Old Journal

7 Actually Useful Table Accessories that You Didn’t Know You Needed

Discover unique uses for these 7 table accessories, including toothpick holders, wooden seasoning trays, and more.

Embracing Autumn with The Choyo-no-Sekku: The Beauty of the Chrysanthemum Festival

September in Japan is marked not only by the comfortable climate and the rich harvest but also by a distinct cultural celebration. September 9 is called "Chou-you-no-Sekku," one of the five seasona...

Ready for Hot Summer: Making Umeboshi (Pickled Plum)

This is a memory from my elementary school days, on the day of the school sports festival. Every summer's end, the school would organize a sports festival on the sandy playground. It was a comprehe...

Design and Delight: Personalizing Your Daruma Doll

If you have ever chanced upon a cheery and chubby round doll colored in red and white at a store or a restaurant, you've likely already made the acquaintance of a "Daruma" doll.For centuries, these...

A Tasty Tour of Japan's Seasonal Summer Sweets

Many may be well-acquainted with Japan's mesmerizing four seasons and the beautiful aesthetics they inspire. And the grace of each season is imbued in culinary delights of Japan, with sweets being ...

Home Sweet Museum: Stepping Inside The Japan Folk Crafts Museum

For many travelers descending upon Japan from afar, "the Japan Folk Crafts Museum" (Nihon Mingeikan) may not immediately top the list of art museum destinations. Lacking the grand scale of the nati...

Glimpses into the Traditional Styles of Cuisine Ware

Handmade cuisine ware is a manifestation of the spirit and culture of nature, life and the sympathetic emotion of artisans who speak little themselves. The craftspersons are silent and concentrated...

Sip in Taste: How to Pick Your Perfect Coffee Cup

How often do you drink coffee?In the midst of the recent global trends, it's likely that many people have been spending more time at home. Whether it's for the morning wake-up, a break during the w...

Defining Modern Lacquerware, a Journey of a Northern Craftsperson

Yoshita Kasho is well known in Japan for his innovative designs using traditional techniques of lacquerware craft. Facing adversity in the declining population of craftspeople and demand for lacque...

Hakuichi: Imbuing A Fresh Aesthetic Sense with Kanazawa Gold Leaves

It seemed all but fitting that Hakuichi's Ginza Showroom was located within the glamor of the Ginza area and adjacent to the distinguished Kabukiza Theatre. Hakuichi is renowned for their wide sele...