Journal — Stories from the world of Japanese craft — makers, beauty, seasons, and the table.
The Chrysanthemum: Autumn’s Noble Flower in Japanese Tableware
Learn how Japan's late-blooming autumn flower shapes plates, bowls, and a donabe in Japanese crafts.
Read the storyArtisans
The hands and minds behind the work.
Aesthetics
The ideas that shape Japanese beauty.
Seasons & Living
Living closely with the turning year.
At the Table
Food, tea, and the vessels that hold them.
Travel & Places
Places, makers, and journeys worth the trip.
Artisans
The hands and minds behind the work.
Inside Fukusaya: Four Hundred Years of Making Castella
Meet the Nagasaki makers who have baked castella for four centuries, and see what…
How Chrysanthemums Bloom in Jonamagashi Sweets
Watch a fourth-generation Tokyo artisan shape autumn chrysanthemum wagashi petal by petal, with no…
Kanbata Shinya: A World Shaped by Encounter
Step into Kanbata Shinya's world, where French cathedrals and Kutani tradition meet in fine…
Aesthetics
The ideas that shape Japanese beauty.
A Beginner’s First Kintsugi with the MUSUBI Craft Kit
Five pieces of chipped, cracked, and broken tableware, seven sessions, and one beginner's honest…
Rebecca Menasché
The Wit of Ukiyo-e: Humor and Riddles from Edo
Meet the comic side of ukiyo-e: dressed-up animals, stretched faces, and picture puzzles Edo…
The Secret Meanings Behind Japan’s Regional Toys
Discover why so many Japanese folk toys are red, shaped like animals, or made…
Seasons & Living
Living closely with the turning year.
The Hashi Kanshasai: Giving Thanks to Used Chopsticks
Join us at Hie Jinja, where used chopsticks are thanked with prayer and music,…
7 Tips for Thoroughly Enjoying Autumn in Japan
Explore the timeless ways people in Japan celebrate the beauty of the season.
Ito Ryo
Chushu no Meigetsu: A Moonlit Japanese Celebration
Join us as we delve into the art of Chushu no Meigetsu, where every…
At the Table
Food, tea, and the vessels that hold them.
Akari's Recipe: Salt and Ginger Ramen with Chicken Drumette Broth
Akari’s salt and ginger ramen pairs chicken drumette broth with butter and herbs for…
Hasegawa Akari's Fall Donabe Recipe: Potato Miso Butter Rice
Warm up this fall with this comforting Japanese donabe dish, mixing the rich flavors…
Dress to Impress: Hosting with a Shokado Bento Box
Create a dazzling fall table with warm hues, layered textures, and seasonal dishes on…
Travel & Places
Places, makers, and journeys worth the trip.
Gion Matsuri: Many Hands, Lasting Impressions
Follow the Gion Matsuri from Kyoto's night market to the float turns, and the…
Rebecca Menasché
The Living Art of Bonsai
Why bonsai are landscapes rather than miniatures, and what century-old trees at Seikou-en teach…
Michael Pronko
Life in a Kamakura Kominka with Two Gallery Owners
Inside a Kamakura kominka where French vintage furniture meets Japanese ceramics in everyday life.
Okano MakamiLooking for something practical?
Care, how to choose, and the meaning of craft terms live in the Library — our quiet reference room for everything beyond the stories.
Visit the LibraryStay close to the craft
Now and then, a quiet letter — new stories, seasonal notes, and the hands behind the work.