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100 Gifts from Japan (1 - 10)

Saturday, March 19, 2016 9:00 PM

Gifts from Japan

This is a collection of 100 original gifts from Japan that represent the rich cultural heritage of this wonderful country but usually also please foreigners.

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An Overview on Japanese Pottery & Ceramics

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 7:35 PM

Japanese Pottery

Having many areas famous for various kinds of ceramics Japan is a mecca for ceramic enthusiasts. Japanese ceramics can be divided into three categories: porcelains , glazed stonewares and unglazed stonewares. This is a selection of the most famous types of Japanese ceramics.

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Hotoriya Hakone

 

NIHON ICHIBAN opened its first brick and mortar shop at lake Ashinoko in Hakone.

The shop offers a selection of products from the online shop allowing customers to experience authentic Japanese craft and design product. The line-up also includes a wide range of ume plum products from NIHON ICHIBAN parent company's Chinriu Honten.

The Hakone shop offers tax free shopping and a free WiFi service.

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NIHON ICHIBAN Member of Jury for GOLDEN TAKUMI Award

Thursday, September 17, 2015 12:16 PM

Mitsui Golden Takumi Award

Nicolas Soergel - the founder of NIHON ICHIBAN - as been nominated to become member of the team so select the winners of the presitigeous GOLDEN TAKUMI AWARD.

The GOLDEN TAKUMI AWARD has been created by SENDEN KAIGI. This is an organization consisting of members from communication departments of MITSUI Group companies. SENDEN KAIGI is very well known in Japan for its prestigeuous GOLDEN SPORTS AWARD.

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MIZUTORI Image Banner

MIZUTORI is a maker of modern Geta sandals that went from making traditional geta clogs to modern style geta sandals. Read the full story about this exceptional tranformation and the struggles MIZUTORI went through.

Did you know that walking with Geta sandals is healthy for your feet?

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HISTORY & PRODUCTION OF JAPANESE MAKEUP BRUSHES

Sunday, February 15, 2015 9:46 PM

MIZUHO Makeup Brushes

Some products on NIHON ICHIBAN do not necessarily seem to fall under the “traditional crafts” category. The Mizuho Cosmetic Brushes for example. Yet, these high quality, hand-made products carry a long history and unique manufacturing process that makes each and any one of them a true art work.

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NOUSAKU – Traditional Casting Techniques Applied to Contemporary Designs

NOUSAKU Casting

NOUSAKU is a producer of Takaoka Casting. The region of Takaoka has been famous for casting mainly Buddhist alter fittings made of tin and brass since 400 years. NOUSAKU was established in 1916 and is managed by the fourth generation of the Nousaku family. The family and company by itself are already a subject by itself. 能 (NOU) 作(SAKU) mean intelligent creation. There is no better to describe the products made by NOUSAKU.


 

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THE JAPANESE AUTHENTIC UMBRELLA: WAGASA “和傘”:

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 8:09 PM

Image Picture Japanese Wagasa Umbrella

The Wagasa, written 和傘 in Japanese are traditional umbrellas made of Bamboo, oil andJapanese paper. Handmade, the Wagasa have been introduced in Japan from China during the Heian Period [794 – 1185]. However, at that time umbrellas looked more like a straw hat and a cape. It is only during the 14th Century that they started looking like nowadays umbrellas. The principle of bamboo and paper umbrellas first originated in China but became extremely popular toward wealthy Japanese Noble especially during the Edo period [1600 – 1868]. It is only after the Second World War that Japanese umbrella started to disappear to the profit of Western umbrellas made of synthetic materials. Nowadays, the number of craftsmen using the ancient, handmade technique of production is very limited in Japan.

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VEGETABRELLA – THE UMBRELLA THAT LOOKS LIKE A SALAD HEAD

Vegetabrella Image Pic

The Vegetabrella is an umbrella that looks like the head of a romaine lettuce. It’s name is a combination of the two words “vegetable” and “umbrella”. When closed it has a very realistic resemblance to a romaine salad head. When opened it becomes a normal umbrella in light green. It is equipped with a small bag in the same green fabric as the umbrella. The ribbon to keep it closed reminds those found on salads in Japanese supermarkets. The Vegetabrella is sold in a carton box that also resembles Japanese salad boxes. Overall it is a really well designed and fully functional product.


 

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Hakone Wood Mosaic

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 10:48 PM

Hakone Wood Mosaic

Hakone wood mosaic refers to a type of wood marquetry from Hakone in the Kanagawa Prefecture. The Hakone zaiku, or Hakone marquetry has been produced in the region for hundred of year, it is a very old tradition of woodcraft in Japan.

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