A single stem never dies – goes the message from the Japanese floral philosophy of Ikebana. This isn’t a new concept. Far from it. In fact, Japanese Shinto priests – Japan’s indigenous religion – offered evergreen branches to the spirits for centuries to try to capture natural beauty. Then when buddhism came along in the […]
Scissors and shears are different tools designed for different applications, but are often thought to be the same thing. For a better understanding, in this article, we highlight the main differences between these two via a shears vs. scissors comparison. What are scissors? Scissors are multipurpose cutting tools that are found in almost all homes, […]
Often, mixing two styles is better than one. Interior design is no exception. Japandi, one of the ever-trending styles is an absolute proof of that. This hybrid aesthetic combines the modern-cool vibe of Scandinavian — or Nordic — designs with warm-like-yet-traditional elegance that’s associated with Japanese styles. Together, they’re our favourite take on minimalism (and […]
Selecting the best Japanese kitchen knife for your needs Is it your first every proper knife? If yes, then go for a gyuto, it’s a multi-purpose knife. Once you feel more confident, you can compliment your set with nakiri (ideal for fruit, veggies) and petty (utility knife, a small knife for all the rest of […]
A bit of a knife history… The city of Sakai is situated by the Osaka bay at the Japanese main island. It is said that the foundations for knife making were laid down as early as the fifth century AD. That is when the great mounds, the Kofun, were built. This required excellent tools, which […]
Greetings from Oishya, your culinary companion on the quest for kitchen excellence. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the intrinsic value of the “5 Kitchen Tools for Every Home,” handpicked to elevate your cooking experience. Let’s delve into the practical reasons behind the use of each tool and why they deserve a place in your […]
Magnets are an overlooked and under-appreciated ally in a kitchen storage and its organisation. This is especially true in small kitchens with few cabinets and paltry counter space. In this article we’re selected top 6 – in our opinion – most clever products that use magnets to help keep what you need at hand, giving […]
Kumihimo roughly translates into English as ‘braided cord’. The word represents, in a larger sense, one of the least known of the traditional arts and crafts of Japan. Due to a cord’s small, inconspicuous presence, it is often overlooked, even in discussions related to a kimono dress. Yet, you can find professionals in Tokyo who […]
Gift giving in Japan is deeply rooted in tradition with gifts giving. Japanese people do not limit it to social occasions, but put emphasis on social obligations – gifts are given when indebted to others, both family and business. Japan is unique in a sense of putting a big emphasis is on the act of […]
The Japanese island of Okinawa nicknamed the Village of Longevity has residents with the highest life expectancy in the world. They also largely share a devotion to a Japanese philosophy known as ikigai (pronounced Ick-ee-guy), translated in a simple meaning as the happiness derived from being busy at some activity that holds meaning and purpose for […]
Japanese whetstones (also called water stones) – both natural and synthetic – are known for their quick-working qualities, not only for Japanese blades, but also for their Western equivalents. The small particles that do the cutting are loosely bound together in the stone, and so during sharpening with the whetstone, the surface particles are quickly […]
If you don’t own yet any Japanese kitchen knife, the exotic sounding names – gyuto, santoku, nakiri, sujihiki, deba etc. probably don’t ring any bell. Even if you’re a knife expert, familiar with all the different types of steel and different edge grinds, you might not know about the unique names that the Japanese use for their […]
Learning to eat with chopsticks is inevitable if you’re planning to travel to Japan, North, or Southeast Asia. You don’t even need to look that far. With the trendy sushi restaurants all over Europe and America, you’ve probably seen people comfortably eating with the sticks, at least to the level of food landing in their […]
Although the way to store knives on magnetic rack should seem like a no-brainer, it may actually create a lot of confusion to some people. In a wall-mounted knife rack, do the knives go blade pointing up or down? At first it looks like it doesn’t really matter, but does it? There are only so […]
We’ve covered essentials on cutting boards in our last article, but as with everything in life, you can always keep digging and learning more and more specifics which can help you to find the perfect product. Same with such a simple product – one could think – as a chopping board.Some people value good price over quality […]
If you are investing in the kitchen equipment – such as finer knives, then it’s wise to be looking after them by investing in a good chopping board. The cutting board is perhaps the most essential (after knives) tool in your kitchen for meal prep. Picking a chopping board is actually easy once you learn […]
You found the perfect knife to gift a friend or family member. But then you remember an old superstition in which it is bad luck to give a knife as a gift and don’t know what to do. Don’t worry! We have the perfect way to overcome the negative connotations associated with giving a knife […]
It’s a messy world and we all get the urge to try and organise what’s around us. How to get going around this smartly? The solution: minimalism Although it may feel like it, minimalism is not a modern lifestyle choice. Its roots go back as early as the 6th century BC. Some of history’s most venerated religious and […]
You should know by now that having a good kitchen knife is crucial to making cooking a pleasure, not a chore. Quality of food affects our moods and by cooking your own you know what’s put inside. The best knife for you is the one feels great when you hold it in your hand. A […]
If you’ve never heard of or tried onsen before – you don’t know what you’re missing. An onsen is a hot natural spring where you can relax both body and mind. As Japan is situated in a volcanic area, thousands of onsens are scattered across the country in both urban and rural settings. Onsen hot […]
Living in a fast-paced environment makes us look at the cooking almost as a chore. And it shouldn’t be this way. Cooking should be a pleasure. Sharing a meal with your friends and loved ones is quality time we unfortunately less and less prioritise. Once you find the time, the least you want to experience […]
There’s a new movement raising around the world. Perhaps you’ve heard of it: Danshari. Its three kanji characters signify, respectively, refusal, disposal and separation. You can simply translate it as cleaning or tidying up, but there are psychological and even religious dimensions, deriving in part from buddhism and yoga, which suggest the disposal of mental, along with […]
Today we’ll answer one of the most daunting questions – Do magnetic knife holder, also known as magnetic knife rack, damage knives? We receive daily questions from our troubled customers who consider buying magnetic knife holders but wonder they might impart some magnetism to the blade. Some worry that the pull of the magnets would […]
In last years Europe has created a fascination for Scandinavian minimalism and simple, natural living. However, Scandinavians were not the only one who are in love simplicity – just look at Japan. Despite their vast distance, Japan and Sweden have similar design sensibilities. Like Scandinavia, Japan upholds design principles that use natural materials, clean lines, […]
Previously we’ve discussed how to best store your sharp knives and other metal objects. We looked at knife drawers, knife blocks and magnetic knife racks. Our verdict was inevitably 100% for the racks. Today, we will discuss on where to hang these amazingly useful kitchen accessories – and there are quite a few ways to utilise them. […]
Some people can live with a messy home office or a disorganised bedroom closet. That’s not acceptable with the kitchen. We all have to eat. If the kitchen is a mess, it can have a real impact on your lifestyle. That’s why it’s extremely important for your wellbeing to declutter and organise your kitchen space. […]
If you’re you are looking for the list of the best and cheapest kitchen appliances and accessories from Amazon or Ikea – this is not the place. If you’ve ever attempted to purchase cookware for a new kitchen or simply tried to improve the quality of tools in your current kitchen, you’ve probably found that […]
Samurai are legendary warriors and perhaps the most well-known class of people in ancient Japan. They were noble fighters that fought evil (and each other) with their swords and frightening armour. They followed a strict moral code that governed their entire life. The term samurai was originally used to denote the aristocratic warriors (bushi), but […]
In Japan, there is a saying that goes, “In a house made of hiba, mosquitos do not come for 3 years“. To celebrate our new Aomori Hiba cutting boards, we give you a look into the fascinating history and properties of the prized hiba tree.Hiba arborvitae is a member of the cypress family Thujopsis dolabrata that is native to […]
