Hagi ware is pottery made in Hagi area in [W:Yamaguchi Prefecture]. View Larger Map In 1604, Mori Terumoto, a Japanese feudal lord, brought two Goryeo artists to Japan from the…

“Kitsuke” means putting on kimono properly in Japanese. It is very sophisticated; even in Japan, not so many people can kitsuke by themselves. Most of those who know kitsuke went…

Kyo ware is made in Higashiyama area in Kyoto. It started about 1590’s, developed with the popularity of tea ceremony. Formerly, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan; therefore, first-class…

  Iga ware is pottery and stoneware made in Iga area in [W:Mie Prefecture]. View Larger Map   Iga ware is one of the “Nihon Rokkoyou” (The Six Japanese Traditional…

  This is sequel to “Japanese Unique Toilets Exhibition — Part 1.” If you haven’t read part 1, please read it first!! <The History of Japanese Toilets> 6.  Meiji period…

Tsukimi is the Japanese custom of moon viewing held in mid-autumn. Although the ancient Japan had the custom to appreciate the moon, tsukimi style moon viewing didn’t start until the…

This is a Japanese traditional hand-held [W:fan (implement)], “Sensu”. Sensu is a folding fan made of paper.   Made in JAPAN!   This is JAPAN Style!   You should follow…

Japanese gardens are designed to be enjoyed in every season; even in heavy snows. The layouts of Japanese gardens are not allowed to be geometric patterns, and it is very…

Today is the Autumn Equinox Day and it’s a national holiday in Japan! During both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox, Higan, Buddhist memorial services are held in Japan. This year,…

Rakugo is the traditional Japanese art form of comic storytelling. It has over 300 years of history. To make it easier to imagine what it is, I would say it’s…

[W:Daruma] are red and round Japanese wish dolls with no arms or legs. The model of daruma doll is a Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, who is the founder and first patriarch…