Journal — Stories from the world of Japanese craft — makers, beauty, seasons, and the table.
Living & Seasonal
Noh and Kabuki: A Look into Traditional Japanese Performing Arts
Learn about Noh and Kabuki, Japan's traditional performing arts, with our guide on origins,…
What Is Ochugen? All about Japan’s Summer Gift Giving
Learn about ochugen, the Japanese tradition of midyear gift-giving. Explore its history, timing, and…
Real Wasabi Wonders: Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Sushi and Soba Essential
Discover the secrets of real wasabi and learn about its rich history, unique cultivation,…
Ito Ryo
Sunlit Geshi: Observing Japan's Summer Solstice
Learn about Geshi, the Japanese summer solstice, celebrated with rich cultural traditions and unique…
Tatami Change
Explore the history and cultural significance of tatami mats, and how they help maintain…
Michael Pronko
Voyages of Prosperity: The Kitamaebune Unveiled
Learn about kitamaebune, Edo-period merchant ships that sailed Japan's seas and inspired master artisan…
Japanese Wedding Traditions and Customs: 5 Unfamiliar and Unique Practices
Discover five unique traditional Japanese wedding customs, from marriage certificates to symbolic yomeiri-dogu, and…
Do You Really Know Japanese Wagyu Beef?
Explore the unique flavors, meticulous rearing, and rich history of wagyu, or Japanese beef,…
A Bite of Spring: The Journey through Japanese Sakura Desserts
Discover the flavors of Japan's cherry blossom season with delectable wagashi desserts like sakura…
The Shogun's Table — What Did Ieyasu Eat?
Discover the unique meals of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan's iconic Edo period leader and inspiration…
Mikan, Yuzu, and Beyond: Japan's Citrus Splendors
We explore the history and culture of Japan's citrus landscape, from yuzu and mikan…
A Sweet Journey into Matcha Treats
Discover matcha's sweet side with traditional and modern Japanese confections.
10 Cherry-picked Facts to Wow Your Blossom Buddies
Dazzle your friends with your cherry blossom knowledge with these 10 facts about sakura.
Meet Konamon, the Japanese Take on Flour-Based Foods
Get a taste of a delicious genre of Japanese cuisine, konamon, which includes okonomiyaki,…
Cracking Open the Wonderful World of Japan’s Tamago Cuisine
From sushi spot classic tamagoyaki to the world-famous tamago kake gohan (TKG), learn the…
Exploring the Subtle Depths: The Art of Yugen in Japanese Culture
Discover Yugen, a value ingrained in Japanese culture and arts celebrating the subtle beauty…
From Daikon Delight to Gobo Glam: Celebrating Japan's Beloved Veggies
Dive into the world of Japanese vegetables, and discover how they enrich Japanese cuisine…
Not Just Nigiri: Japanese Sushi Styles and Their Stories
Explore Japan’s sushi beyond nigiri with this friendly guide to the styles, history, and…
Celebrating Toji: The Winter Solstice in Japanese Culture
As the end of the year approaches and the evenings grow dark earlier, we…
Embracing Autumn with The Choyo-no-Sekku: The Beauty of the Chrysanthemum Festival
In this article, we will introduce you to "Choyo-no-Sekku," a festival that beautifully showcases…
5 Must-Try Japanese Seasonings to Elevate Your Cooking
Discover five essential Japanese seasonings and learn how to use them to elevate everyday…
Design and Delight: Personalizing Your Daruma Doll
If you have ever chanced upon a cheery and chubby round doll colored in…
The Magic of Miso
Discover the history, types, and making of Japanese miso, and why it is cherished…
Umehara Haruka
Kakigori at Home: How Team Musubi Makes Shaved Ice
“Kakigori,” Japanese-style shaved ice, has been a standard summer treat that people will wait…