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Tea, pottery, crafts & the stories behind them.

What Is Matcha? The Story Behind Japan's Emerald Tea Powder
Featured · Matcha

What Is Matcha? The Story Behind Japan's Emerald Tea Powder

Discover what matcha is, its origins in Zen Buddhism, how it's made from shade-grown tea leaves, and why this vibrant green powder matters in Japanese culture.…

3 min read
Which Japanese craft is your soul mate?
Six quick questions to discover the Japanese aesthetic that fits you — and a reading list and pieces chosen just for you.
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What Is Wabi Sabi? A Beginner's Guide to the Japanese Beauty of Imperfection
Zen Culture

What Is Wabi Sabi? A Beginner's Guide to the Japanese Beauty of Imperfection

3 min read
What Is Kintsugi? The Japanese Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold
Japanese Crafts

What Is Kintsugi? The Japanese Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold

3 min read
What Is Sencha? Understanding Japan's Everyday Green Tea
Tea Culture

What Is Sencha? Understanding Japan's Everyday Green Tea

2 min read
Why Japanese Chopsticks Are Pointed: The Design Behind the Tip
Chopsticks

Why Japanese Chopsticks Are Pointed: The Design Behind the Tip

2 min read
What Is Edo Kiriko? A Beginner's Guide to Japan's Hand-Cut Glass
Japanese Glassware

What Is Edo Kiriko? A Beginner's Guide to Japan's Hand-Cut Glass

3 min read
What Is Furoshiki? The Art of Japanese Fabric Wrapping
Japanese Crafts

What Is Furoshiki? The Art of Japanese Fabric Wrapping

3 min read

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Japanese CraftsTea CultureJapanese PotteryMatchaJapanese TravelJapanese DiningJapanese LifestyleJapanese EtiquetteJapanese SeasonsJapanese Food CultureZen CultureJapanese FestivalsJapanese GlasswareJapanese GiftsTraditional ArchitectureChopsticksJapanese ArtJapanese HistorySamurai CultureJapanese Design
Inami Woodcarving: Toyama's Town of Carvers
Japanese Crafts

Inami Woodcarving: Toyama's Town of Carvers

3 min read
Sekishu Washi: Shimane's Thousand-Year Paper
Japanese Crafts

Sekishu Washi: Shimane's Thousand-Year Paper

3 min read
Tokyo Silver: The Edo Silversmith's Craft
Japanese Crafts

Tokyo Silver: The Edo Silversmith's Craft

3 min read
Kiso Lacquer: Nagano's Nakasendo Lacquerware
Japanese Crafts

Kiso Lacquer: Nagano's Nakasendo Lacquerware

3 min read
Ojiya Chijimi: Niigata's Crinkled Ramie Summer Cloth
Japanese Crafts

Ojiya Chijimi: Niigata's Crinkled Ramie Summer Cloth

3 min read
Hakata Ori: Fukuoka's Firm Silk Obi Weave
Japanese Crafts

Hakata Ori: Fukuoka's Firm Silk Obi Weave

3 min read
Ryukyu Glass: Okinawa's Bubbled Recycled Glass
Japanese Crafts

Ryukyu Glass: Okinawa's Bubbled Recycled Glass

3 min read
Satsuma Ware: Kagoshima's White and Black Ceramics
Japanese Crafts

Satsuma Ware: Kagoshima's White and Black Ceramics

3 min read
Tamba Ware: Hyogo's Six-Ancient-Kiln Stoneware
Japanese Crafts

Tamba Ware: Hyogo's Six-Ancient-Kiln Stoneware

3 min read
Echizen Ware: Fukui's Ancient Kiln of Everyday Stoneware
Japanese Crafts

Echizen Ware: Fukui's Ancient Kiln of Everyday Stoneware

3 min read
Koshu Inden: The Art of Lacquered Deerskin from Yamanashi
Japanese Crafts

Koshu Inden: The Art of Lacquered Deerskin from Yamanashi

3 min read
Suruga Bambooware: The Art of Round-Rod Bamboo Craft from Shizuoka
Japanese Crafts

Suruga Bambooware: The Art of Round-Rod Bamboo Craft from Shizuoka

3 min read
Beppu Bamboo: The Art of Japan's Finest Woven Craft
Japanese Crafts

Beppu Bamboo: The Art of Japan's Finest Woven Craft

3 min read
Nara Sumi: The Ancient Art of Japanese Ink Making
Japanese Crafts

Nara Sumi: The Ancient Art of Japanese Ink Making

3 min read
Ogatsu Suzuri: The Revered Slate Inkstones of Miyagi
Japanese Crafts

Ogatsu Suzuri: The Revered Slate Inkstones of Miyagi

3 min read
Kumano Brushes: Inside Hiroshima's Town of Fude Masters
Japanese Crafts

Kumano Brushes: Inside Hiroshima's Town of Fude Masters

3 min read
Marugame Uchiwa: Inside Japan's Round Fan Capital and Its 300-Year Craft
Japanese Crafts

Marugame Uchiwa: Inside Japan's Round Fan Capital and Its 300-Year Craft

3 min read
Kyoto Folding Fans: A Thousand Years of Sensu Craftsmanship
Japanese Crafts

Kyoto Folding Fans: A Thousand Years of Sensu Craftsmanship

3 min read
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