwar Heyday of Dressmaking

During the immediate postwar era when goods were scarce, women relied on kimono they had in their homes and a limited supply of other fabrics, which they reworked into new outfits or monpe work pants. Soon there was a rush to enroll in vocational schools and acquire dressmaking and tailoring skills. Women who attended dressmaking schools referenced magazines, “style books” and other publications, and arranged clothing designs as they liked. The dressmaking craze that spread nationwide played a decisive role in popularizing Western-style clothing in Japan. In the late 1950s, the heyday of Japanese cinema produced fashion trends derived from films, such as scarves wrapped around the head, called Machiko-maki after a movie character, and the beach styles of the taiyo-zoku (lit. “sun tribe” ).

1960s: From “Making” to “Buying” Clothes

A long period of robust economic growth expanded the middle class and boosted consumption in Japan. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics helped spur a growing number of households to buy color televisions, and TV began to eclipse the movies in terms of cultural influence. As mass production of high-quality ready-to-wear clothing became feasible, the clothing consumption paradigm gradually shifted from tailoring to purchasing. The global youth culture that had emerged in London, UK spread to Japan, and miniskirts and heavy eye makeup became popular. Among young men the look known as “Ivy,” modeled on that of American university students, was prevalent.

1970s: The Rise of Individualistic Japanese Designers

Young Japanese designers emerged who were internationally active, presenting their collections overseas and gaining increasing prominence. In Tokyo, a group of the most cutting-edge designers formed TD6 (Tokyo Designer Six), and diverse new trends such as ethnic-inspired “folklore” and the concept of unisex clothing reflected individuals' varied lifestyles. On the streets, student protests and the counterculture intensified in the late 1960s, and T-shirts and jeans became extremely popular as a symbol of democratic attracts. Harajuku became a capital of youth culture, and the establishment of magazines such as An-an played a key role in heightening interest in fashion.

1980s: The Golden Age of “DC Brands”

In the 1980s, when Japan's economic growth reached its peak, the phrase kansei no jidai (“era of sensitivity”) appeared frequently in media discourse. This zeitgeist was exemplified by large numbers of people dressed in so-called DC (“designers and characters”) brands, which emphasized designers' originality and vision. On the other hand, sportswear and scanty “body-conscious” silhouettes were also popular. The diversification of style continued with the emergence of brands that sought to offer high quality at low prices. Thirty-two Japanese brands participated in the landmark 1985 “Tokyo Collection,” and the Japanese fashion world became even more vibrant.

1990s: New Styles from Shibuya and Harajuku

After the economic bubble burst, new trends increasingly came from “the street.” Young people led the way in developing and popularizing Ura-Harajuku (“backstreet Harajuku”) fashions from the popular stores lining the narrow lane nicknamed Cat Street; the high-school girl culture centered on Shibuya; and Shibuya-kei, which revolved around a specific music scene. In the late 1990s, soon before the Internet came to dominate popular culture, numerous magazines targeted at highly specific groups, such as those specializing in snapshots of idiosyncratic street fashions or directed at kogal (girls with heavily tanned skin, dyed hair and gaudy clothing) . Stylishly dressed readers were featured in magazines, and became influential fashion leaders themselves.

2010s: Toward a “Nice” Age

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant Accident occurred on March 11, 2011. Business conditions declined further, and efforts were made to realize a sustainable society as a means of reducing the burden on the environment and the economy. The period also saw the advent of the kurashi-kei lifestyle, which stressed a careful way of living, and “normcore,” which favored an exceedingly simple form of dress. Fast fashion became more prominent, and relaxed and casual styles emerged as the mainstream. Personal communications using the Internet became standard practice, and the influence of cities as centers of information transmission waned. And weeping era-defining trends gave way to a wide range of micro-trends, each with its own set of devotees.

Fashions of the Future

Today, the popularity of social media across a wide range of generations has reduced the distance between urban and rural areas as well as Japan and the rest of the world, enabling anyone to transmit and receive information at will. And as clothing can also easily be purchased on the Internet, the cycle of consumption has accelerated. Today, it is difficult to imagine any form of manufacturing that is not sustainable. Then, in 2020, we were confronted with an unprecedented crisis as a pandemic, COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), spread across the world. As restrictions against going outdoors were issued, many of the problems that plagued society in the past, including environmental pollution, and ethnic and sexual discrimination, rose to the fore, and designers also began to reexamine the function and potential of fashion under such circumstances.

Eau de Ki

Eau de Ki, icon of the house for more than 90 years, draws its origins in the family company Sankodo. Founded in 1926, the Japanese house had designed a mysterious and original water called "Medicinal Opal Water". This water met with immense success when it was offered to the general public. Perceived as Miraculous Water, “Medicinal Opal Water” was constantly revisited and improved by the following generations who religiously pass on its know-how and its secrets.

Very attentive to the quality of the products, the new generation of Sankodo has developed an innovative fermentation technique which increases the effectiveness of the elixir; Ki was born water. Today, the elixir has been raised to the rank of a mythical product in Japan.

Eau de Ki brings together in precious water two fundamental and necessary elements for life in Japan: vital energy and water.

For almost a century, the elixir has been prepared with a unique making process: 8 Asian medicinal plants and 4 Western aromatic plants (jujube, ginseng, umbrella polypore, reishi, lily of the valley roots, cnidium rhizome, Chinese peony, tangerine zest) and 4 western aromatic plants (rose water, rosemary, white birch and lime blossom) are infused during six months in large earthen jars according to a traditional Japanese method. 

Thus, like quality spirits, Eau de Ki has no expiration date, the quality of the lotion increases over time.

Thanks to this nectar, Ki Water allows the skin to repair itself naturally, thanks to its own strength, and restore youth and radiance.

To purchase this product please visit Bows & Arrows or visit our online store Here!  

Rainy Season, Moss, Yakushima, Moc

Tsuyu (rainy season) has begun in Japan, this usually lasts from the beginning of June to mid-July, while it affects the islands of Okinawa about one month earlier. The wet weather is caused by cold winds from the north colliding wind warm southern winds which create several weeks of rain. Only Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido and the Ogasawara Islands get less affected by the rainy season. But “rainy season” does not mean that it is constantly raining. It will rain a few times during the day and night, sometimes all day but generally, depending on the year, it rains occasionally.

Japan’s 24 hour convenience stores (Lawson’s, Family Mart, 7/11, etc.) carry everything you need for emergencies and the rest can be found in supermarkets, department stores, ¥100 stores, etc. These supplies include umbrellas, rain jackets, socks, dry towels, cooling sheets, cooling spray, mosquito repellant and bite relief, shoe deodorizers, body deodorizers, room humidifiers, and a host of products you couldn't possibly know you needed until you try them.

Many people dislike rainy season because of the inconvenience but the flowers and trees are all very beautiful! It is a wonderful time to visit nature! The hydrangea are still in full bloom as they bloom from April – June, one of the longest lasting blossoms in the country.

This is also when the Iris are in full bloom! It seems purple, blue, pink, and white flowers love Rainy Season.

The city lights are also especially lovely during this time. The rain on the streets reflect the lights so beautifully and many people go out to take photos of this.

Rainy season is another time to visit nature and temples. There are beautiful Moss Gardens and Moss Temples all over Japan. One famous temple in Kyoto is Koinzan Saiho-ji. There are 120 varieties of moss present in the two-tiered garden, the temple is often referred to as koke-dera, meaning “moss temple.”. You begin by going to the temple where the monks bring you into the hall and you are given a calligraphy set. The monks then talk to you about the history of the temple, the moss, and meditation. You then participate in Zen meditation and chant sutras with the monks and other guests. Finally, you write your prayer, name and address on a small wooden plank and place it on the table. From there you follow the path and view the moss. Rainy season is our favorite time for this because the moss looks like a soft green carpet. It’s like stepping into a dream.

Another beautiful place to visit during Tsuyu is Yakushima Island. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan's oldest living trees. Trees more than 1000 years old are affectionately called yakusugi (a combination of Yakushima and sugi, the Japanese word for cedar), the most ancient of which may be over 7000 years old. In Japan we consider old trees to be gods. In Yakushima there are many god trees. Many places in Yakushima were declared, “Natural World Heritage Site” in 1993.

The island was also used as inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s film, “Princess Mononoke” or “Mononoke Hime” in Japanese.

Yakushima is also famous for turtle watching as it is the main North Pacific nesting site. Turtle-watching eco tours are available throughout the summer months – in early summer you can witness the egg-laying process, while in late summer thousands of hatchlings make their way into the sea. Female turtles will return to the place they were born – some 25 to 30 years prior – on Yakushima every year between May and August.

The food in Yakushima is delicious and organic. It is difficult to find JAS (organic mark for Japanese food on the main islands) because the land that is inhabited by humans in Japan is door to door. Even if your farm is organic, if the grandmother who lives next door sprays pesticides on her roses, the wind will take particles to your farm and you will not be JAS approved.

Since Yakuishima is an island, this is not a problem and you will find a variety of delicious organic vegetables, fruits, and tea.

Yakushima is famous for ponkan and tankan, both varieties of the orange family and delicious! They make many products using these oranges.

The most popular fish in Yakushima is flying fish called tobio (トビウオ), but the local word for them is toppy. The flying fish in Japan are caught year-round, but the peak fishing season is from late spring to early summer. Flying fish are served as sashimi, salt grilled or deep fried with their wings fried and crispy.

Another popular fish is mackerel (saba) which can be eaten as sashimi or sushi. However, it’s also a fish that spoils quickly, so to preserve it, fishermen break the fish’s neck as soon as it’s caught – this is called ‘broken-necked mackerel’ (kubi ore saba) which is a Yakushima delicacy commonly eaten as sashimi.

Yakushima is also famous for its two unique seaside hot springs: Yudomari and Hirauchi, which is only accessible at low tide.

We hope you can visit Yakushima!

MocT

Probably the Best sweat-wear brand in the world! The brand name stands for: mix / original / comfortable / technical.

MocT is a brand by Shin internal cotton co., Ltd, which has challenged and developed textiles which are considered difficult to blend dyed cotton and different materials, etc. Interweaving the challenging spirit inherited to the cultivated technology Interworking sense of Trust & Luxury. They aim to become the world's leading royal road brand offering continuity at a reasonable price and send new products to the world to lead people to a better quality of life. Various threads and textiles were born in the course of "GR 7" becoming standard.

The combination has infinite possibilities "mocT" freely chooses threads separately to create completely new standards It is cultivated in 130 years. To sublime technology and experience to a new "comfortable " is the role of "mocT" to propose utility items.

GR7 Explained: 

Birth of the first domestic yarn in domestic production 50 Years named "GR 7". has long been loved as a gray standard in Japan. Various brands have been made in different forms and to everyone The "GR 7" that arrived will be born as a new brand under the name of "mocT" at this time. They aim to become a brand that brings together the cultivated technology and reaches the middle of the heart of people to wear everyday.

About Japanese Loop Wheeling:

All the essential “mocT” collections are made from the premium quality of yarns, which are produced only by the Japanese traditional loop wheel machines from 50's.

These loop wheel knitting machines are used to be the main machine types in the Japanese market, back in 1960, for the making of yarns. But due to the key drawback from their rotation speed and the efficiency, these traditional machines types were soon replaced by the new generation ones.

Although these traditional loop wheel machines are much slower compared to the newly developed types, the outstanding quality that they could provide for the making of yarns is wonderful.

The traditional loop wheel machines could knit only one meter of fabric in an hour, which was 10 to 20 times slower, compared to the new generation machines. However, the much lower rotation speed, allows a full trace on the spinning process, which greatly ensures a near-perfect quality control during the whole manufacturing procedure of the yarn fabrics. And most importantly, this natural structure minimizes all the possible tensions from pulling, applied onto the thread while rotating, and it ensures also a full and smooth immersion of air into the cotton on the way, in order to obtain a final warm and soft texture for the fabric.

As a result, through these traditional Japanese loop wheel machines, the original softness of cotton could be greatly maintained during the entire knitting process, undoubtedly way beyond the measure while in comparison to what the modern knitting machine types could ever provide.

Please visit Bows & Arrows to find our selection of MocT products or visit our online store here.

Masakatsu Shimoda, Muji Found, Matsunoya

Masakatsu Shimoda’s exhibition of canvas dinosaurs! The co-founder of Bows & Arrows met Shimoda-san who she lovingly calls, “Okan”, as a high school student.

He was part of Tokyo’s art and music scene. Okan is the Japanese southern dialect for “Okasan” which means Mom. He used to cook the most amazing meals for us and just encourage us to be ourselves. We all used to hang out on his rooftop studio, it was always a safe and fun place. When studying for exams, he would bring us home cooked food so that we didn’t have to worry about eating and just focus. He made food for, "High Conentration", yest that is a thing in Japan. There were times when he showed up on his bicycle with a frying pan in his backpack and a basket full of vegetables and fish to cook, and also to make sure that we were studying. When I went to college in NYC he mail drawings of onigiri (rice balls) and other dishes to encourage me. He still mentors and inspires young and old for those lucky to cross paths with him. 

Okan is from Kobe, attended art school, started working in an advertising agency immediately after. In 1994 he didn’t feel he was doing what he wanted to do in life so he bought a one-way boat ticket to China. From there he pretty much walked to Europe for the next 2 years. During his travels he had his notebooks and used whatever local paper, color pencils, crayons, and paint there were to draw portraits of interesting people he came into contact with. This was eventually published in his book, “Masakatsu Shimoda - Private World”. This was followed by more books and articles with sketches and collages.

He was part of Tokyo’s art and music scene. Okan is the Japanese southern dialect for “Okasan” which means Mom. He used to cook the most amazing meals for us and just encourage us to be ourselves. We all used to hang out on his rooftop studio, it was always a safe and fun place. When studying for exams, he would bring us home cooked food so that we didn’t have to worry about eating and just focus. He made food for, "High Concentration" yes, that is a thing in Japan. There were times when he showed up on his bicycle with a frying pan in his backpack and a basket full of vegetables and fish to cook, and also to make sure that we were studying. When I went to college in NYC he mail drawings of onigiri (rice balls) and other dishes to encourage me. He still mentors and inspires young and old for those lucky to cross paths with him. 

Okan is from Kobe, attended art school, started working in an advertising agency immediately after. In 1994 he didn’t feel he was doing what he wanted to do in life so he bought a one-way boat ticket to China. From there he pretty much walked to Europe for the next 2 years. During his travels he had his notebooks and used whatever local paper, color pencils, crayons, and paint there were to draw portraits of interesting people he came into contact with. This was eventually published in his book, “Masakatsu Shimoda - Private World”. This was followed by more books and articles with sketches and collages.

He spent most of his travels in Tibet, Nepal, and India with monks and drew thousands of portraits. His style of painting is very unusual. He sees color in people’s faces. He scribbles frantically when doing a portrait using colour pencils or crayons to bring out all the colours that he sees. This usually only takes a few minutes. http://shimodamasakatsu.com/faces/

After returning to Tokyo he continued drawing and painting. He illustrated several children's books as well as novels and biographies.

He has also always loved sewing canvas and began sewing creatures.

He began exhibiting at various locations and being featured in magazines. In 2011, he started making handmade dinosaur headgear with private work. COMME des GARCONS HOMME PLUS adopted the headpiece at the 2018 AW men's collection show. His Comme des Garcons window was one of our all time favourites.

His current exhibition features many of his canvas dinosaurs and creatures. Everyone of all ages leaves his exhibition with a smile.

Following this exhibition, Masakatsu Shimoda’s work at the Muji gallery in Ginza!

FOUND MUJI

“Found MUJI” in Aoyama is one of our favorite stores in Tokyo. Every few months they have a new selection of beautiful and useful goods collected from all over the world. You can visit the store at 5-5-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

Ever so casually, without intentions, Found MUJI has been searching for everyday things that people have naturally come to embrace. This search began as MUJI was founded as a private brand of Seiyu, travelling not only in Japan but also all over the world. When the very first MUJI store was renovated as 'Found MUJI Aoyama' in 2011, the project continued to expand into stores across the globe.

The things that we look for are ones that often go unnoticed in everyday life. More often than not, they are things that are perfect just as they are. What appears unremarkable often has a timeless beauty, and a functionality that reflects the land from which it was conceived. Just as it has always been when people from different societies and regions come together, Found MUJI has innately engaged with makers of household goods, and has long been establishing deep, lasting relationships.

Not only looking back on the past; nor focusing only upon the future. Seeking household goods with a universal charm; while engaging both makers and consumers on its journey. With MUJI's vision of 'simple, pleasant life in mind, Found MUJI will continue to rediscover and recreate.

And while we are on the topic of Muji, they have 5 beautiful videos on their website about people cleaning. Cleaning is a sort of meditation for many people, watch the following videos titled, "Why it feels good" to see why. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto:

They have also published a beautiful book on Cleaning: https://www.muji.com/jp/ja/store/cmdty/detail/9784909098290

MATSUNOYA HANDY BROOM

If you like hand made brooms, visit Bows & Arrows to find "Handy Broom" for your desk area or a quick clean by Matsunoya.

Or Click Here to find it on our online store

Japanese Independent Children

One of the things many visitors to Japan find strange is seeing how independent kids are. It’s just a different style of parenting and teaching.

Aka-chan means baby. Aka is the colour red. Babies are born red. So it makes total sense for babies to be called Aka-chan. Since we don't have a tradition of babysitting, kids usually always stay with their mothers. Your family teaches you from a young age how to be respectful of the people around you. We live on a small island so it is important to be aware of everyone around us. To not bother anyone by being loud or rude. Many people are also amazed at how well-mannered Japanese kids are from a young age. 

Here is a cute song about akachan. A mom meeting her baby. Not for everyone. But we think it’s cute.

In pre-school there is the cutest of cutest little wagons filled with kids. Their teachers push them around for their safety. They don’t scream or fight. Generally they just smile and wave at everyone, bringing happiness to our days. They are usually in matching outfits and just seeing these little human is adorable.

From kindergarden we are are expected to be independent and self-reliant enough to go to school unaccompanied, even if it means taking a city bus or train and traversing busy streets. Our country’s extremely low crime rate means it’s safe, and the general feeling among parents is that the community can be trusted to help look out for its own. We all feel a sense of responsibility for these cuties but they have a sense of pride about looking after themselves. They usually walk with a neighborhood friend, but at times on their own. They have their metro cards topped up. Know the train schedule. Get to school on time. Punctuality is key in Japan. They have their Randoseru backpack. Wonderful design but very heavy, packed with books and things.

Children are also expected to help clean the classroom, help serve school lunches to their peers, etc. For a short video:

We also have a very cute show called “My First Errand” where very young children are given tasks to do.

Blue Daruma are also to wish for doing well in school. The Daruma doll is a centuries-old Japanese traditional wishing doll that helps people to achieve their dreams and goals. Millions of people in Japan regard it as a talisman of good luck and perseverance, making it a popular gift of encouragement.

How to use: Make a wish or goal. With that in mind, draw an eye on the left eye and keep the doll. When your goal is achieved, draw the other eye.

Please click this link to visit us at Bows & Arrows or our online store to see all the other colours.

Ajisai Hydrangea and Trains, Soba, Onsens

It is hydrangea season and there are shades of white, pink, purple, and blue everywhere! This is when we take the Hakone Tozan Train, which climbs slowly up the Hakone mountains, is known as the Hydrangea Train during this season. The flowers along the tracks between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora Station bloom at different times depending on the altitude. Passengers can enjoy the colorful view from the middle of June to late July. There is also a special night train during this period, which offers a fantastic view of the illuminated flowers. Little kids especially love it because the blossoms are their height and escargot love them too. Strange combination! But all ages adore this season. The train is super cute because it is filled with happy people!

We enjoy the train and have our few hours in the hot springs, eat soba noodles! This season is mountain potato Yamaimo soba!

The following article by Ms Makiko Itoh:

• SPECIAL TO THE JAPAN TIMES

Japanese have a fondness for slippery, slimy food that people from other food cultures often find puzzling. Sticky nattō (fermented soy beans), mozuku and tororo konbu (two kinds of slimy seaweeds) may take some getting used to, but once you do they can be quite addictive. In addition, these slippery foods are packed with many healthy qualities, including fiber, minerals and antioxidants.

One of the most slimy, slippery foods of all is the yamaimo, also called yamatoimo, jinenjo or Japanese mountain yam (the botanical name is Dioscorea japonica). Both the yamaimo and its close relative, the nagaimo or Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya), can be cooked, but in Japan they are usually eaten raw after being finely julienned or grated. The cool, slippery texture is especially appreciated in the summer, it makes food slide down the throat nicely. It tends to be easy to digest, too. Grated yamaimo is served in hot or chilled miso soup, over soba noodles or mugimeshi (a mixture of rice and barley), with nattō or cubed raw tuna and other ingredients. You can even buy frozen, ready-to-eat grated yamaimo or nagaimo at convenience stores

The sticky texture of yamaimo is also useful when cooking. It gives karukan, a traditional sponge cake-like confection from Kyushu, its elastic-yet-airy texture, and has a similar effect on okonomiyaki, the popular savory pancake from Osaka.

Yamaimo and nagaimo have long been considered healthy. In the Edo Period (1603-1868) the yamaimo was considered to be an aphrodisiac, and went by the name “mountain eel.” During this period men not only ate yamaimo, they added it — grated or sliced — to their bathwater to enhance their virility. Modern studies have confirmed that the humble root vegetables do have many beneficial qualities: they are high in soluble fiber, B vitamins and minerals, and in dried form they’re included in several traditional Eastern medicines.

Yamaimo and nagaimo can be used interchangeably in many dishes, but nagaimo has a more liquid, loose texture while yamaimo is stickier and paste-like. I prefer to use yamaimo in recipes that call for grated yam, and nagaimo in cooked dishes or finely julienned — plus it’s less expensive. Both are all about their texture rather than the taste. They are quite bland on their own, so you’ll need to add a sauce or soup with lots of flavor. If you’d like to experiment, try adding julienned nagaimo to a salad — the sticky texture helps the dressing cling better to the other vegetables.

Some people have a mild allergic reaction to yamaimo and nagaimo. If your skin gets itchy when you try to grate a piece, use protective gloves or just leave the skin on the part you’re touching. However, if they makes your lips or tongue itchy, you may want to stay away from both.

This week’s recipe is a classic that first became popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Besides grated raw yamaimo, it contains two other highly popular “health foods” of the time: soba noodles and a raw egg yolk. It’s an unbeatable meal for anyone looking for an extra boost of energy, day or night. The key to pulling all the otherwise bland ingredients together is a good dipping sauce. Served well-chilled, it makes for a refreshing meal on a hot summer’s day.

Recipe: ‘Tororo soba’ (Soba noodles and yamaimo)

Serves 4

• 200 grams dried soba noodles

• 400 grams yamaimo (mountain yam)

• 4 very fresh egg yolks

• garnishes (green onion, myoga ginger or grated wasabi, nori seaweed)

For the sauce:

• 500 ml water

• 10-sq.-cm piece (about 5 grams) of konbu seaweed

• 20 grams katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 3 tablespoons mirin (rice wine vinegar)

• 1 teaspoon sugar

Soak the konbu seaweed in a pan containing 500 ml of water for at least three hours.

Bring the water and konbu seaweed to a boil and take out the konbu. Add the bonito flakes, soy sauce, mirin and sugar, and let the sauce cool to room temperature. Strain through a fine-meshed sieve and refrigerate.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook the soba noodles (it usually takes two to three minutes; if you’re not sure, test a strand after two minutes by biting into it — it should be just past al dente, firm yet cooked through). When cooked, drain the noodles, and rinse under running cold water. Plunge into a bowl of ice water to cool the noodles and firm up the texture. Drain well.

Grate the yamaimo. Finely chop the green onion, and grate the wasabi (or slice the myoga ginger). Shred the nori seaweed. Arrange the soba noodles in individual bowls topped with the yamaimo, egg yolk and garnishes. Serve the sauce in small bowls on the side. Pour the sauce over the noodles, mix well and enjoy

On our way home on the night train with the illuminated Hydrangea.

The onsen is a must.

There are so many baths with different temperatures. And health benefits. From brutally Hot to freezing cold. People of all ages can feel refreshed. In Japan we believe that our God is nature. So it is our temple time as well. Forest bathing.

If you are interested in a Japanese herbal bath please visit Bows & Arrows at our store or online at: https://www.japan-best.net/collections/bath-soaks

Dr. NakaMats, Think of Things, Iren Cosmetics

Yoshiro Nakamatsu (born June 26, 1928), also known as Dr. NakaMats is a prolific inventor, and he even claims to hold the world record for number of over 3,500 "inventions". He regularly appears on Japanese talk shows demonstrating his inventions. He is a very quirky individual.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

In interviews, Nakamatsu has described his "creativity process", which includes listening to music and concludes with diving underwater, where he says he comes up with his best ideas. He then records them while underwater. Nakamatsu claims to benefit from lack of oxygen to the brain during his dives, making inventions "0.05 seconds before death." He also claims that his "Calm Room," a bathroom constructed without nails and tiled in 24-karat gold, encourages creative thinking by blocking television and radio waves. Nakamatsu also has an elevator in his house that he claims helps him think better, although he strictly denies that it is an elevator and describes it as a "vertical moving room". Nakamatsu predicts that he will live until the age of 144.

Some Inventions:

Among Nakamatsu's early inventions is the Shoyu Churu Churu, a siphon pump used in the home to move soy sauce from large containers to smaller vessels for cooking and serving. Some of his patented inventions include:

"PyonPyon" - Jumping shoes with leaf springs on their soles

"Cerebrex" armchair, a chair that supposedly improves mental function such as calculation and thinking by cooling the head and heating the feet

A toilet seat lifter

A condom with an embedded magnet, supposedly "improving sensitivity" as "electricity is generated in the blood vessels in the female organs by Fleming's left-hand rule"

A CD for supposedly "enhancing brightness or sexual function"

A cigarette-like device for supposedly "activating the brain"

A pillow preventing falling asleep while driving (an air compressor strapped to the cars headrest, forcibly feeding air to the driver)

Spectacles in the shape of eyes, so that the user appears to wear no spectacles

A "wig for self defense" — a strip and a weight are attached to a wig. The wearer swings the wig to hit an attacker.

Love Jet - A sexual enhancement product which he created out of concern about Japan's declining birthrate. In a 1995 interview, he explained that the purpose of the aphrodisiac was "to save Japan".

He claims to have invented the Floppy disk in 1952 and even patented it before IBM filed its patent in 1969. Dr. NakaMats, or, as he prefers, Sir Dr. NakaMats—is an inveterate and inexorable inventor whose biggest claim to fame is the floppy disk. “I became father of the apparatus in 1950,” says Dr. NakaMats, who conceived it at the University of Tokyo while listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. “There was no mother.”

In June 2014, Nakamatsu, who has contended that it should be possible for people to reach 144 years of age by taking care of their health, revealed that he is suffering from prostate cancer and that his doctors did not expect him to live past the end of 2015. He has sought a new treatment for the disease. In September 2015, Nakamatsu appeared at the awards ceremony for the Ig Nobel prizes, where he performed a song about his medical condition.

Among his other creations (he will earnestly tell you) are the CD, the DVD, the fax machine, the taxi meter, the digital watch, the karaoke machine, CinemaScope, spring-loaded shoes, fuel-cell-powered boots, an invisible “B-bust bra,” a water-powered engine, the world’s tiniest air conditioner, a self-defense wig that can be swung at an attacker, a pillow that prevents drivers from nodding off behind the wheel, an automated version of the popular Japanese game pachinko, a musical golf putter that pings when the ball is struck properly, a perpetual motion machine that runs on heat and cosmic energy and...much, much more, much of which has never made it out of the multiplex of his mind.

Dr. NakaMats believes that the right food and drink, moderate exercise and an unflagging love life will keep him alive until 2072. “The number of sleeping hours should be limited to six,” he advises. “Alcohol, tea, milk and tap water are bad for the brain and should be avoided. Coffee is also very dangerous. One meal a day is optimal, and that meal should be low in oil and no more than 700 calories.”

His own diet consists of a single serving of puréed seaweed, cheese, yogurt, eel, eggs, beef, dried shrimp and chicken livers. He seasons this concoction with Dr. NakaMats’ Rebody 55, a dietary supplement comprising 55 grains and several mystery ingredients. “It is ideal for sprinkling on soup or cereal,” he says.

In 2005, Dr. NakaMats’ investigation into the links between eating habits and intelligence earned him an Ig Nobel Prize.

Dr. NakaMats has had three. “A child can be invented four ways,” he grumbles. “Smart seed, smart field. Smart seed, stupid field. Stupid seed, smart field. Stupid seed, stupid field.”

And how did his kids turn out?

“All stupid due to stupid field.” 

While we might not agree with all of his opinions, we appreciate him as a funny, innovative, and quirky intervidual.

Nakamatsu was the subject of the 2009 documentary The Invention of Dr NakaMats:

 For more on Dr. NakaMats:

Think Of Things

Think of Things is our new favorite stationery store, workspace, and café in Sendagaya / Harajuku. Japanese cult stationery brand Kokuyo has created, “Think of Things” with a new style of designer stationery and desk accessories.  

The concept behind the THINK OF THINGS is “to transcend the boundaries between work and life”. The public and private sectors, based on regional cooperation are an assumption, medical and health, about the city problem, take the owner leadership you are interested, and promote the theme. With the viewpoint of “tools that bring excitement and discovery to the home and office”, we hope to motivate people to think about and identify their own “standards” (what they like and feel comfortable around).

There is a multi-purpose STUDIO available for rent (2F) and KOKUYO office (3F) within the building, and we intend to interact with customers and local people in various ways utilising this client contact point in order to develop goods and services at a speed you can feel.

With a calm ambiance despite being adjacent to Harajuku and Omotesando, the Sendagaya district is a place people in search of new value gather and is populated with many highly individual shops and creative offices that stand quite apart from the trends. Amid this exciting environment, we aim to be “A place to reflect on objects and things” where people can hold the tools in the palm of their hand.

Iren Skin Care

CUSTOM JAPANESE SKINCARE REIMAGINED

Let’s go back to basics! IRÉN Skin was founded as a modern re-envisioning of J-beauty, where we took traditional Japanese skincare rituals and integrated them with scientifically clean and customizable solutions to create playful skincare, especially for you. Y’know, we figured—since most of us spend our lives exploring the wonderful world of skincare, we might as well have a little fun with it.

As skincare users ourselves, we know there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution to our varying skin concerns. Like come on—how can one generic product solve everything? We’re not Hogwarts. We, however, can formulate personalized solutions for every possible skin concern and ensure that you have a product that’s suitable for you.

At IRÉN Skin, we like to strive for the impossible. Besides being vegan and cruelty-free, we define ourselves as ‘Scientifically Clean’, basing our formulations on factual evidence instead of hearsay.

We’re also the first Japanese skincare brand to blacklist over 2000 ingredients that are toxic, comedogenic, or allergenic.

Scientifically clean, customizable, J-beauty created by our very own R&D team.

3x clean superfruit serum kit to restore youthful, glowing skin by lifting, brightening, repairing and protecting:

Some product Highlights!

FOREVER YOUNG Anti-Aging Serum stimulates collagen production, firms and lifts, and smoothes lines

STAR LIGHT Brightening Serum diminishes appearances of dark spots, evens out skin tone and boosts skin radiance⁠

SKIN REBOOT Antioxidant Serum repairs damage from UV rays and protects against blue light and free radicals

To view products from Iren Click Here

Kanoko Okamoto, Taro Okamoto, Sumo Season, Neko Sake

This is our spring smells & flower season in Japan. Last week we enjoyed Japanese Jasmine is in full bloom. Jasmine is native to Asia and in each country, it smells different. Japanese Jasmine is very strong and you can literally smell it several meters away.

The current smell is a Japanese spring leaf smell. It’s hard to describe, but it is a combination of all the new leaves in trees and grass and spring flowers. The grass will be cut soon to prepare for the rainy season in June.

Tanomura Chokunyū, A Hundred Flowers

KANOKO OKAMOTO - Poetry

We wanted to repost this article because it is cute and informative. Introduction and translations by Eric Margolis:

Kanoko Okamoto (1889-1939) was a sensation in her day. A writer with a lavish poetic flair and daring reputation, Okamoto was unmatched by few other authors of the Taisho and early Showa Eras.

In her teens, her florid, romantic poetry drew rave acclaim, and she joined Japan’s most elite avant garde literary circle. In her 20s, she came to be recognized as a leading scholar on Buddhism. And in her 40s, her women-centric fiction investigated the erotic side of motherhood, leading recognition of Okamoto as a leading feminist as well. Her romanticism fell out of fashion in Japan after World War II, and very few works out of her vast catalogue have been translated before. 

“May Morning Flowers” captures her romanticism and lush poetic flair; “A Crooked Posture” is an astute self-reflection on her own romanticism, in the context of a rapidly modernizing 1920s and 30s Japanese society.

Both are translated for the first time into English here. She deserves a whole book of translations like these, but even in these two short passages, we can find the essence of springtime. Okamoto writes with committed optimism—a devout belief in the beauty of life, a belief that dances with every word she writes. She is the perfect Japanese author to read and reflect on as spring comes into full flower.

Both works were published posthumously. 

Spectacular cherry blossoms scatter.

The spring sakura stretch their limbs to the dawn of spring…and the wind whips and whirls the blossoms away. For an instant, the clouds clear and the sky shines with blue.

A moment of silence, solitude.

I endure the moment and keep staring up.

Slowly and steadily, from some far corner the sky begins to grow grey, and moisture spreads across the entire sky.

In an instant, those drops, drops, drop all across the May skies of Japan. The countless drops of lilac long-and-narrow paulownia flowers, huddled together.

Smart, fashionable, reserved. Lonesome despite the crowds, clear-eyed despite their silence. And though they are stealthy, they have an undeniable brightness.

The flowers tower above the trees, but they lack a certain conviction, those splotchy drops of paulownia.

But all it takes is a burst of bloom before they dare the plunge and leave the rest to the rustling wind, glittering in silver dust over our footpath, scattering heaps of snow-white powder before our eyes.

Go a little further, take a look.

There—with large gems of red and orbs of white, multicolored treasures cradled by their stems—tulips!

Sweet pea blossoms and their shards of ruby and amethyst.

Stamps of color freshly removed from the coat of a peacock, pansies.

Though some may sneer at these boorish flowers, a force fights back, for someone cultivated these jewels in the May flower bed and treated them more carefully than anything. The dew droplets that slept in them last night become a faint, sweet-smelling mist. They dampen the hems of our skirts, fleeing from the light of the morning sun.

And if you stop and look closely, right there, in the shadows of the half-opened white roses—over lumps of fertilizing clay, a little toad lurches along.

Oh, look—the greengrocer has fresh cabbage and oranges! Hurry, let’s go inform the kitchens.

We didn’t know that she was also the mother of famous Japanese sculptor Okamoto Taro! His father was famous cartoonist Ippei Okamoto.

Okamoto Taro’s former residence and current museum is located in Omotesando, we love his little museum and his café, “Piece of Cake”, that over looks the sculpture garden. You can find his playful sculptures all over Japan!

The Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum was both home and studio to Taro Okamoto until his death in 1996 at the age of 84. It was here that he lived for almost fifty years from 1954.

It is the place where he painted, dictated manuscripts, struggled with sculpture, met with people, and developed his ideas for a variety of works, including the ‘Tower of the Sun’ for the Osaka World EXPO ‘70 and other huge monumental works or murals. Even today it remains filled with his dynamic energy.

Furthermore, the address of this place used to be 3 Aoyama-Takagicho, which had been that of the prewar home of Ippei, Kanoko and Taro Okamoto. It was where the family lived for years before setting off for Europe, but unfortunately the original family home was destroyed in the bombings.

After the war, Taro’s friend Junzo Sakakura designed and built this studio on the site. Sakakura had been a favorite pupil of the French architect, Le Corbusier, and in answer to Taro’s request he built the walls of concrete blocks, capping these with a convex, lens-shaped roof to create a unique building. At the time it attracted great attention as a famous piece of architecture.

Taro Okamoto’s work is so varied that it seems impossible that it could all have been made by a single artist, but it was all conceived here. It contains huge drawings and sketches, sculptures, and a mountain of reference materials tracing the history of postwar culture that we reorganize every now and then and we hope that you will drop by to see it sometime.

He was born in Takatsu village, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

He studied at Panthéon-Sorbonne in the 1930s, and created many works of art after World War II. He was a prolific artist and writer until his death.

Among the artists Okamoto associated with during his stay in Paris were André Breton (1896–1966), the leader of Surrealism, and Kurt Seligmann (1900–62), a Swiss Surrealist artist, who was the Surrealists' authority on magic and who met Okamoto's parents, Ippei and Kanoko Okamoto, during a trip to Japan in 1936. Okamoto also associated with Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, Robert Capa and Capa's partner, Gerda Taro, who adopted Okamoto's first name as her last name.[1]

In the 1950s, he received a commission from the Oriental Nakamura department store in Nagoya to create a large mural on the main facade of their flagship store. The mural was demolished after Oriental Nakamura was bought by Mitsukoshi in the 1970s. In 1964 Tarō Okamoto published a book titled Shinpi Nihon (Mysteries in Japan). His interest in Japanese mysteries was sparked off by a visit he made to the Tokyo National Museum. After having become intrigued by the Jōmon pottery he found there, he journeyed all over Japan in order to research what he perceived as the mystery which lies beneath Japanese culture, and then he published Nihon Sai-hakken－Geijutsu Fudoki (Rediscovery of the Japan－Topography of Art).

One of his most famous works, Tower of the Sun, became the symbol of Expo '70 in Suita, Osaka, 1970. It shows the past (lower part), present (middle part), and future (the face) of the human race. It still stands near the entrance of the Expo Memorial Park.

After being lost for 30 years in Mexico, on November 17, 2008, his mural "The Myth of Tomorrow" (明日の神話, asu no shinwa), depicting the effects of an atomic bomb, was unveiled in its new permanent location at Shibuya Station, Tokyo. In it, a human figure burns and others appear to run from flames. The work was made for the Hotel de Mexico in Mexico city by Manuel Suarez y Suarez.[2]

Kawasaki, his hometown, has constructed the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art in Tama Ward, northwest of the city. His studio/home is also open to visitors and is located in Aoyama in Tokyo.

Sumo in May:

There are 3 Sumo tournaments every year. One of them is in May, generally between May 10th – 24th.

It originated in ancient times as a performance to entertain the Shinto deities. Many rituals with religious background, such as the symbolic purification of the ring with salt, are still followed today. The rules are quite simple, put your opponent out of the ring or on the ground. All sumo wrestlers are classified in a ranking hierarchy (banzuke), which gets updated after each tournament based on the wrestlers' performance.

Sumo’s train in “stables”, some of which you can visit on certain dates. However if you are around Akasaka or other areas, you may get a chance to see them leisurely walking around. There are also “favorite eating places” where you can see them. One secret curry rice restaurant in Shibuya, One “standing only” sushi restaurant in Tsukiji, and a few other spots. But their usual diet is Chanko Nabe (hot pot) which is a kind of soup with lots of meat, fish, and vegetables.

If you want to watch a short video about Sumo:

For a longer informative documentary:

NEKO SAKE brewed in Hokkaido!

The key elements of good sake production are all here- pure water, clean air, high quality rice and the frozen cold weather.

In this northern island Hokkaido kept in ice and snow more than half a year where the vast and harsh nature dictates human activities. Use the snowmelt water to brew. That snow was on top of the highest mountain of Hokkaido about 100 years ago.

NEKO SAKE simplified the idea of Japanese sake. It is a very light sake. Easy to drink. Ultra fresh. Nothing more nothing less.

We don’t talk about the technicality of Japanese sake. Just make sure to drink it icy cold and enjoy.

Suitable for days when you fancy cold lager or crisp white wine.

Cup sake designed by Sori Yanagi is convenient when you want to drink a little. You can drink it as it is without needing a glass.

You can find it at our store or order it HERE

Fuji Wisteria, Masako Ando Art, Kaikado Tea Caddies

Wisteria is one of our favorite flowers that we look forward to seeing in Spring. There are many beautiful places to view them. Every botanical garden will always have one. Many temples have and zen gardens have them as well. We can find beautiful prints in old wood block art work, as well as modern work. They usually come in shades of purple, but they also come in white, yellow, and pink.

One of the most famous places chosen as a “must see” is the Kawachi-Fujien (Wisteria Garden) in Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka.

MASAKO ANDO

We discovered a new exhibition at the Tomiyo Koyama Gallery with New Work by Masako Ando. The artist’s fourth solo presentation with the gallery since her previous showing five years ago, and features ceramic relief works that have developed a new frontier within her practice, along with a selection of charcoal, pencil, and water color drawings that will be shown for the first time.

【About Masako Ando and her works before 2016】

Masako Ando was born in the Aichi Prefecture in 1976. She graduated from the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Aichi University of the Arts in 2001. She currently lives and works in Seto city, and is an Associate Professor at Aichi University of the Arts.

Working with motifs such as young children, woolen knitted items, animals, plants and flowers, Ando creates paintings with eloquently smooth surfaces that take advantage of the characteristics of oil paint, and are conceived through various pictorial elements such as detailed depiction and her composition of the picture plane that incorporates the presence of large blank spaces. In contrast, while engaging with the same subject matter, her pencil drawings distinct for their meticulously elaborate execution, illustrate a much harder and solid texture. The poetic world of Ando’s work, in which the events of daily life were linked to broken memories and fragments of text, had received significant attention and acclaim.

Ando demonstrates an insatiable passion for exploring various ways of expression and continues to pursue the possibilities of painting and drawing. While gaining scope to enjoy the uncontrollable, she looks towards the every day with a “violent yet honest gaze” in creating work.

KAIKADO Tea Caddies

Kaikado was established in Kyoto in 1875, the year of the Meiji Restoration, as the pioneer of tinplate canisters using imported tinplate from England. They have continued to implement their unchanged hand making techniques developed by their founder for over a century.

The interesting thing is how they’ve been able to continue making their “chazutsu” or tea caddies by hand for over a century in this way. It’s because they share the same understanding as the founder, know the essential value of “chazutsu” and have inherited the same techniques of their forefathers even when times and circumstances are constantly changing.

During World War II, Japan implemented a metal collection act forcing Japanese people to surrender all forms of metal. The third generation successor at Kaikado, knowing the rarity and importance of the tools, decided to bury them to protect them from disappearing. He then continued to secretly make the “chazutsu” which caused him to be imprisoned. The end of the war lead Japan into a high economic growth period and foreign industrial products became more popular causing people to think that machine made factory style produced products were better than those made by hand. Kaikado never chose that path which made them suffer affecting them financially. To maintain their livelihood, they moved into the pharmaceutical field and crafting “chazutsu” became their side business.

Thanks to the support of our customers and the realization of our quality through craftsmanship, we were able to return making “chazutsu” as our main business and received an opportunity to pay tribute to the emperor with one of their masterpieces. Being successful in business in Kyoto in these times would not be enough, so the expanded gently into Nagoya and other areas, north and south of Kyoto as well.

This era of mass production and mass consumption arrived in Japan and demand for our products propagated sales and our following but we continued to make everything by hand. We felt that machine making reduces quality and we couldn’t put our Kaikado brand on such a product. The bubble burst in Japan and the economy plummeted forcing us to discount our products significantly to make ends meet. The 5th generation successor questioned the future of Kaikado and even considered throwing in the towel in these bleak times. It was the 6th generation successor and current president that re-recognized the value of “chazutsu” and shaped a new marketing plan, involving general public retail and introducing their products to the world. Thanks to this new vision, orders once again started to grow and Kaikado has become a product that can be found all over the world.

Our “chazutsu” can be repaired even if they are dented or distorted. They can be passed down from generation to generation because of the traditional hand making techniques even now being practiced. Your grandchildren’s grandchildren will be able to bring their “chazutsu” back to craftsmen if they ever need maintenance.

Kaikado will continue to provide living tools that can be used even 100 years later.

Koinobori - Boys Day & Children's Day, Muji Mingei, Muji Hotel, You You Ang

In Japan May 5th is Children's day and we celebrate with Koinobori, which are carp streamers that the wind passes through and makes them look like they are swimming.

Koinobori (鯉のぼり), meaning "carp streamer" in Japanese, are carp-shaped kind of wind that are hung out of your window and all over Japan to celebrate Tango no Sekku (端午の節句), a traditional calendrical event which is now designated a national holiday: Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi, 子供の日). These wind socks are made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth or other non-woven fabric, now nylon are the most popular. They are then allowed to flutter in the wind. They are also known as satsuki-nobori (皐のぼり).

Children's Day takes place on May 5, the last day of Golden Week, the largest break for workers and also a week in which businesses usually close for up to 9–10 days. Landscapes across Japan are decorated with koinobori from April to early May, in honor of children for a good future and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong.

A typical koinobori set consists of, from the top of the pole down, a pair of arrow-spoked wheels (矢車 yaguruma) with a ball-shaped spinning vane, flying-dragon streamer (飛龍吹流し hiryū fukinagashi) that looks like a wind stock. The number and meaning of the carp socks or koinobori that fly beneath the streamer have changed over time. Traditionally, the set would contain a black koinobori representing the father, followed by a smaller, red koinobori representing his eldest son. If more boys were in the household, an additional blue, green, and then, depending on the region, either purple or orange koinobori were added. After the government's decree that converted Boy's Day (Tango no Sekku) into the present Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi), the holiday came to celebrate the happiness of both boys and girls. As a result, the red koinobori came to represent the mother of the family and it is not uncommon for the color to be varied as pink. Similarly, the other colors and sizes of carp came to represent all the family's children, both sons and daughters. At present, the koinobori are commonly flown above the roofs of houses with children, with the biggest (black) koinobori for the father, the next biggest (red or pink) for the mother, and an additional, smaller carp of a different color for each child in decreasing order by age.

These koinobori range from a few centimeters to a few meters long. In 1988, a 100m long koinobori weighing 350kg was made in Kazo, Saitama. 

The carp was chosen as a symbol for Children’s Day because Japanese consider it the most spirited fish -- so full of energy and power that it can fight its way up swift-running streams and cascades. Because of its strength and determination to overcome all obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals.

Since these are also traits desired in boys, samurai warrior figurines and samurai kabuto helmets are also displayed in homes to inspire strength and bravery.

Children's Day, has been celebrated for more than 700 years, but no one knows exactly when or why it began. One story says that it started in the year 1282, as a celebration for a victory won by samurai warriors in a battle with invaders.

Mingei Exhibition at Muji Ginza

Message from the curator Naoto Fukasawa:

Some people say MUJI items are examples of modern mingei (folk crafts) or mingu (folk utensils).

There are, of course, differences in the methods of production, yet I do think the two share common features. For instance, neither displays the artist’s name on the product, and both take a selfless, honest approach to crafting items without ornamentation. With both mingei and MUJI, the beauty the objects radiate comes from quietly fulfilling their purpose. The term mingei was coined by Soetsu Yanagi and literally means “folk craft” or “art of the common people.” Yanagi called attention to the wholesome, common beauty and warmth found in utilitarian handicrafts produced for ordinary people, unlike elegant items of finery intended for ornamental display.

Soetsu Yanagi was an advocate of the unique “aesthetics of the object”—specifically, the objects woven deeply into the daily lives of the people. He established The Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan) in 1936 in the hope of sharing his collection of 17,000 mingei craft items—along with their aesthetic—with as many people as possible. Today, the Museum remains active as a base for the Mingei Movement, devoted to spreading awareness of those aesthetics.

MUJI, meanwhile, was established in 1980, with the aim of providing the genuine value of simplicity and abundance, as opposed to the brand-name, logo-oriented marketing strategies of the day.

One might call MUJI itself—and the products it creates—a sort of contemporary mingei movement. The Japan Folk Crafts Museum and MUJI both aspire to highlight the spirit that is interwoven with peaceful, casual, day-to-day life—the places and spaces in life that people treasure most. Mingei is a wellspring of power to create beauty. The “MINGEI—The Shape of Beautiful Living” exhibition aims to introduce the essence of this powerful spirit to visitors. I would be delighted if this event were to serve as a catalyst for new forms of artisanry and offer a glimpse into the craftsmanship of the future.

Naoto Fukasawa / Director, The Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Just next door is Muji Hotel Ginza: https://hotel.muji.com/en/

You You Ang Incense

YOU YOU ANG's incense is all made in Japan with the concept of "Wabi - Sabi" and "Iki" that only Japanese culture has. They selected traditional Japanese paper, Japanese flowers, trees, and various signature fragrant wood in Japan for the making of their incenses, and they value a lot also the detailed texture of the incense, created from the effort and the taste of the design team.　

Scents we carry include:

- Hinoki Cypress - Negative Ion : A refreshing scent that uses plenty of cypress oil that is familiar to Japanese culture. This "Negative Ion" Incense cleans the space of the room and is gentle on the body and mind with the soft scent of nature. 

- Cherry Blossom - Negative Ion: The sweet scent of double-flowered cherry blossoms that bloom many times. This "Negative Ion" Incense cleans the space of the room and is gentle on the body and mind with the soft scent of nature. 

- Aloeswood - Negative Ion - The ultimate incense tree "Kara" has been reproduced using Chinese medicine and agarwood from Southeast Asia. This "Negative Ion" Incense cleans the space of the room and is gentle on the body and mind with the soft scent of nature. 

-White Sandlewood - This is an incense stick for purification, made from sandalwood, Indonesian natural oil, and 5% crystal powder. This special gift packing carries a natural fragrance from the incense inside the bottle, which will be ideal for gifting to loved ones !

- Argarwood - This is an incense stick for purification, made from agarwood, Indonesian natural oil, and 5% crystal powder.

This special gift packing carries a natural fragrance from the incense inside the bottle, which will be ideal for gifting to loved ones !

- Incense for Diet Treatment: Incense with a prescription of Chinese herbs tailored to various symptoms. Normally, Chinese medicine is also used when making incense, but this "Kampo incense" contains 10 times more Chinese medicine than usual. Also contains sandalwood oil (sandalwood), which is said to bring happiness, and Chinese herbal medicine, licorice and rhubarb.  Exotic and graceful scent. It is said to calm the mind and suppress binge eating. Since it is an incense that enjoys the scent, it cannot be said that it can be scientifically proved, but why not reduce the excess from your heart?

- Herbs to treat Insomnia: This is an incense series made with prescriptions of Chinese herbs, tailoring to treat various symptoms. The Chinese herbal medicine is traditionally used in making incenses in Japan, but this "Kampo incense" contains 10 times more Chinese herbal medicine components than the regular incenses in the market. This incense contains lavender oil, which is known for relieving body tension, licorice, and also soybean paste, which are the carefully selected Chinese herbs for the effect.

-Incense for Cold Treatment: Lavender oil, which is said to be a panacea for aroma. This also contains various Chinese herbal medicines like as Pinellia ternata. A light and gentle scent. It's characterized by the cool scent of lavender. It has an elegant finish with natural aroma oil. "Saiko", "Hange", "Ougon", and "Peony" are mixed in the ratio of Saiko Keishito (Japanese herbal medicine). The scent of lavender is combined with the depth of Chinese medicine to create an adult scent with less sweetness.It is not an actual cold remedy, but the scent of lavender, which has an outstanding relaxing effect, leads the body to a good condition.

- Moon Box Set:  A mellow, gentle, moon-inspired scent This incense series scent expresses the seasonal sensations of "snow," "moon," and "flower." This is an incense set with a customized paulownia wooden box gift packing from Japan. The set includes also a ceramic stand for the sticks.

- Flower Box Set: This incense series  scent expresses the seasonal sensations of "snow," "moon," and "flower." Flower: A scent inspired by cherry blossoms, a deep Japanese flower. This is an incense set with a customised paulownia wooden box gift packing from Japan. The set includes also a ceramic stand for the sticks. 

- Cherry Blossom Box Set: This is an incense that traps the cherry blossom season that passes in an instant. The sweet scent of double-flowered cherry blossoms that bloom many times. The package design with real cherry blossom branches tied together makes it a perfect gift.

- Incense Holder: A "stone incense plate" that fits long incense perfectly. Simple mirror finish and ash cleaning are easy with a quick wipe. The material is granite, and felt is pasted on the back. The incense stand is made of solid brass and is heavy so you can burn a long incense  without any worries.

Showa Day, Golden Week, Shigeru Ban Designs Park Bathrooms

Showa no Hi marks the first day of Golden week at the end of April.

It was originally celebrated as the birthday of emperor Hirohito, the reigning emperor from 1926 to 1989. The purpose of the holiday was to reflect on his life, as well as the rebuilding of Japan after WW2.

After his death is was “Greenery Day” and is the first day of Japan’s Golden Week, which is one of the longest holidays for Japanese people. There are 4 national holidays (Beginning with Showa Day, then Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day), with the combination of the weekend’s it is a celebrated time to go on Holidays.

In Japan we have less holidays that those that live in western countries so we prepare in advance. Naturally it is one of the busiest time to travel within Japan and overseas. Even for those who do not travel far, it is a time to enjoy the countryside and Spring flowers.

Unfortunately travel will be quite limited this year but we will all find ways to try to enjoy the flowers we find in the park and try to enjoy our environment.

Shigeru Ban Designs See Through Bathrooms in Public Parks:

Japan’s new High-Tech Toilets by Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban are the latest curiosity. Initially designed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics they are a fun addition to Tokyo parks.

Using “Smart Glass” Technology, these windows are completely clear, but fog up when the door is locked from the inside.

Start your Spring Garden with Banshu Hamono Tools

Since we are all staying at home, it's a good time to get your spring gardening done.

These gardening scissors are best for the maintenance of very thin sprouts and extra fine branches. The handle is long so that you can use it by inserting the cutting edge into the intricate locations of your bonsai.

Since the Edo era (1603-1868) the blacksmith and hardware industry known as Banshu (in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan) started long ago as a Katana (sword) manufacturers. Each sword carefully handmade which have stood the tests of time and are still remain an exceptional instrument.

Banshu Hamono was originally a family business coming from this region and history of craftsmen. What began as an industry producing swords, they began to produce knives for the kitchen and have since expanded to now manufactures a variety of products including utility knives, traditional Japanese razors, Japanese gripping shears used for cutting thread, pruning shears, floral shears, and various gardening tools.

Each individual piece is painstakingly hand-made by skilled craftsmen using the same techniques that have been employed for generations. For about 250 years, various new designs have been created to meet the needs of customers.

Care: After use, clean the blade with cotton soaked with camelia oil to prevent it from rusting.

Please Visit here to see this product

   Bows & Arrows also has Gardening Tote Bags from Matsunoya.

A cotton canvas tote bag for gardening tools. 100% cotton and it is very strong. The Canvas that is woven in Okayama.

It can be used for various purposes such as storing gardening goods such as shovels, sub-bags for lunch boxes and water bottles, and goods necessary for walking dogs.

Excellent storage capacity with 6 pockets on the outside and 2 on the inside. It is paraffin-processed to improve waterproofness.

You may feel the hardness at the beginning of use, but as you use it, it will become softer.

Available in Off White, Khaki Green, Navy Blue

Click Here to view the product

Bows and Arrows Celebrates Cherry Blossoms:

In Japan, cherry blossom season is one of our favourite times of the year. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Everyone is very happy and watches the buds every day to see when they will bloom. The national weather service maps out when the blossoms are predicted to be in full bloom in each prefecture. Predictions are based on the years temperature, humidity, and rainfall.

Sakura is hard to describe because it means something very personal for everyone. There is something meaningful about the very short period in which they bloom, much like ones own life, it makes us reflect on our lives and gives us an appreciation of our time here. The way they that each individual flower is enhanced by billions of blossoms all over the country resonates with the feeling that as a nation, everything is enhanced when we are together. There are never enough words to describe all of these feelings but poets and artists will always strive to express this sentiment. 

Lyrics from one of the most famous sakura songs:

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields and villages
As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.

Come now, come now,
Let's look, at last!

There are hundreds of types of Cherry Blossoms. It is rumoured that the Emperor has every breed inside the Imperial Gardens. To learn about the different types please read here.

During Sakura Season we sit under the Sakura trees and have a picnic, drink sake, and often get quite happy drunk. This is called Hanami. Street food is served and obento's shared. Many of the obento's are made especially for this season with sakura decorations. It is a very happy time in Japan for everyone! 

There are many Sakura sweets and snacks during this period. Many restaurants, cafes, department stores, and select stores have Sakura Special. 

Companies also offer Sakura Themed Treats:

Bars also offer up Sakura specials:

For Sakura season Bows & Arrows is offering a beautifully preserved sakura. 

The brand, SOLA, offers beautifully preserved plants, exquisitely in the form of a 4x4 cm acrylic cube. They can be arranged and combined in multiple patterns to inspire sensitivity and learning. Arrange your Sola cubes, observe them intently, and appreciate the wonder or botanical lives.

About Somei-yoshino: It is synonymous with cherry blossoms for Japanese people. This is also one of the most representative species of wild cherry blossom found in Japan. Differ from the cultivated species of Somei-yoshino, it does not bloom in unison, but at different time on each tree. It is also Yamazakura’s trait to have the flowers to bloom at the same time.

The origin of the name is said to be that the gardener of "Somei Village (currently Komagome, Tokyo)" in Edo, who sold this flower under the name of "Yoshino". It grows fast and blooms well, so it has been long loved by public and spread nationwide for ornamental purposes.

Please click here to see this in our online store

For Sakura season Bows & Arrows is offering a beautifully preserved sakura. 

The brand, SOLA, offers beautifully preserved plants, exquisitely in the form of a 4x4 cm acrylic cube. They can be arranged and combined in multiple patterns to inspire sensitivity and learning. Arrange your Sola cubes, observe them intently, and appreciate the wonder or botanical lives.

About Somei-yoshino: It is synonymous with cherry blossoms for Japanese people. This is also one of the most representative species of wild cherry blossom found in Japan. Differ from the cultivated species of Somei-yoshino, it does not bloom in unison, but at different time on each tree. It is also Yamazakura’s trait to have the flowers to bloom at the same time.

The origin of the name is said to be that the gardener of "Somei Village (currently Komagome, Tokyo)" in Edo, who sold this flower under the name of "Yoshino". It grows fast and blooms well, so it has been long loved by public, and spread nationwide for ornamental purposes.

Please click here to see this in our online store

Bows & Arrows also offers Sakura infused Konjac sponges:

A natural sponge with a blissful texture that removes old dead skin and fine hair by Makanai. Ideal for the entire family.

It has a reputation for being "one-tone brighter" just by gently stroking with a sponge. Konjac sponge is made entirely out of Glucomannan, a natural fibre derived from the root of the konjac plant. It helps to deeply cleanse and exfoliate dead cells while its moisture-rich properties leave your skin smooth and supple. The surface is always covered with moisture due to the strong water retention of konjac fibre. As a result, the fibres are less likely to come into direct contact with the skin, leaving the surface of the skin intact and smoothing out the skin, removing fine hairs and dead skin cells.

By the action of the weak alkaline component, it neutralises and degrades dirt and dirt and rinses it away. Washed in a soft, moistened state, so you can use it if you have sensitive skin or atopic problems.

Please click here to see this in our online store

You can find different types of sakura flowers all over the world now. We hope that wherever you are, you are enjoying the spring!

Hourglass by Hightide, Akira Mabuchi, Randoseru

Hightide Sandglass

It is a sandglass with a simple form in glass. L size can be measured for 15 minutes. With its beautiful modelling and the presence, it could be good to use for decorating a book shelf in the study room, the free space near the window side, and also the counter in the kitchen etc.

Time can not be seen in the form, but through the sandglass, it could be well traced to molucles ! It is an interior object which seems to remind us the importance of time, even in the busy days.

Multi colours: Clear, Blue, Green, Yellow
Sizes range from 15 minutes, 10 minutes, to 5 minutes

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Gachapon Wall Akihabara & Shinbashi

Kenelstand wall of gachapon designed Akira Mabuchi huge wall in two or Japans major train stations. In these machines you can buy everything from miniature toy furniture, food, kitchen sets, animals, everything you can imagine and beyond. This type of old school Japanese toy machine you put money in and never know what you will get. We have never seen such a long beautiful line of these. Kids and adults alike could happily spend hours viewing all the options.

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Randoseru

Randoseru are the backpacks Japanese children warn from elementary school. Traditionally used from the first day of school until grade 6. The word comes from the Dutch “ransel” or German “Ranzen” that means backpack.

You might have seen them in Japanese films or animations but they are usually made of leather or strong material that resembles leather. Waterproof and very strong and surprisingly heavy for small children (roughly 1.2kg without books). In Japan children are encouraged to make their bodies strong from a young age. Boys still wear shorts in winter and during PE many children are encouraged to run with only cotton T-shirts on. This is meant to strengthen their immune system.

Most of these bags are sewn by hand hence the price range anywhere from €100 - €800 or more. They are strong and will last the child for many years. You usually purchase them in department stores at the beginning of the school year. Many colors exist, sometimes with characters but for the most part, teachers prefer for them to be as uniform as possible.

Back To School Notebooks, Silver Week, Ace Hotel Kyoto

STALOGY NOTEBOOKS

Some of our favourite “Back to School” & “Back to Work” notebooks. Available in multi colours.

Highly functional notebook that redefines usability with thin, soft ruled lines, optimum paper quality, and line spaces that make for easy writing.

“Gokanshi,” a type of paper with a unique texture, is used to provide the cover with a distinct feel. Pages are made of fine quality 81.4g paper, selected after testing the feel of various writing instruments, such as pencils, ballpoint pens, and fountain pens. 

Cover comes in six vibrant colors, making the notebook convenient for use in different subjects or for various purposes. Also comes with useful labels.

point 1 :Line spaces that make for easy writing
point 2 :Thin, soft ruled lines
point 3 :A simple notebook without the frills
point 4 :With stick-on labels
point 5 :Wide color variation

Six colours available, sold separately: Grey, Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red
Dimensions: 179 mm x 252 mm
Pages: 68

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AUTUMN EQUINOX and SILVER WEEK

On September 22nd, 23rd or 24th, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as a national holiday in Japan. In Japan, this holiday is known as 'Shūbun-no-hi'. 

The sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west on this day, making day and night equal in length.

Autumnal Equinox Day was established as a national holiday in 1948. Before then, the autumnal equinox was an imperial ancestor worship festival called 'Shūki kōrei-sai' and the holiday had its roots in Shinto traditions as a time to give thanks to the deities for a successful harvest. Because of this, we usually drink a lot of sake on this day.

The equinoxes are also a special time for Buddhists who traditionally these periods as days when the border between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, making the equinoxes important days to honour ancestors and remember the dead. So we visit the graves of our ancestors. 

This also involves Silver Week is “Respect for the Aged” day where we honor senior citizens. Japan has an increasing elderly population. Since 1963 the Japanese has given a silver sake cup to Japanese who reach 100 years old. Japans elderly population as risen, attributed to a healthy diet, good exercise, and many ways of keep an active mind which include, games, gardening, farming, etc.

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ACE HOTEL KYOTO - FIRST IN ASIA

Designed by Japanese famed architect and designer Kengo Kuma and Commune Design. Neon painting by Nobu Kitamura creator or Hysteric Glamour Textiles by Shoba Gakuen artist collective.

Boutiques by Maison Kitsune, Y & Sons. Many wonderful Japanese artists and designers hidden secrets to be found.

We all hope to visit after the travel ban has ended!

Katorisenko - Mosquito Coils, Tokyo Showa Antique Market

Mosquito coils were invented in Japan, at the end of the 19th century. A man named Ueyama Eiichiro was in the business of exporting mandarin oranges when Fukuzawa Yukichi, the famous author, statesman and founder of Keio University, introduced him to a seed trader in the United States. This dealer offered Ueyama seeds of a flowering plant that he claimed would knock insects dead.

Ueyama decided to import the seeds and start growing the plant in Japan. It was a member of the aster family, Tanacetum cinerariifolium, there was something in the flower heads, when dried and ground into a powder, that proved lethal to insects. Ueyama called the plant jyochūgiku (which loosely means “bug-banishing chrysanthemum”) and built a business that is still a leader in pest control today.

Initially, Ueyama mixed the flower powder into starch bases to create incense sticks that would repel insects. They worked quite well but burned down too quickly, barely lasting 40 minutes. Then in 1895, when Ueyama was still searching for a way to make a longer-lasting product, his wife Yuki suggested he make longer sticks and coil them into a spiral shape.  The first mosquito coil was produced in 1902 was 75 centimeters in length when uncoiled. The coils were a hit and were hand-rolled until 1957 when production was mechanized. Since then, very little has changed about Ueyama’s Kincho brand-mosquito coils, including the deep green color and the old-fashioned packaging with the trademark red rooster head.

The active compound, originally obtained from the jochūgiku flower although it can now be synthesized, is called pyrethrin. It occurs naturally in the seed cases of the flowers and has powerful insecticidal activity. In small doses it repels insects and in higher concentrations it kills them by attacking their nervous systems. Pyrethrin is a very common ingredient in insecticides around the world.

Dai Nihon Jochugiku Co. Ltd., the current incarnation of Ueyama’s company, headquartered in Osaka. The mosquito-coil market is alive and well, with strongest sales to older consumers who grew up with them. At the same time, the company has added new products to keep pace with changes in the way Japanese live. Until the early postwar period, most Japanese lived in homes that were very much open to the outdoors. But there has been a shift to smaller, more tightly constructed homes. In such environments, the smoke from mosquito coils can be irritating so the company developed no-smoke alternatives.

In the 1960s, they invented devices that plug into electric outlets and diffuse mosquito repellents into the air, replenished by changing a small mat or liquid dispenser. More recently they have added a spray that can protect a room from mosquitoes for up to 12 hours with a single pump.

More people seem to be conserving electricity by turning off their air-conditioners and reviving the old practices for keeping comfortable in the summer. Many Japanese feel very nostalgic about katori senkō, and the time when life was slower in Japan.”

To use a mosquito coil, you first place it in a holder to keep it safe and off the ground where it can get air to burn. Simple holders are often included with the coils, but some people get quite particular about what they use to contain their coils, with pig-shaped ceramic holders being a perennial favorite. You light the outer end of the spiral and it burns slowly, progressing toward the center, emitting a mosquito-repelling smoke. There are different sizes and types, but a coil that is 75 cm long and 10.5 cm in diameter will provide protection for about seven hours.

Now these coils can be found all over the world.

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Tokyo Showa Retro Antiques Market

A flea market that takes you back to Japan’s golden age, offering an abundance of retro treasures bursting with vibrant color and unique style. Time to get nostalgic for the good old days, specifically the Showa Era, from 1926-1989 when post-war Japan sped forward into modern times. Browse vintage objects and ephemera, from rare collectibles to throwback oddities, including furniture, records, textiles, accessories, toys, signs and more. This is a specialist flea market so don’t expect rock-bottom prices, but any retro enthusiasts will, at the very least, find this a visual treat well worth the admission fee.

Please note that this event may be postponed or cancelled in accordance with ongoing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Summer Hakutou White Peaches, Matsunoya Gardening Bags, Eat Play Work

Okayama’s peaches are well-known among the Japanese for the folk tale of “Momotarou (Peach Boy)”, and peach blossoms represent Okayama as the “Prefectural Flower”.

Full-scale peach cultivation began in 1875 (Meiji Period), when peaches were brought to Okayama from China. With the gifted environmental features and the long hard work of the foregoers who acquired brilliant techniques, Okayama became one of Japan’s largest peach producers.

“White peaches” are grown with extra care; each fruit is covered with a small bag to protect the delicate soft white skin to ripen it to perfection. This process requires a lot of work, and is an important technique in cultivating the finest peaches. Comments like “I’ve never had peaches that are this soft and sweet.” and “Peaches made in Okayama are always delicious!” are the finest compliments for the peach producers in Okayama.

White peaches from various regions can be found in August and are very special. Juicy and without preservatives. When the fruit is small the farmer will examine each fruit and cut any that do not look. About 1/3rd of the peaches are culled during this process, hence all the goodness of the tree can go into the peaches that are kept. After this, each peach is individually wrapped in light paper to prevent spoiling by bugs.

If you cannot find any green colors on the stem of the peach, that means your peach is fully ripen. You should enjoy it right away. If you leave it in the refrigerator to cool for two hours before you eat it, you can enjoy it even better!

But be careful not to cool it too much. If you leave it in the refrigerator too long, you won’t be able to fully enjoy the flavor or sweetness. So if you can’t eat it right away, leave it in room temperature, but try to eat it as soon as possible. Avoid leaving it in the refrigerator too long, or under direct sunlight for the peach may rot.

The best way to enjoy peaches are eating them fresh, but if you have more than enough peaches, try making some fresh peach jam. Cook it in an enamel pot, with half the amount of granulated sugar of the peaches.

You can enjoy the jam along with some yogurt, or mix it with milk to make a refreshing drink!

These are truly special peaches and we look forward to having them in summer!

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Matsunoya Gardening and Tool Bag

Matsunoya strong cotton canvas tote bag for gardening tools.  Matsunoya Threadline tote is made from 100% heavy duty cotton canvas. The trademarked fabric makes it durable enough to maintain its shape. 100% cotton and is very strong. The Canvas that is woven in Okayama, Japan.

Multi pockets to fit your gardening tools or other tools but it definatly has a feel for work outdoors. Very strong and you can wash the bag in the washing machine with cold water. Small silver latches let you adjust its shape and size. Perfect for summer gardening. Available in Navy, Khaki, White

EAT PLAY WORK

Eat Play Works is a six-floor building combining the pleasures of good food, relaxation and productive work. The first two floors house 17 restaurants in an open-bar style, making the space resemble a high-end street food market. Many are branches of popular restaurants, like Oxomoco, a Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant from Brooklyn. Whatever cuisine one’s in the mood for, whether that be Japanese, French, Vietnamese, Italian or Middle Eastern, they’ll find it. 

On the third and fourth floors is the Member’s Lounge, where plush armchairs and sofas surround sleek coffee tables. It’s a place for chats and casual work. There’s a room for meditation sessions led by expert Nirmal Raj Gyawali, as well as a quaint terrace. Everywhere, artworks and vintage furniture are aesthetically scattered around the space, creating an elegant, yet cozy feel. 

To get some proper work done, head up to one of the office rooms lined along the corridors on the top two floors. The rooms are spacious with tall windows overlooking Hiroo Station, and equipped with large tables and cushioned chairs. Each office is fitted with a unique, antique door. The third to sixth floors are available only to members. Eat Play Works’ grand opening is July 20.

Eat Play Works
5-4-16 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku
eatplayworks.com

YAMACHI SOYSAUCE and Yuzu Ponzu

YAMACHI SHOUYU Naturally brewed soy sauce

Natural soy sauce made by slowly fermenting and aging only whole soybeans, deep sea water, wheat, and salt for two years in cedar barrels.

Not only does it have a good balance of sweetness, saltiness and sourness, it also contains a lot of umami ingredients. You can enjoy the rich flavor unique to whole soybeans and the rich aroma of raw fried soy sauce.

It can be used not only as it is, but also for cooking, adding richness to the dish and making it even more delicious.

200ml / Ingredients: soybean, wheat, salt

Please avoid direct sunlight and store at room temperature. After opening, be sure to put it in the refrigerator and use it as soon as possible.

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YAMACHI SHOUYU Cedar barrel soy sauce

This craft soy sauce is made with the mineral rich of Noto deep sea water and the row soy base sauce, which has been aged for more than two years in a specially made cedar barrel. These cedar barrels were inherited from the very first generation of the producer's family, and to mature the base soy sauce with these barrels would give the sauce a natural and rich fragrance and flavor. The mellow soy sauce, will come with a strong color, and has a slight sweetness that spreads as a lingering taste in the mouth.

This soy sauce can be used for cooking as well as for direct application. And when it is combined with butter during baking, the mellowness and the taste would be further enhanced !

Volume: 200ml
Ingredients: soybean, wheat, salt

Please avoid direct sunlight and store at room temperature. After opening, be sure to put it in the refrigerator and use it as soon as possible.

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YAMACHI Yuzu Ponzu

1. This ponzu uses a special cedar barrel soy sauce, a vinegar from the family tradition of the producer, and the squeezed juice of misho yuzu, which is known for its extremly long growing period, as the misho yuzu tree would normally take more than eighteen years, before producing its delicious fruits. Along with the sourness, the fragrance of Misho yuzu and the slight sweetness, from the cedar barrel soy sauce, would well spread in your mouth !

You can use this ponzu widely in various recepies, regardless of the genre of cooking.

300ml / Ingredients: soy sauce, yuzu fruit juice, dried bonito extract, fermented rice seasoning, sugar, salt / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), acidulant, (including some soybeans, wheat, mackerel)

Instructions:

- The yuzu ingredients will float, so shake it well before use

- Please avoid direct sunlight and store at room temperature.

- After opening, be sure to put it in the refrigerator and use it as soon as possible

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OBON Festival

Every summer we celebrate Obon for about 3 days, which is a yearly Buddhist event for remembering our ancestors. Traditionally obon is the time each year when the spirits of our ancestors return to visit relatives. For this lanterns are hung outside the house to guide them back. We clean and water their grave stones and prayers at temples. Bon Odori dances are performed and Taiko drums playing. Each district has different dances and rituals.

At the end, floating lanterns are put in the river or lake or ocean to guide the spirits back to their world.

This is also the beginning of summer holidays. Many people plan trips around this time both domestically and abroad. If you have plans to travel around Japan in this time, expect higher prices and plan far in advance.

Hayashida Rice, Iishi-san's Kokeshi Collection, Moshi Moshi Harajuku

Hayashida Rice grown by Mr Yoshinari Hayashida:

Premium Quality Rice, Grown in Rich Nature. Organic pesticide-free rice is raised in a rich natural environment full of pure water and fresh air in Kuma-region, located in the upstream of the Kuma river in Kumamoto, one of the three major torrents in Japan.

Organic pesticide-free farming. They insist on pesticide-free farming to reassure safety and security for our rice. Their are qualified by the organic certification from Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS) which requires three years of pesticide-free cultivation, in addition to their yearly inspections of the field, the materials and the process of production.

Abundant and pure water. For agricultural water, the water from the source of the Kuma river, one of the three major torrents in Japan is used. Clear and good quality water moistens the fields throughout the year.

Healthy soil making. The soil is rich which the rice straw after the harvest has been returned for many decades and made back to earth. To make healthy soil, organic fertilizers and green manures inherited from our previous generation are used instead of chemical fertilizers.

Temperature control to preserve the taste. To preserve the flavor of the new rice, storage temperature is controlled throughout the year. Because of this, they can provide the fluffy and slightly sticky food texture of good rice all year around.

We have ordered their brown rice. We hope you enjoy it.

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Mr. Iishi san’s Kokeshi Explains Kokeshi

Vintage Kokeshi Japan. Text by Japanese Vintage Master Mr Iishi.

What is vintage Kokeshi?

There are many people overseas who are interested in Japanese Kokeshi dolls. However, most of them choose Kokeshi only by its cute appearance without knowing its actual value. Some extra knowledge will help you appreciate Japanese Koseshi dolls even more. It is not that difficult. Prior knowledge of brief historical background and some excellent Kokeshi artists will lead you to good Kokeshi.

First, basics: Kokeshi dolls can be divided into three major types.

1. Dentoshi Kokeshi, or traditional Kokeshi, which ws made in Tohoku region of northeastern Japan during Edo period.

2. Kindai Kokeshi, or modern Kokeshi, which were made in modern style.

3. Shogyo Kokeshi or commercial Kokeshi which ws sold as popular goods at a cheap price at hot spring resorts, resulting in kitsch design reflecting the postwar era of scarcity in goods in many cases.

Kokeshi doll of special focus is modern type which were made during the peak period of 1950’s – 60’s though those Kokeshi dolls are still being made.

Why modern Kokeshi?

There are, of course, wonderful examples in traditional Kokeshi as well. Some fetch as high as 1 million yen among collectors. However, these rare ones are very few in number. Those seen at antique fairs are typically from the postwar era. In this sense, production times of modern and traditional Kokeshi are not much apart. There are many commercial Kokeshi that are interesting as Japanese subculture and that are also from after the war.

 Looking at modern and traditional Kokeshi, the artists’ idea of art creation is completely different to each other. Japanese craft making tradition begins with learning types/forms and copying them. However, modern Kokeshi artists tried to create, “something new to suite the time”. With such trend, such people started making Kokeshi as originally master of woodland as well as artists who studied design, sculpture and painting. The idea of “something new to suite the time” was shared not only in Kokeshi making but also wide scope of design. Japanese Kokeshi making can be said to have ridden the wave of mid-century design that swept the world in the mid 20th century. Kokeshi born in such design of such time is take up as Vintage Kokeshi. Kokeshi boom has been rekindled by the recent Japanese subculture of KAWAII. This should help you understand why as well.

Artist’ name is followed the art.

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Moshi Moshi Harajuku

Moshi Moshi Rooms in Harajuku. Very cute!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/37812802?source_impression_id=p3_1575359946_7Yw3AxuOTJ2XWfcV&guests=1&adults=

Gla Gla Glass, ENOURA HONPO, National Ocean day in japan

Gla Gla Glass

We met Daisaku Takatomi last year at his exhibition in Japan. We loved his glass sculptures. We will soon receive pieces including vases, incense stand. All of his glasses are blown by him and each piece is unique.

https://glagla.jp/

• Born in 1973.

• 2000 Completed Graduate School of Tokyo Glass Crafts Research Institute

• 2002 glass cafe gla_gla opened in Tsukiura, Toyako-cho

• 2007 "SNOW SCAPE MOERE" Isamu Noguchi Design Moerenuma Park Outdoor Installation

• 2009 Designed by Kuma Architects as a partition for Bamboo / Fiber

• 2012 Used in the movie "Shiawase no Pan"

• 2012 Sapporo Beer Provided works as Sapporo Classic campaign glass

• 2013 “Overflowing.” Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art installation

• 2015 "Natsushizuku." National Takino Suzuran Hillside Park Outdoor Installation

• 2016 "Hikari no Kami Isamu NOGUCHI + Daisuke TAKATOMI" Moerenuma Park Installation

• 2017 France / USA / Japan Petit World Tour

• 2018 “Spin together.” Sapporo Temporary Space

• 2018 Kuma Architecture Office Design WE HOTEL TOYA All guest rooms pendant lights installed

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ENOURA HONPO Seaweed

The norinorishiri-zu is produced by nori (seaweed) farmers by focusing on “ichiban-tsumi (first pick of nori),” which is rich in umami. Nori can be harvested after approximately a month from planting, and the first crop known as “ichiban-tsumi” is renowned for its soft texture as well as its abundant umami and nutrients. Freshly-harvested nori is then processed carefully to achieve an exceptional taste, which is remarkably different from other nori. The ever-popular “yakinori (baked nori)” is roasted until it is crisp and savory, and melts in the mouth. “Shionori (salted nori)” is made with yakishio (roasted salt) from Ishigaki Island and first-press oil taken from rapeseed. “Ajinori (seasoned nori)” has been lightly seasoned to maintain the original aroma of the seaweed and is slightly sweet. The unique “takinori (simmered nori)” is processed to a paste by mixing with other ingredients such as katsuo (tuna), sesame and red pepper. In addition to serving with rice or as a snack to accompany drinks, our products also go perfectly with Western dishes such as pasta and pizza. Also, the lovely package featuring nori, which is simply designed in black and white, makes it an ideal gift. This is a set of processed nori that lets you feel the natural blessings of the Ariake Sea with ease.

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July 23rd 海の日, Umi no Hi , "Ocean Day"

Umi no Hi is a national holiday to celebrate the ocean. On this day, families visit the sea and swim, snorkel, surf, or dive. People may also participate in an event called ‘mud-ball throwing’. Mud-balls are composed of ‘Effective Micro-organisms" (EMs), which help break-down and eliminate sea grime. National aquariums also host special water-related events on this day.

In Tokyo thousands of people go to Odaiba beach and make beautiful patterns with lanterns.

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Edoya Brushes, Seichajo Yamashina, Japanese Iris

Edoya - A Japanese Brush Workshop From The Old Times

One of the few shops in Japan specializing in Japanese and Western brushes. They originated as exclusive brush makers for the Shogun family and made brushes for applying ink when making woodblock prints, painting hanging scrolls, and so on. The skills that have continued to develop for ages and demanded by professional craftsmen are still alive and well. To this day, only natural materials such as pig and horse bristles are used along with the traditional craftsmanship where the bristles are placed in each hole by hand so that the tips of the brushes do not lose shape. Among their more popular items are their clothes brushes, which are known to maintain usability for a long time. The clothes brushes made with delicate, firm, and high-quality pig bristles take good care of fabric by removing lint and dust while keeping static away. Established in 1718.

Inheriting from the traditional craftsmanship from long ago, each craftsman was well trained to perfectly place bristles through the holes by hand, so that the tips of the brushes do not lose their shape.

Up to date, Edoya is making and working with a wide range of brush types, from various body brushes, to shoes and clothes brushes. Among the most popular types, their clothes brushes were often highlighted by the users. These brushes began to be developed as the need arose when we went from wearing kimono’s to wearing western clothes and shoes. We didn't have the culture of wearing them or cleaning them so these brushes were developed. They are known to maintain sustainability for a lifetime. The Edoya clothes brushes made with delicate, firm, and high-quality pig bristles take a good care of fabric, by removing lint and dust while effectively keeping static away.

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Seichajo Yamashina

 Seichajo Yamashina is a tea house that has been since 1959. They travel around Kyushu to select each farms tea for the year according to the years precipitation, weather, etc. 

We just purchased several new types:

No. 5 - Yamashina - kiriri (Japanese Green Tea)
No. 7 - Houjicha (Roasted Green Tea)
No. 11 - Macha - Genmaicha (Roasted Brown Rice with Green Tea)
No. 13 - Yamanashi-Torori (Japaneses Green Tea)
No. 14 - Yamenotsuyu (Japanese Green Tea)

Please come visit our store. We sell out of this tea quite quickly.

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Japanese Irises Blooming

We have so many gardens for Iris viewing. One of our favorite places to see them at the the Nezu museum.