Stories and Objects
Deep from within Japan
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A Tale of Reinvention: From Ukiyo-e to Shin-Hanga and Sosaku Hanga
Japanese woodblock prints are more than just ukiyo-e. Get to know the underrated 20th century prints and how you can start collecting them.
A Guide to Japanese Knife Shapes and Types
The right blade shape makes the work easier, cleaner, and more precise. Find out which Japanese knife is right for your kitchen style with this guide.
A Practical Look at Noritake China: History, Identification, and Valuation
Looking to collect Noritake china, or hoping to sell some family heirlooms? Know what you have before you act.
12 Japanese Artists Who Shaped Visual Culture Through the Ages
From Zen monks to psychedelic printmakers, meet twelve of Japan's most influential artists through the ages.
Omelet, Onsen, On Rice: Tamagoyaki and Other Japanese Egg Favorites
Japan's egg dishes may seem simple but the evidence - and sushi chef training - suggests otherwise.
Famous Japanese Artworks: Masterpieces to Know
Where does one begin with the vast corpus of Japanese art? Dip your toes into this world with some of these iconic masterpieces.
Ukiyo-e: Art of the Floating World Explained
What was behind the floating world? Dive into the origins of ukiyo-e and what they represented.
Japanese Painting: Schools, Styles, and Masters
From gilded folding screens in castle halls to oil paintings in modern galleries, Japanese painting is a millenia-long journey of constant reinvention.
Japanese Knife Makers: From Artisan Forges to the Factory
Behind every great Japanese knife is a city, a steel grade and a craftsman who spent years learning to read fire.
Japanese Petty Knives: Small Blades for Precision Work
The Japanese petty knife: small blade, serious precision. Pair it with your gyuto or santoku for an answer to just about every cutting task in the kitchen.
Deba Knives: Cutting-Edge Japanese Fish Blades
Named for a buck-toothed blacksmith, built for bone. Japan's deba knife is the essential fish butchery tool for home cooks and professional chefs alike.
Saibashi: The Long Game of Japanese Cooking Chopsticks
Two sticks. Thirty centimeters. A thousand years of getting it right.
From Rice to Ramen: A Guide to Japanese Bowls
Japanese bowls aren't one-size-fits-all: the chawan, shiru wan and hachi each play a different role at the table. Here's how to tell them apart.
Sole Food: Sushi Geta and Other Japanese Serving Plates
Whether it arrives on a hinoki geta or an irregular ceramic dish, the sushi experience begins before the first bite. We take you through the hows and whys of sushi plating.
Japanese Pottery: A Style Guide
An introduction to the rich, beautiful world of Japanese ceramics — more than enough to have you sounding well-informed at the next dinner party.
What to Eat in Japan: A Guide to Popular Japanese Dishes
From sushi to sizzling yakitori, Japan’s food scene serves up the bold flavors of street food, regional specialties and the comfort of home cooking.
Sumi Ink: The Living Pigment of Brush Arts
Sumi ink has colored Japanese calligraphy and brush arts for over 1,300 years. Here's what makes this ancient pigment unlike any other art material in Japan - and how to grind your own sumi.
Japanese Woodblock Prints: The Craft Behind Ukiyo-e
Have you ever wondered how ukiyo-e woodblock prints were produced? Find out about the craft and commercial enterprise behind these iconic images.
The Art of the Haul: What to Buy in Japan
From Sakai knives to Nishijin-ori silk, anime goods to Kyoto lacquerware, Japan offers some of the world's most compelling shopping. Here's what to buy, where to find it and how duty-free shopping ...
Gyudon: Breaking Down Japan’s Beloved Beef Bowl
How do you make the perfect gyudon for yourself? Spoiler: It's all about ratios.
Donabe: Japanese Clay Pots for One-Pot Cooking
What can a donabe do that your other metal kitchenware can’t? Here's everything you need to know about Japanese clay pots.
Get to Know the Gyuto, Japan's Version of the Chef's Knife
If you're a serious home cook, a gyuto might be the ideal chef's knife for you.
Rice and Shine: All About Donburi Bowls
What's in a rice bowl, and where did it come from? Here's the down low on donburi bowls.
Sake Cups: Ochoko, Guinomi - and Wine Glasses
The sake vessel you pour into changes everything - aroma, flavor, even temperature. A full rundown of Japanese sake cups and flasks, plus the meaning behind the san-san-kudo ritual.