Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Japanese Teasets

Japanese Teasets

Japanese ceramic tea sets are known for their fine quality around the world.

Green Tea Could Prevent Cancer.
Japanese Green Tea

Camellia Tea Set

Our fine tea sets are produced in Tokoname just south of Nagoya.

Tokoname is one of the six historic pottery centers (The Six Ancient Kilns) of Japan. The others are: Bizen, Echizen, Seto, Shigaraki and Tamba.

Pottery making has a history of over 900 years in the Tokoname district and tokoname-yaki products from the area have been transported throughout Japan for centuries by sea from this coastal area and location now of the offshore Chubu International Airport.

Tokoname is credited as the birthplace of the distinctive red clay teapot.

Choose from a range of finely glazed and hand-painted Japanese tea-sets.

Japanese Tea Related

Sayama Japanese Green Tea

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Large Maneki Neko

招き猫

The Tokoname area south of Nagoya on the Chita Peninsula is famed for its high-quality ceramics production. GoodsFromJapan's maneki neko are sourced from this area and we are pleased to present some new maneki neko.

Maneki neko

These large size koban neko are 43 cm (17 inches) tall and 25 cm (10 inches) wide.

A koban is a gold coin from ancient Japan.

Maneki neko are good luck charms for prosperity and happiness and are particularly popular in the entrances to businesses and shops.

This cat is available with right or left hand beckoning in black or white.

Maneki neko are also mass-produced in China, but the quality of the ceramic cats remains superior in Japan.

招き猫
招き猫
招き猫
招き猫

Video

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Japanese Bamboo Flutes

Japanese Bamboo Flutes

The most well-known Japanese bamboo flute overseas is without doubt the shakuhachi and many Western musicians journey to Japan to begin the long journey to master the instrument's seductive sounds.

Japanese Bamboo Flutes

Many other kinds of bamboo flutes are also produced in Japan and have been for centuries.

The art of bamboo flute-making first came to Japan from China in about the 6th century.

Japanese bamboo flutes can be used to play rock and jazz and not just traditional Japanese music and meditation tunes. Many Western artists have integrated the sound of the Japanese flute into their music.

We offer some of the best hand-crafted Japanese bamboo flutes on the market today - made in Japan with centuries of traditional styling and tuning involved in the flutes' manufacture.

Japanese Kagura Dance Flutes.

A collection of genuine handmade Japanese flutes used in the ritual of the Iwami Kagura dance, a dramatic ritual that originated in the town of Iwami in Shimane prefecture as an appeasement dance for the Shinto gods.

With its long tradition, simply beauty, and pure tone, let the easy-to-play Iwami Kagura flute bring the magic of ancient Japanese dance music to your own fingers, lips and ears.

Prices starting from US$28.99

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Halloween Masks

Halloween Masks

Japanese traditional masks are ideal for Halloween. Japanese mask-making has a long history and the masks are associated with the ancient legends and myths of the Japanese people. Masks have been used in Japan for rituals, initiation rites and dance performances since as long ago as the Jomon Period (10,000 BC-300BC).

Buy Halloween masks from Japan
Traditional paper Japanese mask
Elaborate masks are also a part of traditional Japanese dramas and dance such as: Noh, Gigaku, Kyogen and Kagura.

Japanese masks are a mixture of both animal and human faces. As well as a form of disguise, the wearer of a mask takes on the spiritual force of the person or animal represented by the mask.

GoodsFromJapan's hand-crafted papier mache masks include tengu - the mischievous, sexually-suggestive, long-nosed forest spirit, the crafty fox, kitsune, otafuku - the female spirit of joy and happiness and the grotesque hyotoku - the human bellows (seen above).

Japanese mask


Japanese Halloween Masks

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Happi Festival Coats

Kyoto Happi Festival Coats

Festival Happi Coats
法被

Handmade happi festival coats from the Kyoto studio of Komori available online at GoodsFromJapan.com.

Happi coats evoke a cool fall day, drinking sake and beer, chewing on squid snacks—and carrying a two-ton mikoshi float around the shrine and neighborhood screaming "Wa-shoi! Wa-shoi!"

100% cotton.

It can be worn as a robe or used as a wall description.

Happi Coats.

Happi Festival Coats.
Happi Festival Coats

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Japanese Fans

Japanese Fans - Sensu 扇子

Japanese fan.

Handcrafted fans from the Kyoto studio of Kuraya available at GoodsFromJapan.com.

Kyoto fan and byobu maker Kuraya works out of his atelier near Myoshinji Temple in the western part of the ancient capital. He crafts beautiful, decorative fans and fan stands by hand.

A great gift.

Decorative Fans from Japan.

Handmade and handpainted fans straight from Kyoto.

扇子
扇子

Japanese folding fan.
扇子

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Eco-Chopsticks

Eco-Chopsticks

tripstixx

Eco-chopsticks available at GoodsFromJapan.com.

Eco-chopsticks are perfect for a trip, picnic, or at home. Say goodbye forever to rain-forest destroying wooden chopsticks.

Trippsticks are easy to carry, clean, and use. In your pocket, not the garbage can.

A great gift.

Eco Chopsticks.

Five years of online service, thousands of chopstick-using customers.

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Boonchin calligraphy paperweights

Boonchin calligraphy paperweights 文鎮


Boonchin calligraphy paperweights
Bunchin

bunchin (pronounced 'boon-chin') is Japanese for 'paperweight' and refers to the paperweights used in calligraphy.

I have studied Japanese calligraphy and am a keen, if amateur, practictioner of the art of drawing characters in Indian ink. Calligraphy in the East is initimately connected with the art of meditation and expresses the simplicity, patience and release of energy of that stern but liberating practice.

The paperweight is a vital tool in the act of expressing oneself throught the brush. It's intimacy with gravity is the yin to the yang of the spiritual flair that the act of wielding the brush evokes. Calligraphy being, like any art, an expression foremost of individuality, it is therefore fitting that the paperweight itself should be attributed something of a personality.

Whale calligraphy paperweight
Whale

The paperweights illustrated above are a selection of the kind used in Japanese calligraphy. The massive, gentleness of the whale, the dophin, expressing nature's affinity with humankind, the tengu: a carnival-like character tied up in the battle of good and evil, the carp: a traditional symbol of strength as it battles upstream to mate, and the gentle, cool, green curves of the cucumber representing the inanimate world's bounty.

All of these are cast in solid beautifully molded iron, some of them subtley colored as well. They feel like quality, resting firmly in your hand, and are of the durability that makes for a long-loved possession - even an heirloom. For all their artistry, quality and craftship they are surprisingly affordable.

Buy genuine Japanese boonchin iron calligraphy paperweights here.

Five years of online service, thousands of satisfied customers.

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Paper Lanterns From Japan

Paper Lanterns From Japan

Paper Lanterns From Japan

Beautiful lanterns available online at GoodsFromJapan.com.

Paper lanterns have been used for centuries in Japan, and continue to be used to this day in daily life. At stores and restaurants, during flea markets and festivals, they are a common and beautiful feature of life in Japan.

Paper Lanterns From Japan

Paper Lanterns selection from Japan.

Five years of online service, thousands of satisfied customers.

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Monday, October 02, 2006

Koma spinning tops from Japan

Koma spinning tops from Japan 独楽

Spinning tops are thought to have originated in ancient Egypt about 1000 BC and examples of spinning tops have also been found in Greece dating from 700 BC.

Japanese spinning top - koma
Koma spinning top

Most countries in the world have some tradition of spinning tops.

In Japan they are known as koma 独楽, are usually made of wood and have reached a very high degree of craftship and spinning sophistication over the years. It can be assumed that the spinning top came to Japan from China where they are known as tsa lin. Japanese tops are considered some of the very best in the world with new and inventive designs coming out each year.

Koma spinning tops
コマ

Our koma spinning tops are made from wood native to Japan, and are painted by hand.

Great as toys, decorations, or as a collector's item.

koma - spinning tops online exclusively at GoodsFromJapan.com.

100% Non-toxic materials.

© GoodsfromJapan.com