If you’re reading this post in late winter and happen to be in Tokyo, today you’ve enjoyed fewer than 10 hours of daylight. Where I’m writing from, mid-Coast Maine, the sun sets very early, at an alarming 4:30 pm, offering up fewer than 9 hours of […]
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To start, could you briefly introduce yourself and share what led you to open OKAMI LABO? How long has it been open? Hello, my name is Nobuko Matsuzaka, the owner of Chōkatsu OKAMI LABO. After graduating from university in Tokyo, I worked for five years as […]
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In this three-part series, we are featuring Kyoto restaurants that offer more than just fantastic food, but also support and contribute to the local arts community. The chefs at these restaurants either practice art themselves, co-run a gallery, or support local artists by hosting art and […]
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As millions of visitors to Japan already know, Kyoto is a city not to be missed, offering countless opportunities to experience historic temples, shrines, art, and time-honored culture. In addition to the incredible traditions that still thrive in Kyoto, a contemporary food and art scene is […]
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D&Department is a decades-long project founded by Nagoka Kenmei in 2002 and is known for its innovative focus on Long Life Design. D&Department’s activities include workshops, exhibitions, travel guides, events — and much more — all of which foster the development of close relationships with producers, […]
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Tokyo is a wonderful place to enjoy the exceptional adventures that are only possible in a large metropolitan center with a seemingly endless range of globally influenced food, art, and culture available 24/7. After spending a few days in a dense concentration of urban opportunity, visitors […]
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Welcome to the final segment of our four-part series on notable tea regions in Japan! In this post, we land in Kyoto Prefecture’s Uji region to experience the cultural heart and history of tea in Japan. If you are just now joining us, check out our […]
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Welcome to part three of our four-part series on notable tea regions in Japan. So far, we’ve covered both Kagoshima Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture. Today we will spend some time at the base of Mt. Fuji in the tea fields of Shizuoka Prefecture. Next time, in […]
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Perhaps you’re ready to start brewing Japanese tea at home but not sure where to begin. Today’s post will share a few basic, but essential tea utensils that can help transform a mundane tea experience into a simple, but beautiful and deeply flavorful experience that can […]
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Most tea lovers know that all tea comes from the same plant – camellia sinensis. Whether you’re drinking green, black (also known as red), oolong, pu-erh, or yellow tea, camellia sinensis is the steeped leaf you are consuming. It can be kind of astonishing to keep […]
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