Japanese hospitality

2011-04-02T02:30:00.000+09:00

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique Hospitality Japan.comElegant Japanese GiftsAuthentic traditional items meets today’s lifestyles. Fabrics, crafts, tabletop items. Click Herewww.boutique-hospitalityjapan.com"

Japanese trends - valentines day & white day

2010-01-23T00:07:00.001+09:00

gifts are exchanged on/around February 14 and March 14.

内容: Google トレンド: valentines day, white day, gift, ecology （Google サイドウィキで表示）

Billy's Bootcamp Elite

2007-06-27T19:21:00.001+09:00

Let's work out and be fit.

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo 2007

2007-03-31T14:50:00.000+09:00

Japanese Indigo Color – Feel of the Cool Summer Breeze

2006-08-03T19:15:00.000+09:00

Japanese style summertime decoration can be created by the collection of the Japanese indigo colors. Japanese indigo dyeing uses the ecological natural colorant made of the igusa plant. The deep and beautiful indigo colors are created by the repeat of dyeing and drying work process for 15 to 20 times manually. Japanese indigo tie-dyeing fabric is used in this display as a table cloth. Matching “Hopper Cana” obi pillows are made from the Japanese obi. The same tie-dyeing technique is used for this obi pillow to create the beautiful flower designs.
In the hot summer season, cold drinks served by the Japanese kiriko cut glass are the best refreshment. Indigo color is one of the most popular colors of the kiriko cut glass. Beautiful seasonal flowers are arranged in the Arita old hibachi (antique Japanese brazier) of indigo and white. Cool and nice summer interior décor is created by the collection of Japanese indigo color items. Japanese indigo color collection is the perfect items to decorate your room in a nice and refreshing Japanese style.
Collection of the Japanese indigo items from the Hospitality Japan.com Boutique
"Hopper Cana" Obi Pillow #19
Kiriko Cut Glass
Tengoqoo Indigo Sake Cup

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Edo Furin - Japanese Glass Wind Bell

2006-07-19T14:47:00.000+09:00

Name of Edo Furin derives from that Mr. Yoshiharu Shinohara, Jr. made a factual survey on a glass wind-bell and started the name of Edo Furin.
A certain Senryu – short humorous verse says:
Many people gather at street corners without any peddl-er’s cry,
That is because inherent charms of the wind-bells by the gentle wind attract the people.
In the late Edo period (1603-1867) soft and comfortable sounds of the glass wind bell were heard at every corner of the town of Edo. The peddlers were carrying the bells on a pole and it was unnecessary for them to offer the bells for sale by shouting their wares, because the ring of the bells in the breeze was the best way of shouting for sale. The foregoing short verse shows the town’s atmosphere of Edo.

At present, it seems that hardly any craftsman is at work but Mr. Yoshiharu Shinohara, Jr., manufacturer of this Edo Furin, who can hand down the technique of manufacturing the traditional wind-bell to posterity. He has designated his eldest son as his successor and is making his efforts to keep the fire of a melting pot alive. In 2005, Mr. Yoshiharu Shinohara, Jr. was given the title of honorable citizen of Tokyo Metropolitan City for his contribution to develop the skill of the craftsman of Edo Furin.

Now, Yoshiharu produces the bells together with his sons, Yutaka and Masayoshi.
An Edo Furin made of glass is more colorful and comfortable in sound as compared with a bell made of iron. Various kinds of the glass wind bells resonate and are in harmony and change in sound as wind blows. Even in the modern era, the sound of wind bells is still a summer feature and the clear sound makes us feel cool.
The real Edo Furin is hand-blown and painted from the inside which is only created by the special artisans of the wind-bells.
Maruyoshi is established by Yoshiharu’s 2nd son, Masayoshi in 1990 preserving the prescious tradition of Edo Furin but providing a fresh breeze with new ideas to the family business of craftsmanship. Maruyoshi sincerely wishes that you could enjoy the delightful sounds of Edo Furin and the bell would be kept carefully in your home for many and many years to come.
Signed by Masayoshi Shinohara.

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Japanese style summertime sensation

2006-07-03T15:32:00.000+09:00

Japanese style life enjoys the change of four seasons. Seasonal traditions are often considered to value the best of the season and integration with the nature. Therefore there are many wise feature of summer to stay cool without being inside of the air-conditioned rooms.
Nodate parasols are originally used for the tea ceremony. They provide a good shade from the sunshine. Host prepares the tea in front of the guest sitting on the bench under the parasol. Guests enjoy viewing the seasonal flowers and freshly whipped green tea.
Nodate set is a very handy Japanese tea ceremony set for outside serving. In a very pretty Japanese basket bag, tea cup, bamboo tea spoon (folding type), tea whisk, and natsume green tea container are contained. Size of the Japanese pottery tea cup is 9.5D cm x 6.5H cm (3.74 x 2.56 inches).
Japanese fans are handy as they are usually folded into a small piece when not in use. You can get the natural breeze by opening the fans. In addition, you look very elegant by using these beautiful fans.
Decoration fan looks great for both as an interior décor as well as a practical item. This pine tree design traditional Japanese fan is 28.8cm (11.39 inches) wide when it is open.
This beautiful Arita Japanese pottery ware with floral branches design is a beverage serving container with tap. Ice container to chill the wine or other drinks without diluting with water is placed inside of the stand. Server contains 2,350cc liquid. Size: 30.2x9.5x17.7cm (11.89x3.74x6.97 inches).

To check price in your currency, please click here. Variety of Japanese items is also available in the Hospitality Japan.com Boutique.
From Cecilia
Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Japanese Vintage Fabric Belt

2006-06-15T16:47:00.000+09:00

Japanese traditional patterns and design motifs are deriving from nature (botanical, floral or creatures), symbols, geometric, and family emblems. With the combination of the traditional Japanese colors used for Japanese kimono and obi, thousands of different variation of Japanese traditional designs is available. Every design is beautiful and precious traditional pattern to preserve for the future generations.
Nowadays, Japanese wear kimono and obi only for the special occasions, so the production of these beautiful Japanese fabrics is very limited. It also applies to the kimono accessories. Bags or geta sandals for kimono robe attire are handmade by Kyoto or Asakusa (Edo) craftsmen. It is a pity that the number of the artisans with special techniques is also decreasing and it is very precious to find a artisan works of conventional hand-crafts.

A2ZEN’s French designer who devotes passion to the Japanese vintage fabrics looks for the beautiful Japanese fabrics sleeping in the old tansu chest of drawers in the private houses. He goes hunting for the vintage fabrics throughout Japan. Each fabric is rare to find. A2ZEN carefully selected only about 30 very special vintage fabrics to create the hand-made belts made by belt artisan in Asakusa. Only 21 belts are made from this particular vintage fabric and each of belts is slightly different in design. The one brought to you is the one and the only belt made for you.

Dog Collars and Leads of the traditional Japanese fabric patterns are made of "geta" sandal straps manufactured by Edo Asakusa craftsman belt factory, Transit. President of the company, Michinori Imai, loves both dogs and Japanese festivals. Imai-san carries the miniature shrine called "Mikoshi" at Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival every year. Imai-san got an idea of making dogs' collars out of "setta" sandal straps which he wears to carry "Mikoshi" and matching leads with the traditional Japanese patterns. All items are hand-made. This particular adjuster dog collar and matching lead is the traditional Japanese Kanoko (dappled cloth) pattern and red, pink, green and blue colors are available.

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

For the June Bride

2006-06-02T14:46:00.000+09:00

The month of June is named after the Roman goddess, Juno, wife of Jupiter. As Juno is the guardian goddess of marriage life, there is a legend that couples who get married in June will have a married life blessed with happiness. “June bride” derives from June = Juno wishing this legend becomes truth by getting married in the month of June.

If you are looking for a wedding gift for the June bride, how about considering a very special handcrafted and personalized Japanese gift. Your heart-warming gift will impress the bride and groom on their very special day.

For example, personalized “Kotobuki” daruma is often used as a wedding gift praying for the long and happy marriage life. With the couple's names hand-painted on daruma in the Japanese kanji character, it will be the unique and eye-catching decoration of the newlyweds' room.
Otherwise, Japanese calligraphy art on the washi paper and placed in a lacquered frame would be nice to decorate together with the wedding photoes. The Japanese character means "love" congraturating the newly married couple.
Another idea is to present a custom made Japanese pottery clock with your special message to the couple for their happy time together.

In the traditional Japanese style wedding, bride wears a pure white silk kimono and head set. After the ceremony is over bride wears a beautiful Uchikake kimono over the white wedding kimono. Uchikake kimono is made of Japanese silk with hand stiched Japanese embroidery of happy motif designs such as cranes and turtles (long life) or pine, plum and bamboo (lucky symbols). If you want to give something very special to the new couple, Uchikake kimono will be the center decoration of the newly weds' sweet home.

All the items are available at the Hospitality Japan.com Boutique.

From Cecilia
Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Furoshiki & Fukusa

2006-05-26T15:59:00.000+09:00

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. They can be used as a garment bag, for gift wrapping, or just to carry items. As they can be folded into a thin and tiny size, they are handy to keep in your bag to use for many different purposes.

Fukusa is anothe square fabric item used for the tea ceremony. We use them for the ritual cleaning of the tea scoop and the tea caddy before start making the tea and serving to the guests. Otherwise smaller size fukusa are used by the guests to protect the beautiful tea cups when they examine. Fukusa are also handy to wrap letter envelopes or tickets. In Japan, fukusa is also used to present the formal monetary gifts in the enveropes when attending wedding ceremonies or funerals.

As the Japanese traditional items are in fashion again, these Japanese fabric items are frequently requested as the favorable Japanese gift items.

Hospitality Japan.com Boutique presents beautiful furoshiki and fukusa items. They are not only handy for wrapping items, but also as a beautiful tabletop fabric to decorate your table in the Japanese style.

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Great Shinshu Soba - Zenkei-an

2006-05-22T02:42:00.000+09:00

There are many things we enjoy visiting the Yatsugatake area and one of the many are great food and sake. Because of the pure spring water, there are many great sake brewmaster, bakery, and soba noodle shops etc. in Nagano.

Zenkei-an is a small local soba noodle restaurant run by a local couple in Shinano-Kawakami, Nagano where our mountain house is located. Husband grows soba grains in his field and wife organizes hand-kneaded soba noodle shop. Even it is located in a quite isolated location, reputation spread from the repeated visitors and by the nearby resort villa residents, and it became a popular soba restaurant. During the Golden Week, they had 150 visitors a day!

Menu is simple with just soba noodle and sake. But you will be served some great free daily appetizer and soba is 100% hand-kneaded 10-wari soba.

Phone: 0267-97-2660

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Great Italian Restaurant in Kiyosato, Morimoto

2006-05-21T19:14:00.000+09:00

We found a great Italian restaurant in Kiyosato! Very close to Kiyosato Station, and they are open for lunch (11:30-15:30) and dinner (18:00-24:00). Good food and great selection of wine and shochu.
We shared lunch set (salad, choice of today's pasta or pizza and coffee or tea) and grilled lamb. Even base is Italian, chef Morimoto adds some

Japanese touch to the taste with seasoning or with local vegetables. For example the pasta we selected was fresh ham and local natural bracken.

When you are in Kiyosato, don't miss this restaurant, Morimoto. It is closed on Thursdays but no holiday during the summer time. Phone: 0551-48-2118.

From Cecilia
Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Weekend in Yatsugatake Resort

2006-05-21T18:08:00.000+09:00

Since we were busy with the opening of Boutique Motai, we went to the mountain house this week-end for the first time in 2006. I have been visiting Yatsugatake resort area often for more than 20 years. As I love this area so much, we are featuring Yatsugatake area as the special recommendation in our website (Japanese local hospitality section).

We thought we missed cherry blossoms this year but they were in full bloom now. Lucky us, usually we can view cherry blossoms three times every year. First in Tokyo, second in Kiyosato area, third in our mountain house area!! Even we missed the Kiyosato cherry blossoms this year, we could enjoy cherry blossoms when we walked in the morning.

We left on Friday night after the shop closed at 8:00p.m. and arrived in our mountain house before 11:00p.m. As we take Shuto Expressway from Gaien continuing to Chuo Expressway, it takes only 2 hours door to door if the traffic is empty. As we usually travel late at night or early in the morning, traffic is usually very smooth.

Whenever the weather is fine, we walk in the morning for about 1.5 hours. We can really feel the change of four seasons. We could not only view cherry blossoms but "mizu-basho" in May.

We had a relaxing morning and light breakfast as we were planning to have an Italian lunch.

Even it was a day trip this time, we enjoyed the visit to our mountain house very much! We all had a good siesta and came back on Saturday night when the traffic is very smooth. The only thing we missed from our usual routine is that we did not go to the hot spring bath (which is the end of the full course) as we had some business to do in Tokyo.

Cecilia

Hospitality Ja pan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Boutique Motai Kick Off with all staff

2006-05-16T02:22:00.000+09:00

We had a kick off staff party of Boutique Motai at Copa Tokyo.
Now the shop is open and we are ready to promote our shop! Gambari masho!

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Thank you all who came to the Boutique Motai Opening

2006-05-15T16:41:00.000+09:00

Boutique Hospitality Japan.com's shop in Aoyama, Tokyo, Boutique Motai, opened on April 29. We would sincerely appreciate and say thank you to all of you who came to our opening week. Taking that opportunity, we could meet some of the old friends and reunion and parties every night!!

Now the party is over! We have to make a big effort to promote the Boutique Motai and meet the expectation of those artists who supported to make our dream come true!

We also want to say special thanks to Cate Midorikawa, who came to our shop and introduced Boutique Motai in her blog page, "Hopper Cana" family who are the greatest supporter of our shop, and to Tengoqoo who introduced us to Nobeyama-san and other great people and helped a lot in shop designs!

Millions of thank you again to all of you who came to the shop opening.

Love from Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Today is the Mother's Day

2006-05-14T17:41:00.000+09:00

Last night, our friend Mota and Sazuka-san came to the shop and we had some fun chat with wine, soup and tea! As we sat outside, it was so cold after dark! Temperature was dropped to the end of March average!
Yesterday after our shop is closed, I went to my Mother's house and stayed there and came back this morning. Since the shop is now open until 20:00, we cannot leave Jingumae before 20:30 so earliest I can go to my Mom's is around 9pm. Even late I wanted to give the mother's day gift to my mom. This year's gift is "Hopper Cana" cotton cushion with Japanese umbrella design.

This morning, we needed to come back to Jingumae early. I was very sleepy as I was working on the Japanese blog until 4am so I slept about 1 hour then did the stepper workout before coming to the shop. As I didn't have time to go jogging around Gaien & Akasaka Gosho, I just did work out at my apartment. I had a good sweat in about 40 minutes exercise! My resolution for exercise
1. Early morning walk/run & radio gymnastics on week days
2. Aerobix on Wednesday, Friday, and Sundays
3. 10 k jogging around Gaien and Akasaka Gosho on week-ends
from Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Boutique Motai is now OPEN!

2006-04-21T13:30:00.000+09:00

Hospitality Japan.com's real shop, Boutique Motai, opened in Aoyama, Tokyo on April 29. During the Japanese Golden Week holidays, starting from April 29 until May 7, we had an opening week event to promote this new shop. Thank you for our friends to visit our shop!!!
With Nobeyama-san and Sazuka-san, beautiful ladies working as our shop managers, we have started our retail business. We will continue to promote and hope to have many visitors to our shop in the future.

http://metropolis.japantoday.com/default.asp

http://www.crisscross.com/jp/

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Globalization and Localization

2006-04-16T14:49:00.000+09:00

I do everything on the internet. I studied and graduated master's degree online from University of Phoenix. During 1 and half years of studying online, I met many teachers and students from all over the world sharing our suffer for assignment to complete! I met my classmates for the first time for our graduation ceremony but we talked like knowing each other for a long time (of course!). This experience made me aware of what internet can do globally and locally!

We have two English websites online and through the site we could get customers' feedback from all over the world.

At the same time, recently I was looking for a shop space for our 1st real shop in the very focused area, Omote-sando/Aoyama/Harajuku or Daikanyama in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. We visited so many local real estate agencies but information are always the same and everybody said the same thing "This is a very popular area so it is so difficult to find a shop space. Even there is a vacancy, it will be taken immediately by the local contacts." I did the net searching for the real estate for shops and finally got this shop around 2am in the morning!!! The ad was on post on the web late at night and I applied first!! Next day, there were so many inquiry for the shop but as I took it first, we could take the great ideal shop. It is right on the targeted area!! But I could not get this information from the local real estate agencies!

I see the opportunities of internet more and more for both global and local communications.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Signed up a lease contract for the HJ SHOP !!!

2006-04-14T17:55:00.000+09:00

Today, we have signed up a lease contract for our real shop in Aoyama, Tokyo.
Since we started to look for the shop location in mid-March, we visited various different towns in Tokyo looking for the opportunities. Finally, our primary focus was on either Omote-Sando/Aoyama area or Daikanyama.
Because of the "Omote-Sando Hills" Openining in March, basically no shop is available in town as there are so many inquiry for shops in Omote Sando, Harajuku or Aoyama!!!
We are so lucky to be able to obtain this space and hope everybody to come to our opening on 4/29 - 5/5!

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Easter Egg Art made of Japanese Chiyogami Papers

2006-04-03T02:04:00.000+09:00

Easter – Easter Eggs made of “chiyogami” washi paper
If you are decorating your room for the Easter holidays, how about the Japanese “chiyogami” washi paper for creating Easter eggs?
“Chiyogami” paper is available in many different traditional Japanese designs. Pick up spring flowers or pastel color designs. If you use the egg art technique and empty the contents of eggs, beautiful "Chiyogami" eggs will keep forever to brighten up your Easter holiday decor with the Japanese Style.

Japanese values seasonal themes of the four seasons. From this perspective, cherry blossom viewing in Japan is the biggest spring event to welcome the coming of the spring. Therefore, cherry blossom theme is one of the common features of the Japanese designs. Hospitality Japan.com presents the seasonal Hanami motifs with the Hopper Cana” obi cushions, kinran cushions, and decorative fans. You can create the “Japanese Style” decor of the spring floral theme.
Chiyogami print papers are beautiful and strong as they are silk screened on Kozo washi paper. Variety of traditional Japanese designs are used for kimono. Chiyogami papers are flexible and strong so they are ideal to create Easter egg arts, decorating, book arts, origami and collage. Hospitality Japan.com presents all hand made Chiyogami papers by Shimayu in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
Spring like decor in the Japanese Style is also created by "Hopper Cana" Japanese fabric collection with spring motif and designs.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Cherry blossoms 2006

2006-03-27T16:51:00.000+09:00

Opening of cherry blossoms were very early this year and 21st of March is the public cherry blossom blooming in Tokyo in 2006. Pictures were taken on Saturday, March 25 around Jingu Gaien. Starting from weeping cherry trees which are almost in full bloom, the peak of Someiyoshino flowering will be around March 29? Last weekend and next weekend are the peak of cherry blossom viewing parties in Tokyo, Japan for 2006. For those living abroad, I will share the view of cherry blossoms live from Tokyo by publishing the pictures.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

"Hanami" Cherry Blossoms Viewing

2006-03-15T22:36:00.000+09:00

Hanami is one of the most popular spring events in Japan. Everybody - families, friends, company colleagues - secures places to view the fully open cherry blossoms. In the famous sites for cherry blossom viewing, seasonal cherry blossom viewing events with nighttime illumination or temporary seasonal food stalls are organized. Hanami often is the first picnic luncheon occasion of the year and many people enjoy warm weather and dining outside under the cherry blossom trees. Securing the best spots in very popular places such as Ueno Park or Aoyama Cemetery Park in Tokyo is very competitive and the assigned junior person of the group usually arrives very early to the spot to keep the reserved space until the group members arrive. Hanami is a very popular party occasion in Japan. People enjoy dancing and karaoke under cherry trees in full bloom, and a lot of Japanese sake and other alcoholic beverages are consumed with Japanese food arranged in the lunch boxes. As April is the beginning of the school year as well as the business financial year in Japan, often new employees are assigned for the seat warmers of the Hanami parties. To arrange the cherry blossom viewing picnic in the festive style, it is a common custom to bring Japanese food beautifully placed on the Japanese lacquered lunch boxes.

Japanese values seasonal themes of the four seasons. From this perspective, cherry blossom viewing in Japan is the biggest spring event to welcome the coming of the spring. Therefore, cherry blossom motif is one of the beloved features of the Japanese designs. Hospitality Japan.com presents the seasonal cherry blossom design items with the "Hopper Cana" obi cushions, kinran cushions, and decorative fans. You can create a "Japanese Style" decor of the spring floral image in your room with these items.

From Cecilia

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Japanese Kinran Fabrics

2006-03-01T01:51:00.000+09:00

Kinran & Ginran Japanese Fabrics

Kinran (gold brocade) and Ginran (silver brocade) fabrics are woven by inserting gold or silver covered thread into a plain ground of silk or art silk weaving. Kinran & ginran fabrics were originally brought to Japan from China during the Kamakura period by Zen priests and were used for the imperial court dance costumes.

Now, kinran & ginran fabrics are used for creating the Japanese dolls’ costumes such as “Hina” dolls which are decorated on the Doll Festival on March 3^rd. Common motifs are traditional patterns such as peony, chrysanthemums, Japanese fans or Japanese handballs.

Japanese kinran and ginran fabrics techniques were originally developed into the Japanese Style in Sakai (Osaka) and Nishijin (Kyoto) district. Now, fabrics called “Nishijin-ori” are considered to be the best quality Japanese silk fabrics used for Japanese obis.

“Hopper Cana” creates beautiful Japanese Style cushions or table runners with kinran & ginran fabrics or “Nishijin-ori” fabrics used for antique obis. They are all hand-made and come with the hand-knitted tassels including the traditional Japanese patterned pottery beads.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique
Hospitality Japan.com

Ume blossoms

2006-02-19T03:15:00.000+09:00

We enjoy the four seasons very much. In Japan, we feel the coming of spring by the signs of blooming of blossoms. The first blossoms are "ume" (Japanese plum) blossoms followed by "momo" (Japanese peach) and "sakura" (Japanese cherry).
Today we joged around Sendagaya to check the ume blooming status. Jogging course was starting from the National Stadium - Hatomori Shrine - Shinjuku Gyoen Palace Garden - Sendagaya Noh-gakudo (Stage for the Japanese lyrical "Noh" drama) and back to the National Stadium.
Ume trees were almost coaxed into showing signs of blooming.
Maybe next week-end will be at their peak.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Hina Doll Festival #2 & Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-12T02:25:00.002+09:00

We have decorated our "Hina" dolls (emperor & empress for the Girls' Festival).
On March 3rd, we will arrange a Doll Festival table with seafood sushi, clam soup and special Doll Festival sweets. Colors of Doll Festival are pink (life & body), green (health & eternity), and white (virgin snow & earth).
Japanese Style decoration for Doll Festival is created by the "chirimen" pillow and "obi" pillows.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Doll Festival and Chirimen Japanese Fabrics

2006-02-09T03:19:00.000+09:00

On March 3^rd, we celebrate Doll Festival (Girls’ Day). Traditionally we sacrificed dolls representing our bad luck to the running water wishing for the good luck. These customs were turned into Doll Festival to wish for the healthy growth and happiness of the girls by displaying “Hina” dolls. Dolls consists of the emperor and empress, their servants and sacrifices to them. Sources: Doll Festival in Japan: http://iroha-japan.net/iroha/A01_event/05_hinamatsuri.html

Colors of Doll Festival:
Pink: Peach blossoms ridding girls of bad luck, Life
White: White sake which removes the negative vibes from the girls, Snowy Earth
Green: Felon herb whose flavor removes the negative vibes, Germ of the trees

Offerings of Doll Festival: “Hishi-Mochi” (Lozenge-shaped rice cake): “Hishi-Mochi” represents a human heart and symbolizes parents’ wish for children’s health Clam Shell: Relativity of the clam shells represents the girls’ virtue

History of Doll Festival:
In Muromachi era (1338-1573), there were customs to sacrifice the paper dolls by stroking them with the wish for the perfect state of health to the running water. At the same time, aristocrats decorated the playing dolls for their wishes to come true.
In Edo era (1603-1867), 2^nd Shogun Hidetada celebrated Doll Festival in grand style when his daughter Tokuko married to the Emperor Gomizuo. This event was spread to the shogunate and to the inner palace to celebrate the Doll Festival. Eventually, Doll Festival became the national event after the Edo shogunate government specified March 3^rd as the Doll Festival.

“Hinamatsuri” (Doll Festival) Japanese Style decoration tips:
“Hina” dolls displayed for the Doll Festival are made of Japanese “Chirimen” fabrics. “Chirimen” fabrics are made of silk or art silk with beautiful colors and traditional Japanese patterns. Beautiful Japanese décor with the Japanese Style full of the Japanese hospitality makes come true easily with Hospitality Japan.com Boutique “Chirimen” products.
“Chirimen” Japanese fabrics products

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique
Hospitality Japan.com

"Setsubun" on February 3 and Japanese Masks

2006-01-27T14:50:00.000+09:00

On February 3rd, which is the day before “Risshun” (Spring Begins) as well as New Year’s Eve in the lunar calendar, we celebrate “Setsubun” mamemaki (throwing beans). Traditionally “Toshi Otoko” meaning head man of the house or “year men” who are born in the animal sign of the coming year in the Oriental zodiac (2006 is the year of the dog) throw beans to someone dressed as “oni” (ogre) character wearing red or blue ogre masks saying Oni wa Soto, Fuku wa Uchi (Demon Out, Happiness In). After the ritual throwing of the beans, family members eat the number of beans corresponding to their age wishing the good fortune of the coming year. Setsubun is celebrated at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines throughout Japan. For throwing beans, we use roasted soy beans. It is also a tradition to decorate a holy tree in front of the house with a head of a sardine, bean hull (and its sound), and holly thorn so that bad spirits will not enter.
Sources:
Setsubun in Japan: http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm

We have arranged a Japanese Style table top for the “Setsubun” festival. On the new year’s eve of the lunar calendar, we throw beans towards Japanese “oni” demon character wishing for the coming year’s fortune. After the ritual ceremony, each family member eats the roasted soy beans corresponding to the age. The personal “Setsubun” set is good for the pre dinner appetizer after the ritual ceremony. On the lacquer tray, miniature bottle of sake and small sake hand-blown glass is placed on “Hopper Cana” Kinran fabric coaster. Accompaniment for sake is the roasted soy beans and “Setsubun” snacks. A dried branch of beans hull is arranged wishing for the happiness of the coming year as the old legend teaches that the sound of dried beans hull moves away the demons.

Hospitality Japan.com Boutique presents Japanese masks to create the Japanese Style atomosphere in your room.
Available in Fox, Red Ogre, Blue Ogre, Okame, Hyottoko, Tengu

To read the entire article of Hospitality Japan.com Monthly News Letter, please click here.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

When it snows, let's enjoy "Nabe" & hot sake.

2006-01-27T13:38:00.000+09:00

Last Weekend, we had snow in Tokyo. Compared to the other international cities in the world, Tokyo is extremely weak on snow. Trains stop, airport is closed, taxies disappear (as Tokyo taxi drivers are not used to driving in the snow so they stop working afraid of accidents)!!
I took this picture from National Stadium when I went to the gym just to take a hot bath.
Because traffic system goes off the rails, Tokyo residents tend to stay at home on these snowy weather.
At home, you want to enjoy a good meal which will warm you up. In Japan, our favorite menu for those cold days is called "Nabe" cuisine meaning one-pot dish cooked at the table. "Nabe" is extremely popular with variety of different recipes. Most popular type "Nabe" is to cook your favorite meat, seafood and vegetables in the soy sauce based or miso (bean paste) based soup in the pot. Usually we place a portable gas stove on the dining table and family and frends gather and eat your favorite things.
When you have "Nabe" party, the best drink to have with "Nabe" is hot sake.
If you have "Nabe" and hot sake in a warm room, it will make your body and soul happy and warm.
Hospitality Japan.com presents a Sake Set made of Japanese pottery. It comes as a set of 1 container and 2 matching sake cups. Hand-made texture of the pottery makes your sake taste much better.
Second winter presentation from Hospitality Japan.com Boutique is a Japanese quilt snowman coaster. This "Fura" hand-made snowman coaster uses antique kimono fabrics. Each snowman is slightly different and unique. Please let them join in your Japanese Style winter table collection.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Japanese Fabrics

2006-01-17T12:52:00.000+09:00

Japanese fabrics with various traditional Japanese patterns can transform your interior decor quickly to the Japanese style.
In Japan, we create a temporary sitting area with pillows for parties and gatherings.
"Hopper Cana" collection features pillows made of beautiful Japanese fabrics such as Obi, Kinran, or Chirimen series.

We have recently added beautiful stationary boxes made of chirimen fabrics used for "furoshiki" wrapping cloth. They can store letters, documents and any other paper or stationary. Perfect to decorate your desktop in the Japanese style.

Japanese "furoshiki" wrapping cloth is very handy. Of course you can wrap the gifts to present nicely in the Japanese style. In addition, "furoshiki" can be used for various purposes such as tablecloth, mat or napkins.

Please enjoy decorating in the Japanese style with the Japanese fabrics.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Year of the Dog 2 - Special Feature of HJ Boutique

2006-01-13T14:28:00.000+09:00

As I mentioned before, one of our customers suggested to feature the dog motif items and goods for pet to celebrate the "Year of Dog". So we did! Please visit our Special Feature - Year of Dog site. We are presenting beautiful collars and matching leads and harnesses made of Japanese fabrics and Japanese pottery containers with bone design for your dog. We look forward to hearing from you about the "Year of Dog" special feature.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Tokyo Scenery

2006-01-11T15:54:00.000+09:00

We are experiencing a very cold winter now. In Tokyo, the weather has been clear but record-high amount of snow is causing serious problem in various area in Japan.

We would like to introduce the lively Tokyo information which is rapidly changing. Attached pictures are Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge view from the top of Roppongi Hills and Mt. Fuji view from the window of apartment in the heart of Tokyo, Harajuku in Shibuya-ku!! I think this Mt. Fuji view is a rare shot.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Coming of the Age Day

2006-01-11T15:18:00.000+09:00

In Japan, 2nd Monday of January is the "Coming of the Age" National Holiday. This is the national holiday to celebrate the new joiner to the official adult age in Japan, which is 20. New adults who became age 20 in the past 12 months are invited to the ceremony of the local town. Many new adults wear traditional kimono costume for the day and enjoy parties drinking sake or wines officially.

It is an idea to send hand-blown glasses as the gift for the day.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Year of the dog

2006-01-06T17:44:00.000+09:00

Year of the DOG
The year 2006 is a year of the Dog in the Oriental Zodiac. One of our prescious readers and customers suggested on introducing the dog motif items congratulating the year of the dog which comes only once in 12 years. Hospitality Japan.com Boutique will introduce some unique Japanese items related to dogs or items for dogs. Items shown below are Japanese papier-mache "Hariko" dogs. Many Japanese decorate the animal of the year wishing for the happiness and prosperity of the family throughout the year. Hospitality Japan.com welcomes your comment and posting and we will make our site to satisfy your needs.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

A Happy New Year 2006

2006-01-03T19:04:00.000+09:00

At the beginning of the new year, Japanese appreciate the new year sunrise wishing for the success and happiness of the coming year.

As the new year holidays, which continues from December 31 until January 3 at least in Japan, are the biggest and longest national holidays, there are various traditional practice and preserved culture.
New year holidays are the time of home town return and family reunion and welcoming home prepares the traditional "Osechi" dishes in the Japanese lacquerware containers. We decorate "Kadomatsu" pine evergreen trees at the both sides of the home entrance. We exchange new year postcards informing the family news and topics.　We visit shrines to pray for the prosperous new year and women wear traditional kimonos. We would like to preserve the traditions such as new year "Shishi" Lion dancing.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Hopper Cana Brand

2005-12-14T23:35:00.000+09:00

Cana Miyata is our designer. Cana creates the beautiful Japanese world using the traditional Japanese fabrics and patterns. Cana's pillows, table runners, mats and coasters transform your room into the world of Japanese hospitality.
You can find "Hopper Cana" products at our Yoyogi-Uehara Boutique or at our "Japan"ese Boutique below.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique Christmas Fair

2005-11-29T02:46:00.000+09:00

Hospitality Japan.com Christmas Fair - Great opportunity to get your Christmas gifts so please don't miss this chance.
Come and visit us!

Dates: Friday, December 9 - Sunday, December 11
Time: 11:00am - 8:00pm on Friday, 10:00am - 6:00pm on Saturday & Sunday
Place: 5 minutes from Higashi Kitazawa Station of Odakyu Line
7 minutes from Yoyogi Uehara Station of Odakyu/Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Lines
Very close to Oyamacho Crossing of Inokashira Street - Please refer to the map

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Our Post at Japan Today Forum

2005-10-27T22:38:00.000+09:00

Please take a look at our website post at Japan Today Forum at http://forum.japantoday.com/m_624412/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#624412

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Our renewed HJ site

2005-10-26T03:11:00.000+09:00

HJ links should be renewed, too.

We have renewed our HJ site so please come and visit to post your opinion on this site.

Our HJ Boutique site is under the way for renewal, too, so please look for the new version. We will introduce the new site in this blog when it is done.

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Hospitality Japan.com

Kisuke

2005-10-26T02:50:00.000+09:00

Our Kisuke Collection is introduced in furniture boutique and fabrics boutique of our Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique. Kisuke furniture is created by three artists, Makino, Kume and Okayasu. Kisuke fabrics is created by Makino. Their workshop is in Kiso, Nagano which is famous for the Japanese lacquerware and preserves old Japanese culture and its landscape/atmosphere.

Hospitality Japan.com

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Mackenzie Thorpe Reception

2005-10-26T02:32:00.000+09:00

Monday, September 26, 2005

We went to Mackenzie Thorpe's 3rd Reception to introduce his works and his life-work in Japan. Mackenzie has a LD handicap and overcame it by support of his family and with his talent for art. In our Japanese website http://www.hospitalityjapan.jp/, we would like to intoduce artists and his/her arts full of hospitality to the Japanese people.

Hospitality Japan.com

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Izu-men Kobo

2005-10-26T02:08:00.000+09:00

Monday, September 12, 2005

We went to Izu Nagahama to meet the washi paper artizan/artist, Suzuki-san, at his atlier. Suzuki-san is the fellow to develop the Japanese woodblock print arts/artists and works globally to support these artists. Suzuki-san grows plants to make his own washi-paper in his field and chose the place for his work place/home where has the natural pure water sources from the mountain necessary for the first quality paper. Suzuki-san's lighting fixtures is created just for the private space which is lighted with full of hospitality spirit he considers important. Suzuki-san's life style shows the good old Japanese living with full of Japanese hospitality.

Hospitality Japan.com

Hospitality Japan.com "Japan"ese Boutique

Japanese Cranes Patterns

2005-09-07T00:54:00.000+09:00

Cranes are lucky symbols in Japan as they are supposed to live for thousand years. There are many beautiful crane patterns and arts in Japan wishing for a good luck.

Link

Link

September Table

2005-09-07T00:42:00.000+09:00

September's table is decorated on the table cloth using Japanese furoshiki cloth in the autumn theme chrysanthemums and colored maple leaves patterns. Cutlery rest is a rabbit to reflect "Full Moon Festival". Other tablewares are coordinated with warm-colored Japanese laquerwares.
This beautiful laquerware with lid (size: 24.5cm/9.65 inches) is available at our "Japan"ese Boutique
Link

Link

SMAP Concert

2005-09-06T03:19:00.000+09:00

As we live in the central Tokyo, sometimes there is a good advantage in the neighborhood. This past Saturday and Sunday, SMAP, Japanese one of the most popular music groups, had concerts at the National Arena in Sendagaya.
On Saturday, September 3, we could have their rehearsal as BGM while working out in the gym downstairs of the National Arena.
On Sunday, September 4, we could enjoy their live music while walking and enjoying the beautiful lightened "Kaiga-kan" view and later from our balcony relaxing with wine and beers.

Yanaka Festival and Jingu Fireworks

2005-09-05T00:05:00.000+09:00

One of the big summer time fun in Japan is summer festivals and fireworks all over Japan. Of course in Tokyo, the big metropolitan city, we have much fun to do in the summer time. This summer, we enjoyed Yanaka Festival on August 28 Chofu Fireworks on July 23, and Jingu Fireworks on August 1. Festivals and fireworks viewing are the time for men and women to enjoy traditional Japanese yukata fashion.
Yanaka Festival for year 2005 is the big regional festival celebrated only once in three years (other years only the local festivals on each shrine). They start to walk around the local area carrying the minuture shrines and parade floats in the morning. Various food stalls are built along the narrow street towards the major regional shrine of Yanaka which is 800 years old. After thanking for the divine aids locally at each shrine, all the miniture shrines carried by local guys gather at the entrance of approach to the regional shrine and switch to the large miniture shrine which makes appearance only once in three years. When the large shrine is carried over the narrow street toward the major regional shrine, it is full of excitement !!!! Full of people and the summer festival goes to the grand finale!

Cana Miyata who creates "Hopper Cana" Brand

2005-09-04T02:48:00.000+09:00

Cana Miyata is a very talented young top designer of Hospitality Japan.com (http://www.boutique-hospitalityjapan.com/) featuring "Hopper Cana" Brand. Cana creates beautiful tabletop fabrics and pillows from the Japanese fabrics such as "Nishijin", "Ise-ori" and Japanese Indigo.

Hakocho Kiri Incision "kimekomi"

2005-09-04T02:29:00.000+09:00

Hakocho, one of the Edo artizan workshop located in Asakusa, Tokyo, is specializing in Kiri Incision called "kimekomi". Hakocho is run by Miyata family in Edo/Tokyo for years.
Shinji Miyata creates and inlay kimono cloth coated with Japanese paper into the carved grooves. The beautiful fabrics include unevenly dyed fabric using a method called shibori mixed with cotton.

Hakocho's kimekomi features the traditional Japanese patterns such as butterflies, cranes and handballs.

Shimayu washi/chiyogami paper shop and "Eiko" washi artist

2005-09-04T02:09:00.000+09:00

Shimayu is located in Matsumoto, Nagano, featuring beautiful Japanese washi and chiyogami papers.

Eiko, a very talented washi paper artist, is also the owner of Shimayu. She creates beautiful dolls of traditional Japanese heroes and heroines out of Shimayu washi and chiyogami papers. They are all hand-made and a work is one and the only for you as the same product can never be created.
Eiko introduced her arts broadcasted in TV Tokyo in September, 2005.

Nishiyama Laquerware

2005-09-04T01:47:00.000+09:00

Nishiyama is one of the oldest laquerware speciality wholesaler in Kappabashi, the famous kitchen and tabletop wholesalers area in Tokyo.
Beautiful Japanese laquerware (Japan) is great to add a Japanese hospitality taste in your table decorations.

Funokei Daruma

2005-09-04T01:14:00.000+09:00

Funokei is a family-run "daruma" manufacturer located in Matsumoto, Nagano, making traditional daruma dolls all by hand-made.

A Dharuma (Daruma) doll is the speciality of Matsumoto, Funokei's home town, and this is made in the workshop owned by relatives.
A Daruma doll is named after a Chinese priest (a Zen Buddhist) who lived in the 6th century. He sat cross-legged in silent meditation for nine years, and finally became enlightened. The doll shows what he looks like.
It has weighted bottom, so that is always comes back to an upright position when it is tipped over. It symbolizes good luck because it never falls down.
People paint one eye when they buy it and paint the other when their wish is realized. With the help of this Daruma doll your wish will be fulfilled.

Katayama-san's Kiri Tansu Chest of Drawers

2005-09-03T19:55:00.000+09:00

”Kiri" (paulawnia) is traditionally considered the best wood for storage furniture, "tansu" chest of drawers, in Japan as it is good for preventing humidity, fire, and durability. "Kiri" tansu has been preserving the prescious kimono and goods of Japanese households. Katayama-san is one of the artizans still keeping the handcraft skills of Edo (old Tokyo) craftworks who had been awarded Tokyo Metoropolitan Governors' Award. Katayama-san presented his works on numbers of overseas handcraft artizans' exhibits.

Quest in Roppongi 3rd Anniversary

2005-08-27T20:25:00.000+09:00

Roppongi is the "international" night time entertainment in Tokyo. There are many foreigner residents in this area as well as visitors as Roppongi is internationally introduced as the place to visit for fun in any tourist guide books.

We went to Quest bar's 3rd Anniversary Party on Friday/Saturday, August 26. Acturally we went there at 2a.m. and the show and lottery was just about to start!!??? meaning the businest time of the night.
Show was fantastic!

When you come and visit Japan, my friend Betty Lee can handle it (http://www.zamaitt.com/), please enjoy the fun at Quest in Roppongi.

The talented lady at the show is now serving inside the bar.

Azabu Juban International Festival

2005-08-20T04:28:00.000+09:00

Azabu Juban Shrine to celebrate Azabu Juban International Festival.
Brazilian Samba Show on the stage.
Another food stall making a dried and grilled squid flattening.
Typical festival food stall and a customer in yukata costume.
Filipino booth at the international arena.
Middle-East booth at the international arena.
Dutch booth at the international arena.

Among the many mid-summer festivals in Tokyo, Azabu Juban International Festival is one of the very popular and unique festival. Azabu Juban is located very close to Roppongi and many foreign residents live in this area. Korean town is also located here. Azabu Juban also preserves a good old Tokyo tradition by walking the local shopping area. Traditionally and as a trendy fashion, many people enjoy wearing "Yukata" casual kimono to go to summer festivals.

Hospitality Japan.com & "Japan"ese Boutique

2005-08-19T04:12:00.000+09:00

We have been working on creating our website called
Hospitality Japan.com http://hospitalityjapan.com
"Japan"ese Boutique http://www.boutique-hospitalityjapan.com
since May of this year.
It has been a real challenge mostly because "English" world and "Japanese" world in the internet society is compeletely (or almost) separated. I have experienced this while I was studying master's degree from the U.S. graduate school online as I could rarely obtain any of my sources in the Japanese site.
Currently our challenge is to make these websites in real as we found sooooo many barriers because of the no-link situation between two languages in the internet world.
I am working hard to make it happen and inform you as soon as you can purchase our wonderfurl Japanese traditional and modern design products via internet.

August 18, 2005 signed by Cecilia Frog.

Japanese Fireworks and Festivals

2005-08-10T01:27:00.000+09:00

"Our Progress" ---- big sigh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our websites I have been creating since May this year is finally coming into a shape as follows:
Hospitality Japan.com http://hospitalityjapan.com
"Japan"ese Boutique http://www.boutique-hospitalityjapan.com

However, it was not easy as in the internet world, barrier between English language and Japanese language is like a two completely different world. In every single aspect, you can do item 1 in Japanese but have to go through the different channel in English .... and there is no "link" between them!!!!

I would like to bridge over the two languages and culture through our websites.

My Golden Week Holidays #2

2005-05-09T01:46:00.000+09:00

After the long UOP MMI study was finally over, my Golden Week for 2005 has started. April 29 was a nice day as I mentioned earlier. April 30 and May 1 was spent at the gym (my next step is to loose weight as I am eating and drinking too much after the "work and study" stress).
From May 2 to 5 I went to Yatsugatake Mountain House. On May 2, I was supposed to wake up at 5:00am but could not wake up until 7:00am. We gave up the original plan and departed Tokyo around 9:00am.
We went to "Hichiken" Sake Brewary in Hakushu. It is a great place preserving the historical "Tsukuri Sakaya" building which had an honor of accommodating the Emplor of Meiji. They also have a shop which serves the sake tasting experience. After that we found a very nice craftman neighboring "Hichiken" called Komoda who can be the supplier of the coming website called Hospitality Japan.com. We then went to our favorite Gansen soba noodle shop and enjoyed Hichiken sake, soba noodles and spring vegetables tempura.
May 3 was spent quietly at the mountain house with walking, some work and going to the "Masutomi Onsen" hot springs.
On May 4, we had a walk and picked up Cana-chan in Kobuchizawa. Lunch at Italian restaurant (so so, yappari soba at "Gansen" was a better idea) and walk around Resonale. We took Cana-chan to "Masutomi" hot springs and had dinner and drink at the house.
On May 5, Poohee climbed the Takatoya Mountain and we had a walk with Cana-chan after the breakfast. We did photoes shooting used for the website of the Hospitality Japan.com. We then went for purchasing Cana-chan's ticket at Kawakami Station and shopping at Nana's and had a BBQ lunch. I showed how it looks the Cana-chan's works on the website by slide show. We took Cana-chan to Kawakami Station. We had cleaned up the house for the coming season and went home after stopping at Oizumi Health Hot Springs. There was an accident on the Chuo Express Way so it took us 4 hours (from 10:00pm to 2:00am) to come back home.
May 6 was a work day (so much to do as I did not go to the office after April 26 for more than a week).
On May 7, I went to Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Runathon/Walk with Kaji-san, Nakada-san, Eno-san, Ai-chan and Iwahara-san. As I had cold after so much to do for long (MMI study, work on website at the Mt. House, work on May 6), I had cold and some fever so I did not run by kept everybody's bags. It was cold and rainy in the moring but the weather changed dramatically to sunny and warm by the noon. I came back to Jingumae by walking from Aoyama 1-chome to home. By then my condition was really bad and I had to have some rest and medicine. I continued my blog and survey work to use as the market research for the coming website during the night.
On May 8 which is the last day of the Golden Week of 2005, I went to the gym and did the normal jog (10K), aerobics, and machine trainings.
From tomorrow, I have to go back to my general routine and should concentrate on the completion of the Hospitality Japan.com website.

Golden Week is over and May is for creating the homepage

2005-05-09T01:27:00.000+09:00

My University of Phoenix Master of Management International Course which started in November 2003 was finally over on April 27, 2005. Work and study at the same time was really hard (much more than I could have imagined). I was busy with my work on the renovation of a VIP guest house on April 27 and 28 to welcome the VIP guests for the coming Golden Week holidays. We had a great calendar of Golden Week holidays in Japan which lasted for maximum 10 days if you take only 2 days off! To congratulate my finish of the Master's degree, my Golden Week started with the Sushi dinner at Kitazawa Club on April 27 after posting my final assignment at the midnight. Apirl 28 was hard work in Hakone which brought me home finally around the midnight. On April 29, I had a good holiday starting with the birthday shopping of my beloved niece, Shoko, and my mom in Shibuya followed by lunch at Hong Kong Garden dim sum lunch with the whole family including Kay and Ken in Hiroo. Then I went to Yanaka and Sendagi with Poohee to look for the materials for my Hospitality Japan.com website.

Japanese Hospitality

2005-03-06T03:39:00.000+09:00

In Japan, we used to treat our guests with the heartful cordiality. We can find this spirit in the traditional culuture such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement. In the traditional Japanese sports like judo, karate, kendo and aikido, charity towards adversary in battle and fair battle is appraised. Japanese meal consists of the white rice, miso soup with vegetables in season, dishes of local vegestables in season, tofu, seaweed and the local fresh or preserved seafood is kind to your health keeping your body balance originated from the nature. I would like to re-discover these precious Japanese hospitality and introduce to the people of the different culture in the globe and share the spirit through the communication and exchange what we want to preserve.