カテゴリー: News & Blog

URUSHI 101: The ARTIFACT SHOWS THE BEST CHARACTER of URUSHI

SHIKKI or Japanese lacquerware is one of the best-known Japanese Traditional Crafts. But do we really know about the material? SHIKKI is a product that is painted or/and worked with URUSHI. In this article, we cover the super basics of URUSHI and a great example of how URUSHI was used. Once you know these, you will know about URUSHI material more than some Japanese people!

When is the best hour to visit Shrines & Why? Travel Tip Japan

When you travel to Japan, visiting Shrines and Temples is a great experience. You get to see buildings and cultures unique to Japan there. Many guide books and travel blogs list some shrines and temples as “must visit” places. So, it won’t be hard for you to find “WHERE” to visit. But how about “WHEN”?

In this article, we will tell you about the following:
+What is a Shrine?
+Difference between Shrines and Temples (How to spot Shrines)
+3 Things You Shouldn’t Do at Shrines
+The Best Hours to Visit Shrines and The Reasons
+The Way To Spend Time at Shrines ~Elementary~
+The Way to Spend Time at Shrines ~Intermediate~
+The Shrine must to visit in Kagawa, Shikoku, Japan

TAISETU(大雪) [more than 4 seasons]

TAISETSU(大雪) is the 21st season of the 24 seasons. Some parts of Japan get snow and start to stick, but not in plain areas of Shikoku. Today, It’s about superstitious fish for people who want to succeed in their business or career, today. The fish is in season, this time of the year. Let’s find it out.

SHOUSETSU(小雪) [more than 4 seasons]

The 20th season of the 24 seasons. SHOUSETSU is the season Japanese people start to get ready the seasonal gifts called “OSEIBO (お歳暮)”. And the seasonal weather which is perfect for you to visit Japanese Garden.

RITTOU(立冬) [more than 4 seasons]

It’s Official! Winter has come! Watch out for The 1st “KOGARASHI(木枯らし)”!
Today, we will tell you about 3 THINGS about the kind of wind blows this time of the year.
Because it is one of the great examples of “the 24 seasons” are used in our life!
When the wind blows, our head curator starts to think about how to spend her New Year Holiday.

5 things you only need to know about Traditional Crafts in Japan!

It is one of the authentic experiences you can get in Japan; looking at, knowing, or/and getting Local Traditional Crafts in Japan. But do we all know “what exactly Traditional Crafts of Japan/the Region means”?

In this article, we will tell you 5 things you only need to know about “The Traditional Crafts” in Japan. This article will take you to the “knowing about it a bit more than average Japanese people” level.

Kozy: the Setouchi glass photo artist

He was not born as an artist. But environment found him to be one. Isn’t is interesting? Here are 9 short stories of Kozy.

Ep.1 WHO IS Kozy?
Ep.2 “NOTHING LIKE WHO I AM TODAY”
Ep.3 THE BEACH CHANGED EVERYTHING
Ep.4 THREE MONKS VISIT?! & ZAP!!
Ep.5 IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE JOB
Ep.6 FINDING PEACE in SEA GLASS
Ep.7 URGE to LEARN MORE
Ep.8 SOMETHING DRASTICALLY CHANGED
Ep.9 EXPERIENCE TO EVERYONE

SOUKOU(霜降) [more than 4 seasons]

1 FUNNY FACT & 1 RECOMMENDATION for you to enjoy Autumn Leaves in JAPAN.
SOUKOU is the 18th season of “the 24 seasons”. From this season you start to notice morning frost. When the temperature drops enough, it is the season of a beautiful phenomenon nature gives; Autumn Foliage! We share with you 2 things about them!

Kae: the product producer

HOW did IT HAPPEN?!
A former apparel designer who had nothing to do with Japanese Traditional Crafts ended up creating the future of it! How?! Why?!
The 9 Stories Third Series is about a product producer.
Ep.1/9 WHO IS Kae?
Ep.2/9 DESIGNING OWN CLOTHES SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD.
Ep.3/9 BEING AN APPAREL DESIGNER IN KOBE.
Ep.4/9 MARRYING INTO THE WORLD OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT.
Ep.5/9 GENERATING A NEW CATEGORY.
Ep.6/9 TO THE WORLD!
Ep.7/9 CONNECTING WITH OTHER ARTISANS’ PROBLEMS.
Ep.8/9 THE MOMENT: THE REALIZATION OF HER CALLING.
Ep.9/9 FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

KANRO(寒露) [more than 4 seasons]

KANRO(寒露) is the 17th season of “the 24seasons”. The night gets longer. The air gets colder in the morning and at night. The climate is no longer humid nor too hot. You can feel “the Autumn” both day and night. We’ll introduce one seasonal event that takes place in many places in Japan.

Takashi Morimoto: the certified traditional craft artisan

The 9 Stories Second Series is about our listed artisan.
He will be producing your order.
9 stories about him, here it comes!

1) Who is Takashi Morimoto?
2) What does it take to be a certified traditional craft artisan?
3) What is his craft?
4) Born as the 3rd generation of the joinery shop
5) Why was the mechanical engineering course?
6) Marrying his muse
7) Disappearing crafts
8) Training new generation
9) The Dream: One day…

Satoko Kamada: the founder & the head curator

The 9 Stories First Series is about our head curator. Who will be your person when you contact us. 9 stories about her, here it comes!
1)LET ME BE YOUR ASSISTANCE
2)BORN WITH CREATIVE URGE
3)THE WING OF LANGUAGE
4)FOUND A POT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
5)ONCE A WISE MAN SAID…
6)I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY…
7)MORE JAPANESQUE THAN EVER
8)IT IS NOT FAIR!
9)20+ YEARS OF BEING A SERVER & KEEP IT THAT WAY

The 9 Stories of People & Things

Did you know that there are the series posts have been posted on our Instagram?! It’s called “The 9 Stories”. It had been a series posts available for our Instagram and Facebook page but we have decided to show it here on our blog as well! This article is the introductory of…