A Guide to Ramen Bowl Sets: Complete Noodle Serving Solutions
The Japanese ramen bowl set is more than matching tableware - it's a system. Dip into how bowl shape, ceramic heat retention and ramen style work together for the perfect bowl at home.
Sensu: Japanese Folding Fans from the Heian Court to Today
The sensu, invented in Japan over 1,200 years ago, went from court memo pad to global icon. Open this introduction to how this folding fan is made, used and cared for.
Beyond Wagashi: Mont Blanc, Momiji Manju and Other Japanese Sweets
From a leaf-shaped manju born on a sacred island to a chestnut dessert that divided the nation’s patissiers, Japanese confectionery has been reinventing itself for centuries.
The Best Sushi Tool: Makisu Rolling Mats or Molds?
An introduction to sushi tools used by Japanese chefs and home cooks: rolling pressure, maki vs uramaki technique, beginner molds and how to avoid the most common sushi roll mistakes.
Japanese Rice Dishes from Donburi to Onigiri
Japanese rice dishes go far beyond sushi. From donburi rice bowls to hand-shaped onigiri, feast on the flavors, history and techniques behind the country's most beloved rice traditions.
Japanese Soup Bowls: Lacquer, Ceramic and Tableware Traditions
The moment a lidded bowl is set before you, you begin to understand why the Japanese approach miso soup almost as a small ceremony.
Donabe Cooking: Beyond Japanese Hot Pots
Japan's most underestimated cooking vessel spends most of the year in a cupboard. It shouldn't.
Japanese Cast Iron Kettles: Tea with a Tetsubin
The tetsubin has been boiling water in Japan for over 300 years but many people still mistake the kettle for a teapot and a kyusu teapot for a tetsubin. Getting it wrong can be an expensive lesson.
Honesuki: The Japanese Poultry Boning Knife
In the glittering line-up at a Japanese knife shop, the honesuki can be identified by its triangular blade, a shape built for breaking down chicken cleanly at every joint. Here's what makes Japan's...
Gold Screens and Soba-Priced Prints: The Edo Period in Japanese Art
Ukiyo-e prints, Rinpa screens, Kano gold-leaf murals: The art of the Edo period spanned 250 years and two very different worlds. Here's how it all unfolded.
Not Your Typical Watercolor Set: A Guide to Nihonga and Mineral Pigments
Though Nihonga is sometimes described as Japanese watercolors, it's actually a style of painting that uses mineral pigments bound with animal glue. Learn the art, the technique and how to start.
Japanese Snacks: Kit Kats, Crackers and Regional Treats
Kit Kats in over 300 flavors, regional confections and rice crackers with a 1,000-year history - explore Japanese snacks with this guide.
Cord, Clay and the Buddha: Ancient Japanese Art from the Jomon to Nara Periods
13,000 years of art - and all before the Heian era even got started.
Donburi: A Guide to Japanese Rice Bowl Dishes
Born from Edo's need for speed, Japan's donburi - a rice bowl topped with anything from eel to pork cutlet to fresh tuna - is a complete meal in one bowl. Here's how it works.
Plate Expectations: Shapes, Styles and Your Own Japanese Ceramic Collection
Japanese ceramic plates go far beyond the round. We take a look at the different shapes and styles such as Oribe and Bizen - and offer tips on putting together a collection for home dining.
Sumi-e: Japanese Ink Painting and the Art of Empty Space
Japanese ink painting uses only black ink and paper to render mountains, monks and the spaces between thoughts. Here’s a guide to its Zen origins, techniques and masters.
The Japanese New Year: Decorations, Food and Traditions
Oshogatsu, Japan's New Year, is built around one idea: welcoming a god. What the decorations, food and rituals are actually for.
Crafted Kitchenware and Furniture for the Japanese Home
The Japanese homeware that interior designers and Japandi devotees reach for: artisan clay pots, zabuton cushions and other traditional decor items.
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.