Thursday, May 28, 2009

Oozora Kendama Blue & Sky Blue

Oozora Kendama Blue & Sky Blue 大空剣玉

Blue and Sky Blue Oozora Kendama.

Oozora Kendama are officially recognized by the Japan Kendama Association.

Blue

Oozora Kendama

Sky Blue

Pink Oozora Kendama Blue Ooozora Kendama

Oozora Kendama

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Pink Oozora Kendama Blue Oozora Kendama

Pink Oozora Kendama Blue Oozora Kendama 大空けん玉

We have some new color variations in stock of the popular JKA recognised Oozora kendama.

Pink Oozora Kendama Blue Ooozora Kendama

The new colors are an attractive pink and a stylish, ice-cool sky blue.

Pink Oozora Kendama Blue Ooozora Kendama

The look and feel of these new colors for the Oozora is top quality.

Oozora Kendama

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Monday, May 25, 2009

Japanese Product Videos

Japanese Product Videos

Browse through our collection of Japanese product videos on YouTube.

Products listed include electronic dictionaries, toys, kendama, spinning tops and gyroscopes.

Japanese Product Videos
Daruma

Chikyu Goma Gyros
Chikyu Goma Gyros

Taketombo kits


Solar Maneki Neko.
Solar Maneki Neko

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Tengu Hanafuda Cards

Tengu Hanafuda Cards 天狗花札

Nintendo, the Kyoto-based toy producer, has been making hanafuda playing cards since 1889.

Tengu Hanafuda Cards

These top quality Japanese playing cards come in two colors: black or red.

Tengu Hanafuda Cards

Ideal as presents, these hanafuda cards can be used in shop window dressing to give an easy and colorful Japanese touch to your design.

Tengu Hanafuda Cards

Tengu Hanafuda

Napoleon Hanafuda Cards

Deluxe Ukiyoe Playing Cards

Ukiyo-e Cards

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Taketombo Kit Instructions

Taketombo - Bamboo Dragonflies

Making a Taketombo (bamboo dragonfly)

A copy of these instructions with diagrams is included in any set of Taketombo purchased from GoodsFromJapan

Taketombo Kit Instructions

1. Put the piece of bamboo in the slot in the block of wood, so that the curved line is uppermost. Cut down the straight line, along the middle.

2. Cradle the block of wood in your fingers, leaving your thumb free.

3. Hold the knife just tightly enough so as not to drop it.

4. From the middle of the curve, cut along the curved line with your thumb on the knife, pushing away from yourself.

5. Turn the block around and cut the other side (as in step 4)

6. Cut along the line precisely to ensure a smooth edge.

7. Use sandpaper to smooth the four corners.
Use the knife to smooth the edges of the wing.

8. Balance the wing on the side of a glass to check the weight is same on each side. If one side is heavier, sand down the heavier side.

9. When both sides are even, the wing should balance on the glass as shown in Fig. 9 (in the instructions).

10. Wrap aluminum foil around the center of the wing. Using a lighter, heat the foil then twist each side in opposite directions, about 20 degrees each way.

Taketombo Kit Instructions

11. Make a hole in the center of the wing piece and insert the end of the stick into the hole. Color the edge of the wing with a red pen. Hold the taketombo between your palms and spin it. If you see one straight red line (and not two), that means it is balanced, and you can glue it in place. If two lines are visible, reheat and twist again.

Attaching the wing piece to the stick

Taketombo Kit Instructions

1. Both ends of the wings must be at a 90 degree angle.

2. Correct the angle by heating the wing piece up. Then check the balance of the wings. Make sure that both ends are at a 90 degree angle to the stick. Mark the edges of the wing with a red pen. When spun, the motion of the wings should be such that you see only a single red line.

To fly the Taketombo

Taketombo Kit Instructions

i) The lower end of the stick should be against the center of your right palm.

ii) Hold it lightly against your right palm with the middle joints of the fingers of your left hand.

iii) Rubbing your hands together and keeping your fingers splayed outwards, briskly push your left hand forward while pulling your right hand back. Tilting your hands slightly forward while performing this motion will send the Taketombo in a forward direction. Experiment with different angles of tilt to refine control of flight direction.

Disclaimer - Taketombo are suitable for children of around 8-years-old and over and should be flown away from the body and from other people. It is recommended they be used outdoors. GoodsFromJapan accepts no liability for injury or damage caused by these products.

Taketombo kits

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Japanese Watercolors

Japanese Watercolors 水墨画

Suiboku water paintings by Ransui Yakata, see a Japanese master watercolor artist and calligrapher in action.

Suiboku is a style of Japanese water painting, with its roots in China, and is closely associated with the art of calligraphy.

Japanese Calligraphy

Gay Paris.
水墨画

Japanese Calligraphy
水墨画

Peonies
水墨画

Japanese Watercolors
水墨画

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

TK Master 16 Kendama Blue

TK Master 16 Kendama Blue

The TK Master 16 kendama is put through its paces. A light and easy-to-use competition kendama, the blue version is a popular choice.

TK Master 16 Kendama Blue
This is the red version

TK Master 16 Kendama

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Japanese Gyroscopes

Japanese Gyroscopes

Enjoy this video of these toy Japanese gyroscopes available from GoodsFromJapan.com


Gyroscopes

© GoodsFromJapan.com

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Premium Tatami Edging

Premium Tatami Edging 畳

Our premium tatami mats come with a variety of different edges or heri in Japanese.

We have one design in brown: #50.

100 tatami border

The #50 border is a hexagon shape.

We have one design in green: #20.

#20

20

We have two different designs in blue: #40 and #90.

#40

40

#90

90

This new border is called Ajiro and is cheaper than the others, about 5 USD less in price per jo of tatami. Each jo is 88 x 176m (approx. 36 x 72 inches) so the border covers these dimensions.

Ajiro heri border for Japanese tatami

In addition we supply tatami with plain black or green cloth borders.

Premium goza mats

Tatami History & Culture

Yatsushiro & Tatami

© GoodsfromJapan.com