A Japanese Lifestyle for Every Culture

Shabu Shabu

2011-12-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

Shabu shabu has been one of the well know Japanese cuisines in the US.
My most favorite type of shabu shabu is Agu buta or Agu pork from Okinawa.
They really melt on your tongue.
Yes, they are fatty :) Mmmmm.

Winter in Tokyo is not my favorite,
especially when you have to wear heels in wind gusts.
However, the food is amazing there in the winter.
That really helps me tolerate the wind!

Tea Bowl

2011-08-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Having matcha or green tea in a tea bowl is very special.
I just feel like being an authentic Japanese person (which I am).

Sometimes it is hard to realize what cultural background I have while spending everyday wearing jeans and a camisole under the sunny sky.

Among the tea bowls I have seen so far, my favorite tea bowl is the ones with black glaze.
The vivid green of matcha truly stands out in dark surface. Very pretty.

I just need to be careful not to have it at night so that I have to stay awake for no reasons...

Photo:
Yuteki Tenmoku Matchawan by Taku Nonaka
http://www.japanpotterynet.com/en/products/detail.php?product_id=1226

Gourd

2011-06-21T22:42:00.000-07:00

I love the shape of gourds!
They are just funny looking plants, aren't they?
I really wish I could see them growing wild.
They must look funny!!!

Here is a gourd shaped vase by Shoun Fujii from Arita.
His works are very colorful and happy.
Especially when it comes in vivid yellow!

Click here to see more info about this happy art work.

Lacquered !?

2011-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

I believe everyone loves art and it just blows your mind off when you see an amazing piece.
It is almost overwhelming how artists create something out of their imagination.

Here is my favorite ceramic artist from Japan.
Akira Yamada.
He somehow found a way to make ceramic work look lacquered. (The red and black)
This just looks like a lacquered wooden bowl but it is really made out of clay !!!
How amazing.

Just imagine serving your homemade food in this bowl.
How luxurious.

Here is the link to see more works of his.
http://www.japanpotterynet.com/en/products/list.php?category_id=94

Japan Pottery Net

2011-06-02T23:06:00.001-07:00

I would like to introduce a great selection of pottery from Japan!

Now when you go to our website, you can directly visit Japan Pottery Net.

We have first ranked ceramic artists from Japan.

Enjoy the beauty of craftsmanship.

Thank you always for your support!

www.casanooah.com

Half Year

2011-05-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

This year has been going really busy and fast !!!
That is a great thing :)

It is not that I have forgotten to update this blog.
It just did not happen...

Oh, I feel bad.

We are currently working on a new project and I will be able to introduce you very soon !!!

By the way, I was showing how I make ginger tea to my in-laws the other day and they loved it.
It is very easy.
You just need a ginger root. Peel a small piece and slice them. Leave them in a teapot with tea leaves.
That's it !!!
You will feel your finger tips and toes warm :D

Great way to keep your body warm in air conditioned room !

Happy 2011 !!!

2011-01-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

How was your winter holiday?
I am sure everyone had a great warm winter vacation.

In Japan the first seven days of January are traditionally New Year Holidays when I was a child.
Now it is the first three days.
It used to be from New Year Day to January 20th.
Our life is apparently getting busier and faster and I hope it is a good thing.

No matter how rapidly our life style changes, the Japanese New Year cuisine called osechi has not changed much.
I just love looking at them how pretty they are decorated.
Of course it is very delicious and healthy as well.

Wishing you a very wonderful coming year!!!

Autumn Leaves

2010-10-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

It must be so pretty everywhere in Japan right now.
Trees are turning color.
Ginkgo trees are sunshine yellow and Japanese maple trees are burning red.
It is just picture perfect.
I wonder if it turns out yellow and red when you take a satellite photo of Japan.

Matsutake

2010-10-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

I love mushroom dishes especially the ones in Japanese cuisine.
You can find enoki, shitake, shimeji or maitake mushrooms at American markets now these days, but not matsutake.
This mushroom called matsutake has an amazing aroma and just triggers your appetite.
I saw some at Japanese and Korean super markets in LA. Maybe I should try them soon!

Sweet potatoes

2010-09-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

It will be a perfect time to eat sweet potatoes soon in Japan :D
There are many different type of sweet potato dishes, my favorite one is called "sweet potato"......!

It is a sweet that is made out of sweet potatoes. Basically it is mashed sweet potatoes mixed with sugar, milk, butter, cinnamon or vanilla that is formed in oval in most cases with yolk brushed over and baked.
We call sweet potatoes satsuma imo in Japanese and the sweet potato sweets "sweet potato."

It sounds more like "sui - to po te to" (sue e eat oh poe te toe)

Convenient Stores

2010-08-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

I miss conbini or convenience (convenient) stores in Japan.
They have literally everything you need.
If you forget something, you just need to go to one of conbinis.
You can find anything you need.
They have anything from food to underwear.
It could be your office.
You can buy post stamps.
You can make photo copies and send faxes.
It could be your kitchen.
They heat up your bento box.
They have both hot and cold canned drinks.
They are just so convenient!!!
Yes there is Famima in LA, but it's just different...

Hanabi

2010-08-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

There are so many festivals in Japan during the summer!

I love going there in my yukata, which is a summer kimono!

My favorite ones are firework festivals. Japanese fire works come in many colors and they are huge in the sky.

They are usually held by the rivers and the reflection on water is amazing.

Would it be great to have a ice cold beer or sake watching fire works outside with your friends?

Red Beans

2010-07-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Japanese people love sweetened red beans. They go well with anything!

You can wrap it with a rice cake or wrap rice cakes with it ;) It tastes amazing with ice cream, especially the green tea flavor. An-pan or red bean filled bread is also popular.

It is not only sweet but it is really healthy too. People say that they have lots of vitamin B1. That helps to reduce fatigue, stiff shoulders, muscle ache, etc.

I am sure eating too much would not help so much...but it is good to know that at least it is some way healthy!

Print Club

2010-07-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

The photo booth called Print Club in Japan is getting more and more popular.
I used to take photos with my friends and brothers all the time.

Recently the photo booth machine offered "a beautiful skin."
Your face looks really smooth and shiny on the photos.
That is amazing. I look completely different!
I mean I look how I want my skin to look like in the reality.

Now they have one that makes your eyes bigger!!!
I have never tried this one before, but that is almost like getting plastic surgery virtually.
You will not be able to tell who they are anymore.
I wonder if people use them for driver's license or passport...

Rice Fields

2010-07-11T00:32:00.000-07:00

This time of year in Japan, the rice fields get really green and pretty.
I have never seen one in the States, but they must have an amazing scenery as well.
When I visited Bali Island, there were rice fields on mountain slopes and they looked like an art work.
It is always good to eat rice and also wonderful to look at when they grow.
How amazing rice is!
I just love the huge green fields that go on forever like the ocean.

Wet Towel

2010-07-06T23:35:00.000-07:00

When you go to restaurants in Japan, the first thing you receive there is the wet towel. It is for cleaning the hands before the meal. They are either warm or cold. This custom is getting known world wide now.

One day I was at a Japanese restaurant and saw this one father telling his family that Japanese people clean their faces with the towel. The family was all rubbing their faces...

Now I remember that the culture is learned, integrated and evolved according to anthropology.

Vending Machines

2010-07-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

There are many vending machines everywhere in Japan. I used to buy canned coffee and juice from it all the time.
The vending machines talk too. They say, "irasshaimase" or "welcome" when you put money and "arigatogozaimashita" or "thank you very much" when you pick a drink.
Mostly they are for soft drinks, but there are vending machines that sell other items.

Here is a photo of a cigarette vending machine.

This one sells alcohol. You can see Asahi and Kirin.

I could not find photos of the others, but I have seen ones with ice cream, rice, magazines, and other products. It is convenient that you don't need to be in a line at a store.

Cell Phones

2010-07-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

Most of us in the States cannot live without our cell phones now days.
The same is definitely true in Japan.
The only difference is that people absolutely love decorating their phones there.
I have some cell phones with decorations here in the US but the ones in Japan are way busier!
A lot of Japanese girls love their cell phones to have rhinestones and flowers. There are shops where they specialize in decorating cell phones.

Some people have too much decoration and the cell phone itself looks smaller.

I guess you can never lose your cell phone this way then ;)

Beer!

2010-06-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

It's getting hotter every day and I feel like having beer as everyone else does.

It is really popular to have beer in a ceramic cup or mug in Japan.

The bubbles from the beer froth get really tiny and very creamy once it's poured in.

I recommend to use unglazed cups!

Amazing Soy Beans

2010-06-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Soy beans are amazing when I think about it.

It tastes so good when you boil them and sprinkle some salt.

You can mix edamame beans with steamed rice and saturate it with soy sauce.

Soy sauce is made out of soy beans.

Miso paste is made out of soy beans.

Tofu is made out of soy beans.

Soy milk is made out of soy beans.

Natto is made out of soy beans.

Wow!

From one kind of plant, you can enjoy a lot of different flavors.

Luffa

2010-06-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

Dishcloth gourd, sponge cucumber or luffa is a very common plant in Japan.

They are very strong and can grow anywhere.

You probably have seen a dried one as a body wash sponge.

In Japan, we plant them in elementary school and make the sponges.

We also make facial lotion and it soothes your skin.

Lately in Tokyo, people use them to create a curtain over the windows to make shades, this way they can save energy and cost. What a great idea they've got!

I would love to try that one day when I have a house.

Medicine

2010-06-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

My friend seems he is catching a cold. He sounds like he is losing his voice.
Some people know tea with ginger is good for your throat.
What do you do when you feel like you are getting sick?

In Japan, we drink tamago-zake.

Basically it is sake mixed with a raw egg.

It has to be a very fresh egg, of course. The eggs in Japan are freshly laid and people eat them raw all the time.

Here is a recipe. If you ever go visit Japan, you can try this.

1) Warm sake.

2) Put row egg and sugar in a bowl and mix them well.

3) Strain it to make it smooth.

4) Pour sake into egg little by little as stirring it.

5) You can add little ginger or use honey instead of sugar.

What is that?

2010-06-24T22:49:00.001-07:00

A lot of people have asked me what they are.

The white looking threads on sushi or sashimi plate.

Some people even asked me if they are edible.

It's called tsuma. They are made out of daikon or Japanese radish.

In Japan, tsuma could be seaweed.

They are edible and good for you. They are used to decorate the plate, but also the radish and seaweed decrease the smell of raw fish and kill the germs!

Sake

2010-06-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

Sake is popular here in California.
You find it at any sushi restaurants.

I of course love drinking it, but also love taking a bath in it.
You do not use a whole bottle of sake in the tub.
You can put a half cup of sake and it makes your skin so smooth.
It's best to get the ones with no additives.
It really changes your skin!
Don't worry you won't get drunk bathing in it :)

Tofu Ice Cream

2010-06-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

It is getting hot every day and we crave for ice cream :)

I crave for this one ice cream from Kyoto.

When I visited Kyoto, I ran into an amazing tofu ice cream.

I had had tofu ice cream many times and even made one before, but this one was exquisite!

The texture was really smooth and creamy, but light.

You don't feel like you are eating a lot of fat. You feel healthy.

I wish I could obtain the recipe. I would open a store in an instant!

The most unique part of the ice cream is that it does not fall when you put it upside down!!!

How does that work?

I just don't know.

The guy who invented this said it was a secret recipe...

Here's the photo I took of the ice cream I ordered and Tofu ice cream man.

Hydrangia

2010-06-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

June is a rainy season in Japan.

It is humid and your feet get soaked wet.

The public transportation gets muggy inside.

The smell of cigarettes becomes stronger in restaurants and cafes.

The only thing makes me smile is hydrangea flowers.

They bloom fully in blue, pink, and purple.

Especially in concrete jungle, they give a peaceful colorful moment.

Randoseru

2010-04-05T00:20:00.000-07:00

April is the beginning of the new school year in Japan.

Almost every elementary school child wears a backpack called a randoseru. (According to Wikipedia, it is a Dutch word meaning backpack evolved into Japanese.)

It is really cute that little children who go to school for the first time are so excited walking with the randoseru on their back. It is so big, they have a hard time balancing it. I thought it was a cute and funny tradition we have in Japan.

Sakura

2010-03-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

It is the best season now for viewing sakura or cherry blossoms in Japan.

Exactly 2 years ago my family and I went back to Japan to take a trip with my grandmother.

We visited this city in south where she first met my grandfather before they got married.

I clearly remember how beautiful cherry blossoms were blooming everywhere in Japan two years ago.

Last Saturday in Japan time, my grandmother passed away.

It just happened all of sudden.

Nobody expected this would happen this early.

I am shocked and still struggling to comprehend that she is gone.

At the same time, I strongly feel that she is in a better place.

Her funeral is surrounded by full of sakura blossoms.

Here is my favorite poetry from Hojoki which is written in Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333) that I want to share.

Though the river's current never fails, the water passing, moment by moment, is never the same. Where the current pools, bubbles form on the surface, bursting and disappearing as others rise to replace them, none lasting long. In this world, people and their dwelling places are like that, always changing.

Hot Bath

2010-03-04T19:38:00.001-08:00

There are many traditional Japanese things I have not tried but want to try.

One of them is called Goemon-buro. This is a bath tub where people take baths outside in the yard.

It is a special bath tub made out of cast iron. Water is warmed by direct flame with firewood. The tub of course gets really hot so you need to use a wood board. You balance yourself by standing on the board cutout. As you stand on it, you will start to sink down to the bottom. You don't want to fall over.

How nerve racking is that? You cannot even close your eyes to relax! That was what I was thinking while taking a hot bath with my eyes closed...

As a side note, Goemon (as pictured above) is a legendary bandit hero who stole gold and valuables and gave them to the poor, but I still have yet to research how they relate.

Kabuki Wood Block Print

2010-02-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

I was reading this book about kabuki and all of sudden it made me feel like collecting wood block prints.

The more I learn about kabuki, the more I want to go a theatre and actually see one.

I have been to kabuki theatre when I used to live in Japan, but back then I had no knowledge about it and was just enjoying the unique movements, beautiful kimono, and my lunch.

Now that I am in the US, I started appreciating what my home country offers.

I thought it would be nice to have some little Japanese flavor here at home.

Snowy Dream

2010-02-17T23:09:00.000-08:00

I heard that it was snowing in Tokyo a few days ago.

It usually snows everywhere in Japan in February.

Especially in northern parts of Japan.

As a small child, I always dreamed to play in kamakura, a snow igloo.

I read and heard about it that people in north make them and have a little party inside.

I looked at photos of these snow huts with warm light inside.

I still have not experienced it.

Maybe I should try it when I visit someone in East Coast.

Mask

2010-02-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

I was at a supermarket and saw a few people coughing.

In Japan, we wear a mask when it's really dry or you feel like you are catching cold.

I think it is because it is more condensed with population and people are so close to each other everywhere.

We not only try to avoid getting sick, but try not to spread the virus you have.

It is a courtesy and that is something everyone does there.

My mother of course was wearing one when she felt sick.

That was just a few weeks after we just moved here.

Yes, she was wearing it in California.

People were staring at her as if she was doing something weird.

She was wondering for a while why people were looking at her strangely.

Plum

2010-02-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

In Japan, Plum trees start blooming at the beginning of February.

They decorate the cold sky with reddish pink and white flowers.

I always feel that spring is near us...

My friend from Japan has arrived here to study last week and I visited her.

She gave a piece of dried umeboshi, sour plum, to chew on while driving.

As soon as I tasted the sweet and sour juice in my mouth, I remembered the flowers of plume blooming this season.

It was a nice sense of memory I had.

Miso

2010-01-28T20:52:00.001-08:00

What do you usually eat when you crave a light snack?

Is it a sandwich? Crackers? Or sweets?

I have mentioned that I crave for sweets in my last blog.

Now I'd like to talk about miso, fermented soy bean paste.

Many of you have tried miso soup at local Japanese restaurants or even Yoshinoya if you happen to live in southern California.

When I get a little hungry, but don't crave for sweets, I make miso onigiri, rice ball.

To make it, you simply place some steamed rice on your wet hands and cup them to make it into triangle or ball shape and put some miso paste all around it.

It has less calorie than eating chocolate or cookies and tastes just great.

(Be careful putting too much paste)

I love foods so much! I guess I cannot stop talking about food...

Sweet Craving

2010-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

I love sweets. I love any type of sweets.

Sometimes I crave for certain sweets.

Chocolate, tiramisu, cheesecake, caramel, ice cream...etc. etc.

Sometimes I crave for anko, sweetened red beans.

You probably have tried red bean ice cream at a Japanese restaurant or from Trader Joe's.

What I crave for is a type of mochi called Akafuku, rice cake covered with anko from Ise City in Japan.

They have a little cafe in Ise by Ise Jingu, Ise Grand Shrine, in Mie prefecture.

Not only does this taste amazing, this traditional Japanese architecture offers a great experience.

You can watch ladies making this with their hands over the glass.

They sit on their knees the whole time while they are making it.

Of course, freshly made mochi tastes just amazing!

Rainy Days

2010-01-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

It's been raining and hailing everyday in Southern California this week.

This thunder storm reminds me of typhoons in Japan.

I used to walk in heels with an umbrella in Tokyo and get soaking wet.

Umbrellas get blown upside down and ripped by the wind.

Basically you just hold on to a skinny pole as if it covers you from water.

Now I am here struggling with driving on a windy freeway.

Even people have a hard time in a huge metal vehicles with this storm.

I wonder how people used to deal with typhoons in Japan a long time ago.

They only had umbrella made with paper and bamboo with natural oils...

Yuzu

2010-01-19T23:30:00.001-08:00

I love this fruit called yuzu. As you see it in the photo, it is a kind of citrus you can get in winter.

The aroma of it is really soothing and just a tiny peel makes the food different.

My mother makes hot udon with a few yuzu peels sprinkled over when we get sick.

It is just so cozy to get sick at home with your mom cooking.

I don't like to be sick, but I like to get this special treatment.

Actually even you are really sick and don't feel like eating, this yuzu aroma udon makes your body warm and you feel much better right away.

Well, you do not need to be sick to enjoy this fruit.

You can sprinkle tiny peels over salad or even steak if you like the citrusy flavor.

Coming of Age Day

2010-01-15T10:28:00.000-08:00

January 15 used to be Seijin no Hi, Coming of Age Day, in Japan. It is a Japanese Holiday now held annually on the second Monday of January to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year. Yes, it is a huge event there and you get to see your old friends from elementary, intermediate, and high schools. People dress up especially girls in a kimono, it is amazing!

I always wanted to wear this special kimono, furisode, for this event. Of course I was in the US back then and did not go back there for this event. Well, I thought I was becoming a majority at the age of 21 since I lived here. Yes, I completely forgot about this event until it was over then...

When my family went back there on vacation one time, my aunt put me in her daughter's frisode. I felt happy and awkward at the same time. It was not Seijin no Hi, I was older, and nobody in my family could tie the obi, belt, for this kimono right... I had to walk very slowly so that the obi dose not fall. We took some photos outside of the house and went back inside the house.

I am going to take some photos in the kimono when I go there next time, maybe in Kyoto!

Japanese Notes

2010-01-12T00:33:00.001-08:00

Japanese paintings look really sad to me and I realized that most of the Japanese music sound really sad to me too.

Anything from the lullaby to traditional Noh songs, everything sounds minor.

Yet, I did not know why they all sound sad or minor.

Finally all these years wonder is answered by my husband!

In Japan, we had a different scale called Pentatonic Scale which has 5 notes.

Apparently the normal scale we now listen to has 7 notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.

My husband showed me how it sounds like by playing the piano, D, E, G, A, B.

OH MY GOSH! Yes, it does sound like the Japanese songs.

We just did not have certain notes in the score!

Japanese Colors

2010-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

When I used to live in Japan as a child, I was not very into Japanese art at all.

I was attracted to more of Western paintings like Georges Seurat or Alphonse Mucha.

They seemed more cheerful to me.

On the contrary, the Japanese colors made me sad and down.

Apparently, it just looked exactly like where I lived.

Nothing about the paintings were exciting to me at the time.

Now I live in this sunny warm Southern California and finally see the beauty of the colors.

I am thankful that I now appreciate every type of art!

Addiction of Raw Fish

2010-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Sushi is now a world wide well known cuisine.
When I first met my husband, he had never had sushi.
Well, he chose not to eat them because he was afraid of getting sick from eating something raw.
I kept telling him he was missing out a lot and I don't know anyone who got sick from it.
So he finally gave up and had a bite of raw salmon.
That was it.
Ever since then, he cannot wait to go eat out at sushi restaurants.
You live once, and might as well, try it for once.
Now I cannot wait to take him to Japan and eat sushi there :)

Cooking

2010-01-03T23:22:00.000-08:00

Just wondering how many ways there are to cook food.

In Japanese cooking, we eat food raw, grilled, broiled, baked, fried, steamed, boiled, cooked in soup, dried, smoked, and fermented...

I think we cover pretty much every way of preparing food.

People used to be so experimental!

Photo
"Japanese Cooking" available at Casanooah

O-toso

2010-01-03T01:50:00.000-08:00

Its called o-toso, I was a little child but I do not remember exactly when I first had it.

In Japan, it is just a traditional thing to have o-toso, a cup or sip of sake on New Year Day.

I did not know what it meant or anything, but I was looking forward to it every year even though I did not like the taste of it.

Well, I still do not know what o-toso is, but luckily we can look it up in Wikipedia. Hehehe.

Here it goes.

Toso is drunk to flush away the previous year's maladies and to aspire to lead a long life. For generations it has been said that "if one person drinks this his family will not fall ill; if the whole family does no-one in the village will fall ill", and has been a staple part of New Year's osechi cuisine in Japan.

Oh, nice!

Now we probably had good enough amount for a whole world this year to avoid swine flue!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu. (Happy New Year!)

It has been a while since I have updated the blog last time.

Sure enough, it is already 2010!

Every year, how come it seems busier at the end of year?

I got married last October and yes it was fun but it was hectic.

Thanksgiving and Christmas followed right after and we had many family events.

Now it is already the New Year!

My husband and I went to my parents' for Gantan, New Year Day, to celebrate Oshogatsu, New Year Holiday.

My mother still cooks great traditional Japanese Osechi, Oshogatsu cooking, even though we have been here in America for almost 20 years.

I hope you had a great holiday and will continue to have a wonderful year in 2010!

Please come visit me here and this year, I will update more often!

Happy New Year!

Sweet Aroma

2009-09-18T14:21:00.001-07:00

Now we have new incense for our shop!

They give the room a warm sweet aroma that makes me feel calm.

We have 5 different aromas for short stick incense.

Wisteria, Balloon Flower, Cherry Blossom, Plum Flower, and Japanese Red Maple Leaves!

We have everything you need for a relaxing weekend now :)

Books, teas, handmade ceramic cup and plate, and incense.

What else do you need for a perfect peaceful Sunday?

Photos for online shop

2009-09-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

We are taking photos of each product for our online shop.

They came out pretty nice.

Our masterpieces from Japan really make me feel peaceful and we just cannot wait until the online store is ready to share with you some more of the photos.

This is one of the biggest pieces we have and just an amazing art work.

You can imagine lots of different sceneries from looking at it.

It's fascinating that the artist gets these patterns naturally just by ashes in kiln!

A craft that he has been perfecting for many years.

This piece is actually a lampshade with carved sakura, cherry blossom flowers.

It really reminds me of the night in early spring in Japan.

Our Showroom

2009-09-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

We have decided to close our showroom in Newport Beach at the end of this month.

Casanooah will open an online shop sometime in October and be attending various events and festivals with our products.

Of course, we keep our blog updated!

Please stop by here or our website for up coming news!

We hope to see you soon!

Stone Ornaments

2009-08-11T21:25:00.001-07:00

Our garden stone ornaments are very old.

Most of them are older than the United States!

They are hand carved and used to be at samurai houses and castles.

I know they are not cheap for a piece of stone, but a wonderful history comes with them.

It is so much fun to picture people in a kimono washing their hands out of these water basins.

It is so pretty when all those lanterns are lit with candles inside!

It is true, historical objects do tell a story.

Photography by Emet Martinez

A Tsubo

2009-07-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

One of our ceramic works was featured in a Japanese magazine last year before it arrived to our store here.

It is made by Tochi Nakano, the 4th generation of potter in Karatsu City, Saga.

This yakishime vase compliments mixture of branches and flowers.

16" height 18"

diameteryakishime = After a piece is formed out of clay, it is fired "as is" without the addition of glaze.

Chopstick Workshop

2009-07-26T11:43:00.001-07:00

In Japan, we use chopsticks everyday.

(Some people eat spaghetti with them too! I can't since it's too slippery.)

But not so many people have made their own chopsticks.

Our chopstick workshop started at 10 am.

People first choose the wood they liked by sight without actually knowing what type of woods they are.

Saburo, the instructor, brought about 20 different kinds.

Each looks, smells, and feels so different from one another.

Everyone picked what he/she liked at the first impression and started carving.

It was a quiet peaceful moment when everyone was concentrating on their work.

The picture above was provided by Arcy, one of the participants.

Glassware

2009-07-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty hot recently and I really like it! Every day is a perfect day for the beach.

What does hot weather make you crave for?

It makes me want to drink iced tea or juice in nice glassware.

I thought it would be nice to carry some these glassware for summer.

In the photo, shown are some of the handmade blown glass.

It is definitely fun to use different types of tableware for each season :)

Origami

2009-07-09T21:58:00.001-07:00

In Japan, almost everyone can make origami cranes. All Japanese kids learn how to do it.

I don't remember exactly when I first learned it. I just instantly remember how I go about once I start folding a square piece of paper.

It is said that your dreams will come true if you fold 1,000 cranes.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki memorial parks are filled with those cranes to hope for world peace. People also make cranes as a get-well gift for the seriously ill.

I'm sure there is something like this in other countries as well.

Let me know what people do in other cultures and countries!

Yo's wood carving

2009-07-08T22:14:00.001-07:00

I was thinking about how amazing wood is.

The aroma of it soothes your stress away.

Yo and I met a few months ago through another artist.

He showed me some of his carvings then and told me how he started getting into his art.

Yo has a really soft mild voice when he talks just like a gentle breeze going through woods.

This is my favorite piece of his, in the picture above.

You can sit or lay on them and it gives you a nice sensation.

I tried it and it just feels so good.

Each ball massages pressure points gently.

I hope to be able to make something as beautiful as this one day!

Summer Green

2009-07-03T20:40:00.001-07:00

Isn't it so relaxing to look at fresh green leaves?

I am so lucky to work in such a great environment.

We have different kinds of plants and trees in the Japanese garden behind the shop.

Ivy vines are covering the walls and they are so green now.

They are actually our neighbors' and wanted to immigrate to our place :)

How nice of them!

The family is growing. Baby leaves are everywhere.

It is just amazing what nature can give us.

Happy 4th, everyone!

Beauty in Nature Reception

2009-07-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

It was a really nice day last Saturday and the reception went really well.

My favorite of Emet's photos are the Koi series, especially the square ones you see in the photo above.

Each square is assembled by four square panels. You can separate those into a vertical or horizontal line or however you want.

It is a very traditional Asian motif, but very contemporary as well. I love the mixture!

Yo's wood carving workshop was held outside the shop.

He put a Japanese fisherman's ship flag on the ground for everyone to sit on.

I love those flags because of the vivid colors and the Japanese writing.

It is such a perfect idea to use it as a picnic sheet. I will get one when I go to Japan next time.

The exhibition is until August 29th!

We are looking forward to seeing you soon :)

Tatami Mats

2009-06-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

When I used to live in Japan we had a room with tatami mats in the house.

I did not think it was anything special because everyone had one.

Now that I am living in the states, I miss it. I miss laying around and smelling the dried tatami plant.

It reminds me of my grandparents' home.

It reminds me of the calligraphy class I used to take.

It reminds me of old Japanese life which I just know from films.

I just feel so calm when I'm on the mat.

It's like sunbathing in woods by a lake listening to birds singing.

Photo - Tearoom next to the shop

Bizen Tsubo

2009-06-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite tsubo. I'm in love with the color, shape, size, and texture.

This lovely piece would compliment any style of furnishing from traditional to modern.

I enjoy pretty things that will fit with any style so I don't get bored of it :)

Sukiyaki

2009-06-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

I did not like sukiyaki at all when I was a child. I just couldn't stand non desert food that tasted sweet. I thought cakes and chocolates should be sweet, but I could not understand meat, especially with rice...

People say that your taste buds change as you grow and for me it did. I actually like sukiyaki now. It's not my most favorite food, but I like it.

When I was in Matsuzaka, Japan I had some amazing sukiyaki. Matsuzaka is known for their great beef and how it really melts on your tongue. So I guess good sukiyaki has to do with the quality of beef.

A Bowl of Matcha

2009-06-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

Why is it so good?

I love my matcha time.

Tonight after we had sukiyaki for dinner, we had a bowl of matcha with a Japanese sweet.

I feel very Japanese.

It's a very indulging time.

I just don't really have high tolerance for caffeine...

I might have to stay awake late tonight...

Recommended in early in the day...

Photo - matcha in Raku Yaki bowl at the shop

Pottery Studio

2009-06-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is the pottery studio of Taketoshi Ito's in Mashiko City, Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. My uncle took this photo and I really like it.

It rains there a lot especially around this time. I did not like it at all when I used to live there. Your shoes would get soaked wet and they get worn out easily. You want to protect all the paper works from water so you put umbrella on your bag, but not on yourself. For some reason it smells like sewage in the city more in rainy day.

Now, I live in this nice dry weather and I really appreciate it, but sometimes I feel like walking in the rain. It makes all shiny. Trees and flowers look happier.

Well, you realize it when you lose it.

By the way, his works are amazing :)

Event and Food

2009-06-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Our featured event, Beauty in Nature, is coming up. I am so excited!!!

Every time we have an event, I cannot sleep deeply.

It's like being an elementary school kid going on a school trip. That's what we have in Japan every year in spring time.

I was always so excited for not only being away from school, but the lunch box my mom made and snacks. I did not like the bus ride so much though since I got sick easily.

Well, we are having my mom's homemade food at the reception. This is an authentic Japanese mom's recipe. We also are going to have something we did not have on school trip. We are making this special amazake. It is a traditional sweet Japanese alcohol made by sake rice, but we make it special.

I hope to see a lot people :)

First Blog!

2009-06-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I created this blog because I felt every culture might be interested in learning more about Japanese way of life.

To give you some background about me, I was born in Japan and moved to California when I was in high school. I had a chance to work on musicians touring Japan. I traveled all over the country there and encountered beautiful art, crafts, and foods. It was during this time that I decided that I wanted to share the Japanese lifestyle with the rest of the world. So then I got inspired to open up a shop in Newport Beach, California where we sell Japanese handmade ceramic works, garden ornaments, books, and teas.

I hope to meet many new friends and show you what I have learned from my experiences in Japan.