Inspiration

Life in Detail: The Marriage of Kodawari and Wabi-Sabi in Japanese Artisan Craft.

Behind the humble objects that make up our every day, there are 100 decisions that went into their creation. We may not think about these pieces more than in the moments we reach for them. They are...

The POJ Studio Gift Guide

When each piece is crafted by Japanese artisans, every gift you give will be meaningful. From foodies to self-care gurus, find the perfect present to slot into the lives of the people you care ab...

Our ‘‘Winter in Kyoto’’ itinerary

Japan's winter traditions weave heritage with seasonal transitions. The celebration of Toji,  Winter Solstice, marks the longest night of the year, symbolizing beginnings and the possibilities that...

Examples of Japanese ceramics

Japan’s nutrient-rich, volcanic soil, combined with centuries of cultural influences, have given rise to a wide spectrum of ceramics. Here are a few prominent representations of Japanese ceramics f...

Our “Autumn in Kyoto” itinerary

The autumn season in Japan has an ancient and textured history celebrating nature, the arts, and community.  From local to city-wide festivals known as matsuri, to tsukimi, or ‘‘moon viewing,’’ the...

All About Hinamatsuri

The 3rd of March is Hinamatsuri Girl’s Day in Japan, expressing gratitude for the good health and happiness of girls everywhere. Leading up to this day, we display small ornamental dolls called hi...

A Casual Tea Experience In Nara

茶論, read 'Chalon' or Tea Theory, is a play on words of 'Salon.' A recently opened tea house in Nara, it is the newest venture of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a company that has played a big role in ...

A Tea Stand Merging Old and New

A new and casual way to enjoy Japanese tea. Located on a street corner, it gathers people to have a ippuku or cup of tea in the form of matcha, genmaicha, and more.

A Taste of England in the Tea Capital of Japan

A new tea house called Uji-Kochakan recently opened in Uji, the green tea and matcha capital of Japan. Enjoy a taste of England here, where they offer 30 varieties of black teas, scones, cookies, a...

Porcelain Ware that Bridged Japan and the World

The iconic Arita ware, distinct for its blue and white color, gained international recognition in the 17th century. 400+ years later, people all over the world are seeing it evolve with contempora...

Daitoku-ji Temple Collaborates with Contemporary Illustrators

The room dividers of Daitoku-ji, the 14th-century Buddhist temple, served as canvases for contemporary illustrators. On a rare occasion, the exhibition brought together two distinct Japanese cultur...

The Tsuchiya School Bag For Grown Ups

Tsuchiya has been making Japanese school bags, randoseru, since 1965 and the way they make them hasn’t changed since. Every single bag is handcrafted and made to last. Now they are offering a vers...

Inspiring Ways of Dividing a Space

There are many inspiring ways that Shoji (room dividers) are used and made. Whether they are made of rice paper and wood or kumiko latticework, the beauty of it is that the structure itself can ope...

Bar Owner Reviving A Rural Town

It is only a matter of time until nature reclaims the land entirely in many of the rural regions of Japan - as younger people move out to bigger cities. After training as a cook in Tokyo, Takahiko ...

Issey Miyake Store in a 132-year-old Machiya

Naoto Fukasawa converted an old Kyoto townhouse, machiya, into an Issey Miyake store. Keeping the original structure intact, with its exposed timber, the facade and interior have a cohesive tone of...

A Rooftop Farm in Kyoto City Center

Find the lush rooftop farm amid Kyoto city center in a building with a grocery store and a few restaurants with a farm-to-table concept.

Tea-picking in the Birthplace of Matcha

My relatives recently went on tea picking via Airbnb in the countryside of Kyoto, Wazuka. That area has been producing tea for over 1000 years which is around the same time as the introduction of t...

Biodegradable Paper Plates For Parties

Made of paper and beautifully designed, not only are they biodegradable, but they are also perfect for parties!

An Architect Transforms Kyoto Townhouses

Shigenori Uoya is an architect in Kyoto who specializes in remodeling Japanese townhouses called machiya. A master of incorporating light in moody and dark machiyas, he is behind many projects we l...

100+ Years of Continuous Glassware Innovation

Kimura Glass, founded in 1910, continues to iterate and innovate while staying true to its heritage of hand-blown glass by collaborating with designers from various backgrounds.

Japanese Garden Tools to Get a Green Thumb

For the past 100 years, Kondo Seisakusho, based in a historical blacksmith town in Niigata, has been specializing in handcrafting tools for farming and agriculture.

Distinct Style of Construction Site Workers

The Japanese construction workers have their uniform, which is an adaptation of the western 'knickerbockers.' While the style has continued amongst workers, it has evolved to suit the construction ...