JAPANESE CULTURE BLOG

Image courtesy of Hamamonyo

The Humble Tenugui (てぬぐい)

Giftwrap, bento box cover, headband, wall art, and now mask.  Don’t underestimate the humble tenugui. Staples of everyday Japanese life, tenugui are incredibly useful pieces of cotton, silk or hemp...

The Humble Tenugui (てぬぐい)

Giftwrap, bento box cover, headband, wall art, and now mask.  Don’t underestimate the humble tenugui. Staples of everyday Japanese life, tenugui are incredibly useful pieces of cotton, silk or hemp...

Urushi no Hi (漆の日)

Urushi no Hi (漆の日)

Today is Urushi no Hi (or the less fun-sounding “Lacquer Day”) in Japan. The urushi technique dates back to 5000 BC and involves a long and complicated technical process using...

Urushi no Hi (漆の日)

Today is Urushi no Hi (or the less fun-sounding “Lacquer Day”) in Japan. The urushi technique dates back to 5000 BC and involves a long and complicated technical process using...

Feeling Blue – The Art of Aizome (藍染め)

Feeling Blue – The Art of Aizome (藍染め)

Ai-iro, fuji-iro, mizu-iro, ruri-iro... did you know that there are over 30 shades of blue in Japan’s complex system of traditional colours? Ai-iro (indigo blue or “Japan Blue”) in particular...

Feeling Blue – The Art of Aizome (藍染め)

Ai-iro, fuji-iro, mizu-iro, ruri-iro... did you know that there are over 30 shades of blue in Japan’s complex system of traditional colours? Ai-iro (indigo blue or “Japan Blue”) in particular...