Blog

Japan is the country where craft is most highly appreciated. Throughout Japan, in every region, a culture of valuing traditional crafts can be found. In the last decade, there has been a new movement of craft culture in Japan. This new era of craft appreciation is reflected in people's growing interest in quality of life. ...

Read more

Imagine a potter who has loved the beauty of natural clay since his teenage years. This potter is named Katsufumi Baba. He trained in pottery in Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture and now makes ceramics in Kuruma, Kyushu. Traditional Shigaraki ware is characterized by its rough clay texture. Shigaraki ware is a prime example of Japanese aesthetics. Its...

Read more

When did Japanese people start using chopsticks? Although there are various opinions about the date, it appears that chopsticks came from China at least in the 7th century. “Waribashi,” splittable wood chopsticks, were first made during late Edo period, around 1800. Waribashi are wooden chopsticks which are made from a single piece...

Read more