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Daikon Nimono (Boiled Daikon) 2008-02-05 23:11:00 I present easy recipes for sake.Today I tell you "Daikon Nimono".Ingredients:Daikon 1 pound (450g)Soy sauce 2 teaspoonsSake 2 teaspoonsSugar 2 teaspoonsKombu (Dried Kelp) approximately 2 x 3 inchesPreparation,Peel the daikon.Cut the daikon into 1 inch slice.Put the daikon and kelp in a pot, cover with water.Put soy sauce, sake and sugar in the pot.Boil the daikon for about 20 minutes with low flame.Cut the flame and keep the pot covered for 2 or 3 hours.(while cooling the flavor soaks into the daikon)Before eating, heat it again.The basics of Nimono.Please remember the ratio Sake 1 : Soy sauce 1 : Sugar 1.This ratio is common in Nimono and Japanese meals.If you like it sweeter or not so sweet, you can change the amount of sugar.Sometimes we use Mirin instead of sugar.It is the same ratio.You can add the Nimono to many foods as follows,Meat (Beef or Chicken or Pork) with gingerVegetables (Carrot, Potato, Onion, Radish)Mushrooms (Shiitake, Enoki, Shimeji mushroom)Boiled eggHanpen (Fish c ...

Sake steamed clams 2008-02-05 23:07:00 I present easy recipes for sake.Today I tell you "Sakamushi" .Ingredients:Fresh Clam 1 pound (450g)Sake 4 oz. (120ml)Green onion 2-3 stalksSoy sauce 1/4 teaspoonSalt(Optional: minced ginger and garlic)Preparation,Keep clams in salt water for 3-6 hours. The salt water has the same concentration of salt as sea water. (The clams will spit out their sand.)Cut green onions into 1/4 inch (5mm) pieces.Wash clams by rubbing clam shells with water.Put the clams, sake and optional minced ginger/garlic in a pan and cover with a lid.Boil for 2 minutes on a high flame.Check that all the clams are open. (If not, keep boiling for one more minute.)Put in soy sauce and green onion.Attention,If the cooked clams cool down, the clams will begin to harden.It is not so nice.I recommend you eat it very soon. ...

Kakiemon Family History 2008-01-31 00:49:00 Green tea cups by Kakiemon XIIIhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/Only the eldest son inherits the family name and some special skills.Kakiemon I (1596-1666)Succeeded in putting red paint on white pottery. The red is a similar color to Kaki, which is a Japanese fruit. He named Kaki-emon.Kakiemon II (1620-1661)Kakiemon III (1622-1672)Kakiemon IV (1641-1679)Kakiemon V (1660-1691)Kakiemon VI (1690-1735)Kakiemon VII (1711-1764)Nigoshide disappearedKakiemon VIII (1734-1781)Kakiemon IX (1776-1836)Kakiemon X (1805-1860)Kakiemon XI (1845-1917)Kakiemon XII (1878-1963)Nigoshide was reproduced in 1953.Kakiemon XIII (1906-1982)Designated as an important intangible cultural treasure of Japan in March 1971.Kakiemon XIV (1934-now)Designated a Living National Treasure of pottery painting in July 2001.Early Kakiemon is from Kakiemon I to Kakiemon IV.Middle Kakiemon is from Kakiemon V to Kakiemon VII.Late Kakiemon is from Kakiemon VIII to Kakiemon X.Modern Kakiemon is from Kakiemon XI to Kakiemon XIV. ... History

Kakiemon (Nigoshide) 2008-01-29 18:44:00 Green tea cups by Kakiemon XIIIhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/Kakiemon is very different from other porcelain because of its warm milk-while foundation called “Nigoshide”.Kakiemon’s Akae matches Nigoshide better than other white porcelain of Arita which is bluish, neat and cool.In the later Edo period (around 1800), however, the Nigoshide disappeared because of its difficult process of production.In Showa period (1925-1989) people who studied Kakiemon valued Nigoshide again and hoped for the reproduction of it.Thus Kakiemon XII and XIII combined their efforts and in 1953 succeeded in reproducing Nigoshide.Then the technique of Kakiemon-style was highly valued and designated as an important intangible cultural treasure of Japan in March 1971.Kakiemon XIV, who is alive today, learned a way of mixing paints and a technique of Akae directly from Kakiemon XII and the art of forming from Kakiemon XIII. He is doing his best to make up his own Kakiemon-style with a modern sense in a tr ...

Kakiemon 2008-01-29 01:36:00 Green tea cups by Kakiemon XIIhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I will start to sell antique pottery and items made by famous potters.So, I present the Kakiemon kiln today.They have over 300 years of history.Because I got some green tea cups and will sell the cups on my web shop.Kakiemon (literature from Kakiemon XIV catalog)The first Kakiemon (1596-1666), the originator of Kakiemon porcelain, became known as “Akae” for the first time in Japan around 1643.The early Akae works were copied from Manreki Akae of the Ming dynasty in ancient China, which had been brought to Hizen Hirado port at that time.Later the pattern of Akae was changed by Kakiemon to a pattern of his own like Japanese painting. Akae used techniques of over-glazing with delicate polychrome called “Gosai” (five colors) or “Shichisai” (seven colors) on the milk-white foundation. This was called Kakiemon-style and was known all over Europe.From the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company carried Kakiemon to a ...

Urushi 2008-01-24 03:51:00 Urushi teacup saucerhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/What is urushi?Urushi is the sap of the urushi tree.Their habitat is China, Korea, Japan and the easternHimalayas area.The sap of the tree contains a resin.The resin is processed to urushi.The urushi is very hard and durable.It has been used for coating woods for a long time ago by Asians.Evidence was found that Asians used urushi in the Stone Age.They used it for spears and arrows.In early Japan, people recognized urushi’s durability and the beauty,and began to use it for coating for wooden tableware, boxes and combs.The skill of making urushi ware has been passed on from generationsto generations, as has been done with tea ceremony custom.Patrons of tea ceremony loved urushi ware and let craftmen makeluxurious tea ware boxes, tea spoons, tea caddies (Matsume)and other items around the Edo period (1600-1850).That is the reason there are many high quality urushi ware now. ...

Yu-Dofu (easy recipe for sake) 2008-01-21 03:53:00 Yu-DofuI present easy recipes for sake.Today I tell you Yu-Dofu.It is one of the best foods for sake and the easiest recipe.Ingredients:Tofu 1 packKonbu (dried kelp) approximately 3 x 2 inchWaterAjiponhttp://www.mizkan.com/Scripts/prodWin.asp?idProd=28Ichimi or Nanami (Japanese red pepper)http://www.sbfoods.co.jp/eng/herb.html#10Preparation:1. Cut tofu into 1 inch cubes.2. Put the tofu and konbu in a pan, cover with water.3. Boil for 10 minutes.4. Put Ajipon and red pepper in tray, enough to cover the tray bottom.5. Put tofu in the Ajipon and pepper. Leave the water in the pan.You can add some chicken, shiitake mushrooms and green onions to the tofu before cooking. ...

Nibbles for sake 2008-01-16 18:57:00 Sake set from Imarihttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I love snacks after dinner.Because I do not need to cook and it is good for a long time.As with the relationship between wine and cheese, sake has many companions.I list companions for sake as following.You can find these foods at Japanese grocery stores.Dry foods,Dried Squid (Surume)Dried fish (Kawahagi, Iwashi, Tara, Salmon)Dried scallopIn a bottleShiokara (salted squid)Tako wasabi (salted octopus with wasabi)Shuto (pickled entrails of tuna)Uni (sea urchin) in saltIn a canAnkimo (liver of sea toad)KanimisoOtherKamaboko (Cod fish cake)Mentaiko (salted egg of cod with hot pepper)Karasumi (salted egg of mullet)Wasabi-duke (wasabi with Sake-kasu)I love dried scallops, kanimiso & karasumi.Karasumi is very expensive food.It is around $80 per 100g in Yahoo shop Japan.My daughter is two years old loves dried squid. ...

Engimono 2 2008-01-14 01:56:00 Pine tree, Bamboo & Plum in the sake bottlehttp://japanesehandcraft.com/Foods,Sake (Omiki): Sake is one of the most famous offerings for the gods in Shintoism.Kelp (Konbu): Konbu is a similar word with “Yorokobu”. It is joy in English.Plants,Pine tree (Matsu): Pine tree is green in winter. It never loses its green and is a symbol of perpetual youth and longevity.Bamboo (Take): Bamboo is fast and strong growing. It is a symbol of vitality and glory.Plum (Ume): It is the first tree to blossom in the year. Ume marks coming spring season by blooming.Other,Mount Fuji: The highest mountain in Japan. ...

Engimono 2008-01-14 01:20:00 Crane in potteryhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/Engimono is good-luck talisman.Most of the engimonos comes from Shintoism or Buddhism.I list many kinds of engimono as follows.You will find those images everywhere in Japanand see them in Japanese pottery.Animals,Crane (Tsuru): Crane has a long life span. Japanese proverb “Crane has 1000 year life span.Turtle has 10000 year life span.” So, the crane is a symbol of long life.Turtle (Kame): Turtle has a long life span and is a symbol of long life too.Goldfish (Kingyo): They have white and red patterns.They are good-luck colors.Carp (Koi): They have white and red patterns. They are good-luck colors.White snake (Shiro-hebi): White is a symbol of Shintoism.The white snake is a messenger of god and a god of water.Red snapper (Tai): “Medetai” is happy in English.Tai is a part the word. That’s the reason it is a happy symbol.Frog (Kaeru): “Kaeru” is frog and return in Japanese.Japanese stores keep the frog in front of door,because ...

Kagamimochi 2008-01-08 18:46:00 Kagamimochi Kagamimochi is one of the customs for new years. A long, long time ago, it was believed to be an intermediarybetween god and humans in Shintoism.After the offering, the kagamimochi was shared with many people.The sharing is not only eating, but also being happy through the year.Three kinds of items compose Kagamimochi.The first is an orange on the top.The second is two wheels of rice cakes (mochi).The third is a piece of white paper at the bottom.Some of the Kagamimochi are decorated with a folding fan, Kelp & lobster."Kagami" means a mirror and "Mochi" means a rice cake.The rice cake is shaped like an ancient flat round mirror.That's the reason why it is called "Kagami mochi".Now that the kagamimochi is finished,It is covered by plastic to prevent mold.It is the best day to set up kagaminochies on Dec. 28th.Because, the eight is a lucky number in Japan.And nine is a bad luck number.We should keep it until Jan. 11th.The last day we break the kagaminochi by using a ham ...

Shimenawa 2008-01-05 22:46:00 Happy New year!We have a lot of customs in the new year season.Shimenawa is one of the customs.We put shimenawa on the entrance door during new year days.The custom comes from Shinto.Shimenawa is rice straw rope, separated outside and inside.Japanese people believe shimenawa guards against evil spirits.So, you can see it in front of Shinto shrines anytime. Izumo Taisha in Shimane has the largest shimenawa.Length 13mThickness 8mWeight 8tonThey change it every three years. ...

Sake shop in new york city 2007-12-26 00:19:00 I found a new shop in New York City.It is a Sake shop!SAKAYA324 E.9th StreetNYC 10003212.505.7253http://www.sakayanyc.com/blog/wordpress/Sakaya will have around 90 kinds of sake.The sake will include rare sake too.I think New Yorkers who love sake should go the sake shop.I am glad sake is getting to be more famous day by day. ...

Antique fair in Nagoya vol. 2 2007-12-22 04:31:00 New Item Fish shape Trayhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I found the other fine sellers.They were selling many kinds of antiques.Their collections are made by famous potters and have very high prices too.They came from Kanazawa city (Ishikawa prefecture)Kanazawa is one of the best historical districts in Japan.The district was governed by one of the big families in Edo period.The family loved tea ceremony and cultures.They made a big Japanese garden in Kanazawa.It is the one of the best three Japanese gardens in the present time.No wonder, many intellectual people come from the area.And there are many excellent potters in the area.They have a long history.Some families have been making pottery for 300 years.The antique owner recommended me one potter family.Their name is Chozaemon Ohi.The current Chozaemon is the 10th generation.The 10th Chozaemon’s sake bottle was $800.The 8th Chozaemon’s sake cup was $500.The cup was so small, approximately 0.5oz. capacity.I cannot believe it was ...

Antique fair in Nagoya vol. 1 2007-12-21 01:36:00 New Item in web shop Fish shape dishhttp://www.japanesehandcraft.com/I went to an antique fair to find antique sake ware and green tea ware in Nagoya.It is a big fair, joined by over 100 sellers.The fair is held three times in every year.I found two fine antique sellers in the fair.One was selling antique sake ware and tea ware in glass cases with a key lock.I was interested in some their sake wares and asked the prices.The shop owner told me one is $3000 and others are from $3000 to $6000.I asked him again, “Do you have anything under $1000?”He told me with a forced smile, “ How about this?”He showed me a sake cup.It was not so good looking for me.He showed me another sake cup.It was also not so good.That was all they have under $1000.He told me why there are so expensive.Their items were made by a famous master potter a 100 years ago.He told me some names of master potters.I did not know that.The antique word is so complicated.I felt I have to study more to handle the kind of ...