Owner: JapaneseHandCraft.com owner blog URL:http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:21:16 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Owner of web shop Japanese Hand Craft presents traditional Japanese culture and grace goods for all over the sea. Throuth the blog, I hope all the poeple understand real Japanese. We are selling Sake ware, Greentea ware, Japanese tableware, pottery. Site statistics:Click here
Sake Major Maker 2007-10-24 05:36:00 sake ware: Ochoko There are some good region of sake in Japan.Those areas have good rice or good water.1. Fushimi (Kyoto)Kyoto used to be capital of Japan andhas good water and long history.Kyoto's sake is very famous.GekkeikanShochikubaiKizakura2. Nada (Kobe)The area has good water from Rokko-mountains.You might know Kobe beef.That is same from.KukumasamuneSawanotsuruHukumusume3. Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata & NiigataThose are famous in rice growing districts and they have good water.No doubt, there are many good Sake makers in the area.But, there is not a huge / major Sake maker.There are many small Sake makers.So some makers have many difference type of premium sake.This kind sake is hard to get and very expensive.Koshinokanbai (Niigata)It is most famous premium sake.Juyondai(Yamagata)I saw Yahoo web shop it was sold over $500.00.It says very very rare! What do you like? Read more:Major
Serving SAKE Temrerature 2007-10-23 20:34:00 Sake is served by three kind of temperature.1. room temperatureThe sake is kept in room. Popular to serve: regular sake (hutsu-shu), gen-shu and nigori-zake.2. coldThe sake is kept in refrigerator.Popular to serve: premium sake (junmai-shu, giunjo-shu & daiginjo-shu)I think cold condition is good for enjoying fragrance.Premium sake has good fragrance.3. hotThe sake is warmed up to around 50 degree-C (120 degree-F).The way to warm1. microwave (if sake ware has some gold pattern, I do not recommend)2. use a kettle.3. put sake ware into hot boiled water.Popular to serve: regular sake (hutsu-shu)It is good way to warm up body in winter season.I like cold daiginjo-shu.How about you? Read more:Serving
Do you like SAKE? 2007-10-23 04:05:00 What's Sake?Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice.Sake is also commonly referred to in English as "Rice Wine”,but the characterization implied is not accurate.Wine is made from the single fermentation of plant juices.Sake is produced by multiple fermentation of rice,which is more similar to how beer is produced.VarietiesSake is classifies roughry five kinds as follows,hutsu-shuIt is nomal sake. It is like a table wine. Other four kinds are premiun sake.honjozo-shuA slight amount of distilled alcohol added. The distilled alcohol helps pull some extra flavors out of the mash. junmai-shuIt is made from rice only. At least 40% of the rice be polished away, no alcohol added, if the sake was to be considered junmai.ginjo-shuRice weight polished to 50% or less. daiginjo-shuRice weight polished to 40% or less. I like premium sake. But, the flaver is wide variety. (dry, smooth, sweet and fregrance)Those difference comes fromwho made?where (distruct)?what kind of rice?how to ma
What's Japanesehandcraft.com 2007-10-22 04:40:00 I am thinking the web shop will sell many kind traditional Japanese goods.When I open the ship, I will set up four categories,Sake wareGreen tea wareTablewareAshtrayNext year, I will add more categories. Chop stickHandy Fan (sensu)All the items are made by skilled craftsmen.It is difference with mass production items.You might feel grace, elegance and beauty from them.You also could spend wonderful life with the handcraft items.Why?I will tell you the reasons on the blog.
Introduce 2007-10-17 01:35:00 Hello!This is Yutaka.First of all, I introduce myself as follows.name; Yutakasex; malebirth; May 29th 1974born; Nagoya, Japanjob; web shop ownermother language; Japanesesecond language; American Englishinterests; shopping, golf, NFL & travelI am going to open web shop of Japanese Hand Craft on Oct. 31. 07.Please visit my shop after that,http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/Through the blog, I want to present lots of traditional culture to all over the people.There are lots of grace in Japan.I will introduce the traditional culture and goods one by one.I hope every body enjoy reading and understanding some Japanese culture.
Sake ware (cups) 2007-10-27 08:46:00 choko ImariSake wares has many different kinds.It is cool if you use different sake wares in the different cases.Cupsa) ChokoChoko is most popular cups for sake.material; ceramiccapacity; around 1 oz. (30ml)uses; all temperature of sake.There are many collector who are buying very expensive one.My dad bought over $200.00 of choko in Kyoto.It is not bad price.I saw many of over $500.00 choko at Yahoo Japan Shop.Who wants to buy!b) GuinomiGuinomi is a large type of choko.material; ceramic or glasscapacity; around 1.5 oz. (50ml)uses; all temperature of sake - ceramiccold sake - glassBut, I think sometime it is too hot to drink if you use for hot sake.You might concern sake temperature.c) SakazukiSakazuki has many different kinds.material; ceramic or wood with japan (rhus lacquer)I saw solid gold of sakazuki!shape; shallow and wide cup uses; room temperature sakeSakazuki has long history.It is used for ceremony. (wedding and all celebrations)You know Japanese Mafia.They also use a sakazuki
Sake ware (bottle) 2007-11-01 03:40:00 Choshi from KutaniBottle of sake is called choshi or tokkuri.ChoshiShape; small bottle
uses; all temperature of sakeMaterial; ceramicIt is used for serving sake when we drink.We buy sake in large bottles.When we drink sake, a smaller portion is poured into the choshi.To warm up the sake, the sake in the choshi is put into boiling water or microwave.TokkuriShape; small or large bottlesuses; all temperature of sakeMaterial; ceramicTokkuri is same as choshi, but big bottles of sake are only called tokkuri.Most of tokkuri had been owned by sake shops a long time ago.It was printed with the shop logo or name.People bought sake in tokkuri.Glass made choshiRecently cold sake has boomed.There are many glass made choshi in Japan. Glass made choko is used for only cold sake.I know Satsuma Kiriko glass ware is so beautiful and so expensive.I want to sell that at my web shop.If I get it, I will present it in the blog.Sake serving ruleMy dad told me that people lay down choshi or tokkuri when it is
Open shopping site Today! 2007-10-31 04:00:00 October 31st 2007!Today
our shopping web site is open!http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/Special Thanks,Mr. Masatoshi Okada (Office DC Inc., web page designer)Mr. Kazuhiro Asano (Office DC Inc., web page creator)Mrs. Marla Prince (English consultant)Mr. Hiroshi Imawaga ( He has connected me with Mr. Okada.)All associates of Blue Ridge Metals corp. (I learned English from them.)andMy family Riho & RumiI am so happy and excited!
Sake unit (Gou) 2007-11-07 01:28:00 1 gou Masu (1 gou = 6 oz. = 180ml)Japanese has many kinds of traditional unit.Most of the kinds of unit are not used very often right now.But field of traditional has been using the units.If you order a Kimono, kimono shop would measure your size by "sun".1 sun = 30mm = 1-1/4 inchSake uses the traditional units.It is "gou" or "shou".It is a volume unit.It is used for rice too.1 gou = 6 oz. = 180ml1 shou = 10 gou = 60 oz. =1800mlYou know a large bottle of sake.It is 1 shou.We call that "1 shou bin".Bin means a bottle.A large soy souce bottle is 1 shou too. I mentioned about masu in sake cup ware page.A masu was used for measuring tool.The capacity is just 6 oz. (180ml).Some Japanese use it to measure when they cook steam rice .I have some masus in my office.If you buy sake ware at my web shop, I will give a masu with free.Please contact me from web shop if you want it.
Japanese tea 2007-11-12 01:46:00 Japanese Tea pot from TokonameHow much do you know Japanese tea?There are many kinds in Japan.But, we call "ocha" for all kind of Japanese tea.Let's study about ocha!Japanese tea is classifies roughly into five kinds as follows,MatchaMatcha is a fine, powdered green tea used particularlyin Japanese tea ceremony, as well as to dye and flavor foodssuch as noodles, green tea ice cream. The most famous Matcha product area is Uji in Kyoto.It is special green tea and not daily tea.SenchaSencha is a term which refers to Japanese green tea without grinding the tea leaves.It is the most famous green tea in Japan.If Japanese say "ocha", in most of case it means Sencha or Bancha.BanchaBancha is made by same way with Sencha.But, Bancha harvested later than Sencha. It is between summer and autumn. The leaves are larger than Sencha and the flavor is less full.Bancha is low price.It is good for diabetes.HojichaHojicha is roasted tea to make more flavor.It is kind of blown tea and low price.GyokuroGy Read more:Japanese
Thanksgiving Holiday Sale 2007-11-17 23:04:00 http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/My web shop will sale from Nov.22nd to 25th.All item will be 30% off.Please visit the shop. ... Read more:Holiday
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Sushi dictionary 2007-11-16 01:37:00 Bowl from Imarihttp://www.JapaneseHandCraft.com/Sushi
wordsAgariIt is green tea. Agari means start in English.So sushi restaurants give us tea first of all.KappaIt is cucumber. A kind of Japanese monster “Kappa” loves cucumber. The Kappa is a combination of frog, turtle and monkey.GariIt is a type of pickled vegetables. It is sweet, thinly sliced young ginger that has been marinated in a solution of sugar and vinegar. Gari is usually eaten between dishes of sushiGarageIt is mantis shrimp called “syako”. Japanese also use this word for the garage where they park a car. It is the same pronunciation. Oh! It is English!GyokuIt is egg. Egg is called “tamago”. The “tamago” is the same as gyoku. .KusaIt is Nori, a seaweed wrapper.SabiIt is wasabi, known as Japanese horseradish.SyariIt is steamed rice. Sushi steamed rice has rice vinegar, sugar and salt.NamidaIt is wasabi. Namida is a tear in English.You know why. If not, you should put a lot of wasabi on sushi.You will find ou
Green tea at sushi restaurant 2007-11-13 23:31:00 Tea cup from Kutanihttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/There is a close connection between green tea and sushi.I like to drink green tea rather than sake when I eat sushi.You know “gari” is pickled ginger.Why do sushi restaurant
s give us gari?Ginger and wasabi have the ability to kill bacteria.Gari can cleanse your palette.If you eat “toro” (fat tuna) or eel or somethingwith strong taste, you had better eat gari to reset your taste, especially before you eat white meat fish.So I think green tea also has ability to cleanse your palette.That is the reason I drink green tea with sushi.Green
tea is called “agari” in a sushi restaurant.It means start in English.So sushi restaurants give us tea first of all.Sushi restaurants use some unique Japanese words.I will list it in the blog later.Their green tea is special.There are many different ways to prepare tea.It is the secret at each sushi restaurant.Some sushi restaurants mix gyokuro and matcha.Some mix sencha and matcha.Some exclus
Shichi Go San 2007-11-25 20:04:00 I went Shinto shrine to celebrate good growing my daughter and pray her good going.It is Shichi Go San.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shichi-Go-SanMy daughter, wife and I wore kimono.My mother has a license of teaching wearing kimono.She loves to let us wear kimono.Especially she wants to do for my daughter. Because, I do not have any sisters.So now, Japanese people do not wear kinomo very often.Only few people do.Most of Japanese do not have many chances to wear kinomo.We wear kinomo at wedding party (host and guest)Coming of Age ceremony (girl)New year.In new year many Japanese go to Shinto shrine to pray.When I was kid, I could see many people wear kimono.Now it is not much.It is so unhappy.I am lucky my mother wants to let us wear kimono.My mother in law likes to buy kimono.So I am going to wear kimono every year.I can feel graceful traditional with kimono.It is extraordinary.It is fun!
Living National Treasure 2 2007-11-30 21:32:00 Tea pot: Jozan Yamada from TokonameI told my father Iwould tell his vase story on my blog.He told me more stories.If a LivingNationalTreasure
dies, his products will increase in value.Then, the values never drop down and keep increasing.If my father dies….It is not a good joke.It might be a good investment, if I find good young potters.It is one of the joys to collect pottery.There are 26 Living National Treasures in pottery.I picked up 5 potteres from four districts as follows,KutaniMinori Yushitawww.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/YOSHIDA-MINORI/YOSHIDA-MINORI-SAKUHIN.htmlBizenToshu Yamamotowww.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/YAMAMOTO-TOSHU/YAMAMOTO-TOSHU-SAKUHIN.htmlYu Hujiwarawww.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/FUJIWARA-YU/FUJIWARA-YU-SAKUHIN.htmlTokonameJozan Yamadawww.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/YAMADA-JOZAN/YAMADA-JOZAN-SAKUHIN.htmlSeto (Shino)Osamu Suzukiwww.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/SUZUKI-OSAMU/SUZUKI-OSAMU-SAKUHIN.html
Living National Treasure 2007-11-30 01:54:00 Yashokichi Tokuda from KutaniI went to a Pottery Fair in my city with my parents.My father loves sake ware.He likes to see pottery shops when he takes a trip.Sometime he bought special sake ware.13 years ago, he bought a vase and a guinomi (sake cups) at Kutani.It is a beautiful blue vase and guinomi.He has kept the vase in the dining room since that day.He sometimes tells me the vase's price is increasing,because the potter was designated a LivingNationalTreasure
three years after my father bought the vase.His name is Mr. Yasokichi Tokuda.His items are as follows,www.nihon-kogeikai.com/KOKUHO/TOKUDA-YASOKICHI/TOKUDA-YASOKICHI-SAKUHIN.htmlSo, we went to the Kutani booth at the Pottery Fair.My father found the same kind of vases.Those were around $3000 and over.He bought the vase for $600 with free guinomi.I saw similar sake cups sold around $300.What a lucky guy!The value of pottery is related to the potter.If a potter is nameless, his works are low priced.If a potter has many award
Chigo parade 2007-12-14 03:48:00 One of the old Shinto shrine in Mie prefecture hadChigo parade on last Saturday.The shrine is Tado-Taisha.The parade is a commemoration for rebuild their one of building. Japanese famous shrine have this kind of parade when they make or rebuild their building.The Chigo parade was led 600 kids by the Shinto priest and horse.The shrine is famous for religious services with horse.Then, my daughter had joined the Chigo parade.They rented us kimonos and a hair ornament.There is the custom in Aichi and the near area.If girls (under 10 years old) have joined the Chigo parade,the girls could spend happy life.My daughter has done one time.I have to find two more the kind of parades...I have never joined the parade, when I was boy.It may be OK, because I am boy!My wife has done one time.Oops.It is Ok, better than nothing.
Japanese Table Manners for Chopsticks 2 2007-12-10 01:27:00 Handmade chopsticks from Wakasahttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/5. Do not lick your chopsticks.There are many Japanese
meals served on the large plate or in the bowl.We have to share it other people.How would you feel if somebody licked their chopsticks.Recently many Japanese people use other chopsticks for only sharing.Some people use the opposite end of your chopsticks in order to move food from a shared plate to your own plate,if you have already used your chopsticks.6. Do not pick up a cup/bowl with the hand that is holding your chopsticks.The chopsticks sometimes hit something.7. Finished eatingLay them down in front of you with the tip to left.If disposal chopsticks have a cover, put them into the cover and fold the top of the cover. It means I am finished eating. If waiters see it, they take your dishes and clean up your table. How much did you know that? Read more:Chopsticks
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Japanese Table Manners for Chopsticks 1 2007-12-05 19:34:00 Hand made chopsticks from Wakasahttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/1. Do not stick chopsticks into your food.You have to pick up your food with chopsticks. Especially do not stick chopsticks into rice.This is only done at funerals. You stick chopsticks in the rice on the altar. It is a custom of Buddhism.2. Do not pass food with your chopsticks to somebody else's chopsticks.That's also only done at funerals and is a custom of Buddhism. After cremating we send bone around by using chopsticks.3. Do not hit tableware with chopsticks.There are not drum sticks.Do not make noise.4. Do not point with chopsticks.Not only at somebody, but also at something.To be continued. Read more:Chopsticks
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How to use chopsticks? 2 2007-12-05 19:26:00 2. Hold the top chopstick between tips of the first and second fingers.3. You can support the top chopstick tip of the thumb.4. Only move the first and the second fingers.5. It is like quotation marks.6. The back of the chopsticks are never crossed. It is important you do not move the bottom chopstick.You only move the top chopstick.
How to use chopsticks? 1 2007-12-05 19:16:00 New additional category was set up on my web shop.It is chopsticks.I present about chopsticks on this blog.First of all I tell you how to use chopsticks.1. Hold bottom chopstick between base of the thumb and the fourth finger.You do not need to move this chopstick.(Please see the photo.)
Antique fair in Nagoya vol. 2 2007-12-22 04:31:00 New Item Fish shape Trayhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I found the other fine sellers.They were selling many kinds of antiques.Their collections are made by famous potters and have very high prices too.They came from Kanazawa city (Ishikawa prefecture)Kanazawa is one of the best historical districts in Japan.The district was governed by one of the big families in Edo period.The family loved tea ceremony and cultures.They made a big Japanese garden in Kanazawa.It is the one of the best three Japanese gardens in the present time.No wonder, many intellectual people come from the area.And there are many excellent potters in the area.They have a long history.Some families have been making pottery for 300 years.The antique owner recommended me one potter family.Their name is Chozaemon Ohi.The current Chozaemon is the 10th generation.The 10th Chozaemon's sake bottle was $800.The 8th Chozaemon's sake cup was $500.The cup was so small, approximately 0.5oz. capacity.I cannot believe it was Read more:Antique
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Antique fair in Nagoya vol. 1 2007-12-21 01:36:00 New Item in web shop Fish shape dishhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I went to an antique fair to find antique sake ware and green tea ware in Nagoya
.It is a big fair, joined by over 100 sellers.The fair is held three times in every year.I found two fine antique sellers in the fair.One was selling antique sake ware and tea ware in glass cases with a key lock.I was interested in some their sake wares and asked the prices.The shop owner told me one is $3000 and others are from $3000 to $6000.I asked him again, "Do you have anything under $1000?"He told me with a forced smile, " How about this?"He showed me a sake cup.It was not so good looking for me.He showed me another sake cup.It was also not so good.That was all they have under $1000.He told me why there are so expensive.Their items were made by a famous master potter a 100 years ago.He told me some names of master potters.I did not know that.The antique word is so complicated.I felt I have to study more to handle the kind of Read more:Antique
Sake shop in new york city 2007-12-26 00:19:00 I found a new shop in new york city.It is Sake shop!SAKAYA324 E.9th StreetNYC 10003212.505.7253http://www.sakayanyc.com/blog/wordpress/Sakaya will have around 90 kinds of sake.The sake will be included rare sake too.I think New Yorkers love sake should go the sake shop.I am glad sake is getting to be famous day by day.
Tokoname design 2008-03-10 03:06:26 The pattern is made with seaweed.Seaweed is fired on the tea pot, and the pattern is created.It is a natural pattern and never the same twice. To get this beautiful pattern the pot is turned on a wheel.The potter uses a sharp tool to make tiny indentations.The potter stamps flowers and cuts on the surface to create a beautiful design
. Tokoname is famous for red colored clay.When the clay is fired, it turns black.The potter then uses a file to expose the red clay underneath. To get this beautiful pattern the pot is turned on a wheel.The potter uses a sharp tool to make tiny indentations.The pot consist green, red and beige color of clay.Those were mix and then formed as tea pot.The surface was cut like diamond, shows unique color.Whole processes were done by master potter.
Why choose a Tokoname tea pot? 2008-03-08 04:52:20 Tokoname Teapot by Kenji tea pots have excellent functions.The angle for pouring is a very effective design.Tea does not drip from the spout.The handle is designed for easy handling.The lid shape is adjusted to perfectly match the pot after firing.The excellent match provides a good condition for steaming tea leaves.Impurities adsorb with the fine particle clay.It works as kind of filter and enhances the primary taste of tea.Tokoname tea pots can make good tea.You can enjoy real green tea taste and fragrance.Are you interested in Tokoname now? Read more:choose
What is Tokoname? 2008-02-27 06:49:30 Tea pot by Teruyuki Isobe Tokoname is located in the center of Japan and is one of the six oldest porcelain districts in Japan. The history goes back to the 11th century. They made Buddhist urns for burials. Many Buddhist Tokoname wares are found all over Japan. In the 14th and 15th century they made tea cups and other tea ceremony items as well as Ikebana flower vases. At that time, tea ceremony and “Ikebana” was born and became famous in the nobility and Samurai. Since the 18th century they have been producing normal household tableware. In the 20th century Tokoname was the largest production area for tile, pottery pipe and lavatory bowls in Japan.Now Tokoname has the most tea pot production in Japan. They have been developing their process with modern conveniences. The craftsmanship
Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) 2008-02-25 02:11:46 I know every country has its own style of fried chicken.Of course, Japan does too.We call it “Karaage” in Japanese
.“Kara” is an old name for China, “Age” means fry.So this style came from china a long time ago.Several Japanese flour companies make Karaage powder.It is very good stuff.We just put the powder on the chicken, and then fry it.There is no doubt that all Japanese moms love it.The most famous Karaage powder is Nisshin Karaage powder.I think most Japanese grocery stores sell Karaage powder.Please try it with Sake or beer.I love wings with Karaage powder.
Tsukune (Japanese meat patties) 2008-02-25 02:07:40 I present easy recipes for sake.Today I tell you "Tsukune".Ingredients (for four)Ground chicken or pork 1 poundMinced Onion 1/4 poundEgg 1Minced Ginger 1/4 teaspoonSalt 1/4 teaspoonSoy sauce 2 teaspoonsOil 1/2 teaspoonFor sauceSoy sauce 2 teaspoonsSake or white wine 2 teaspoonsMirin or Sugar 2 teaspoonsAttention: 1 teaspoon is 5 ml or 1/6 oz.(Optional: Shiitake Mushroom, Green onion)Preparation,Mix meat, minced onion, egg, minced ginger, 2 teaspoon of soy sauce and salt in a bowl until mashed into gruel.Make the mixture into a round shape.Fry it over easy with oil in a pan.Put Soy sauce, sake and Mirin into the pan before turning off the flame.Turn off the flame and cover the pan with a lid for 30 seconds.Optional,This is the basic Tsukune.You can add minced shiitake mushrooms and green on Read more:Japanese
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