Decorative Paper Ball: 久寿玉 (Kusudama)

Deecorative Paper Ball, "Kusu-Dama"

One of the seven essential "Sendai Tanabata" decoration is "吹き流し" (fukinagashi); Fukinagashi; is like a "streamers" you know might be. Its size are very big about several meters high, albeit you feel like that it is small by picture.

The one interesting point is;  this has the papar ball at the top of it.
"Paper ball" is that "Goro Mori" was first devised by. Two stuck together in a beautiful basket of paper flowers Kyoto in 1946. it is the start of decorative paper ball is decorated in round.

This decoration have the spiritual images to respect human life especially after 3.11.

Originally this is very big size; but we have smaller one. And some people use this as interior in the room and enjoy it.

If you are interested to buy this, please let us know. We can help that.
wahoo0311@gmail.com

Thank you,

Chopstick and Chopsticks rest: 箸と箸置き (Hashi to Hashi-Oki)

I went to Suntory Museum in Mid-Town Tower in Roppongi a few days ago.

http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/sma/

http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/

I found a cute Chopstick shop during window shopping

For daily use to high end ones.. Variety of Chop Sticks.

High end ones made by  famous craftsmen

the highest value one I could find was 75,600JPY. (800USD)

Centre one is decorated with Swarovski

This was given to Lady Gaga as souvenir during her tour in Japan

 

In addition to Hashi, there are so many pretty Hashi-Okis.

Umm... Ukiyoe ones are nice for souvenir

I really liked Cherry Blossom and Dango on Stick ones.

I bought these four for my family

cannot wait to enjoy meal with these items....

 

Come to Midtown Tower!

you can dine, shop and enjoy arts here!

http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/

PS: I found a cool iPhone jacket in the other store 

Very Wahoo!









Japanese Lantern: 提灯 (Chochin)

In a sense, "提" means "down to the hand" and "灯" is a "light", which means the light that can carry.

It was lit a candle carry a flashlight in the past. But, in recent years, use a sheet of plastic instead of "bamboo higo" (like a stick) and the paper, and then, a light bulb is used instead of a candle.

 At present, except during the festival, to be used this way in everyday life is

not, in festivals and events are often used as a billboard.

And then this is high fashion, so, has been sold as souvenirs and interior.

There are various types of "提灯" are soled in Japan..

Washi: 和紙 (Japanese Paper)

Washi (Japanese Paper) is an ancient Japanese paper, means that the paper made ​​in Japan against the paper made in Europe.

Japanese paper is characterized by long life, strong, thinly and very long fibers compared to the printing paper. And The paper has a beautiful unique texture. High price for low productivity compared with the current printing paper which is produced from wood pulp, because the raw material is limited.


Traditionally, special techniques are used. But in recent years, mainly in the modern Japanese paper shoji paper and Hanshi have a lot of demand, and they can be mass-produced paper.

On the other hand, washi used in the repair of cultural assets around the world. And then, excellent storage stability and the use of more than a thousand years, the characteristics of tough and soft, Japan has been established drawing paper, drawing paper, etc.

In recent years, Washi is well known as natural materials, natural growing demand for the interior.

Furthermore, washi has been used as a material of the bill in Japan.

Hirashimizu-yaki: 平清水焼 (Hirashimizu)

Hirashimizu-Yaki is baked in Hirashimizu, Yamagata pref. Beginning of the mountain burned with the local culture of the late Edo era. On the tradition, Jikaku who is the famos "Daishi" (Monk) used the cray in Mt Chitose and taught the making of pottery.

Usually in Japan, the pottery is not only used for eating food but also enjoyed "look and feel" as interior.

The commonly known "Blue Dragon Kiln" are "Nashiseiji" and"Zansetsu".

"Nashiseiji", such as blue-white spots on the skin of a pear from the iron sulphide contained in the local clay, it a unique texture. (you can see it on the left picture)

 "Zansetsu" is multiplied by the white-white glaze, was named by lifting the black spots.

For more reference;  Participation in World Exposition in Brussels awarded, then the name was said to be a famous as "Hirashimizu-Yaki"