GUIDES & STORIES
This archive brings together guides that explain how to choose Japanese-made products — such as “Japanese-made frying pans”, “domestic kitchen knives”, “baby tableware”, or plush toys — along with makers' stories and special features. Use it as a starting point when you want to carefully discover tools and daily essentials made in Japan.
A 1908 fishing treaty is why Japan grows olives. Shodoshima makes 90% of it, one estate has won in New York, and the label trap that catches buyers. Read More
About 14 min read
Japan imports 94% of its honey, so domestic is genuinely scarce. The native bee that cooks hornets, why acacia honey ... Read More
About 14 min read
NANGA repairs its bags forever, but down lasts 10-15 years. How their EN-format temperature ratings compare, the thre... Read More
About 14 min read
Nintendo has made hanafuda since 1889 and still does. The difference between hanafuda, karuta and Hyakunin Isshu, and... Read More
About 14 min read
Margiela's boot is named after a 15th-century sock. The three kinds of tabi, what kohaze clasps count for, and how to... Read More
About 13 min read
Ume is an apricot and umeshu is infused, not fermented. The Honkaku Umeshu label, why the base spirit decides everyth... Read More
About 14 min read
Five Japanese workshops make the randoseru worth queueing for, and two ship in English. 300 steps, the sekan mechanis... Read More
About 15 min read
A goshuin is hand-brushed proof that you worshipped — worship first, and never put a station stamp in the book. Paper... Read More
About 12 min read
A 2014 paparazzi photo turned a Japanese school bag into an overseas fashion item. What it costs, why it lasts six ye... Read More
About 13 min read
A kamidana without an ofuda is just a shelf, and ofuda are hard to get outside Japan. Placement rules, the cloud char... Read More
About 14 min read