Have you ever lost yourself in a project, so much so that you completely lost track of time? Being consumed by a task like that, while it can be rare for most people, is a state of being called Flow. And flow leads to happiness at work. From endless hours spent completing assignments at the […]
Macrobiotics is all about eating in balance. Japanese philosopher George Ohsawa developed this increasingly popular diet. He believed in a holistic approach to health that incorporates many aspects of one’s lifestyle: diet, exercise, meditation and ‘yin and yang’ energy of particular foods. He suggested that health was directly linked and guided by nature. Thereby, eating […]
Does your to-do list look like a never-ending chore? Do you feel the constant need to keep refreshing your wardrobe and improving your home to be “within trends”? Are you always buying new things, only for the shine to eventually wear off? Then you need to learn from the ancient Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi and […]
Once reserved for the royal and wealthy, cushions are now an item of accessible luxury that completes spaces ranging from living rooms, bedrooms, outdoor seating areas or fancy co-working spaces. Deceptively named ‘throw cushions’ or ‘scatter cushions,’ mixing and matching these decorative pillows actually requires a little bit of know-how to get that timeless, yet […]
As a lifestyle ethos, minimalism encourages people eschew materialistic tendencies by spending their money on experiences rather than possessions. Popularised by nomads and driven by social media influencers, it has its strong grounds in science. A 20 year study conducted by Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, reached a powerful and straightforward […]
Stress is a natural part of life. While a certain amount of stress in our lives is normal and even necessary to keep us going, excessive stress can interfere with daily activities and take a toll on our personal lives and health. If you’re looking for a quick remedy to ease some of the overwhelming […]
If you are from Europe or America, most of the things you will experience when visiting Japan may come as a shock to you. What’s considered normal for Japanese people for us may be a deviation. And vice-versa. Doing business in Japan or with Japanese is no different. Some industries are more ‘relaxed’ and westernised […]
Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies use matcha (stone-ground powdered green tea). According to 8th century Zen Buddhist Eisai, matcha is the ultimate mental and medical remedy which has the ability to make ones life more full and complete. The tea ceremony is the ultimate in Japanese hospitality. There’s so much more to it than simply stirring […]
Whether you’ve found a knife in one of your old toolboxes or accidentally left your favourite non stainless kitchen knife in the dishwasher (or your forgetting family member did it despite you telling them 100 times not to do so…) chances are you have encountered a nasty case of rust. Ps. Actually, stainless knives do rust […]
Although the depiction of samurai warriors is traditionally male-oriented, the Onna-bugeisha, female samurai existed and were just as strong and fearsome. Long before the Western world began to view Samurai warriors as inherently male, there existed an impressive group of Female Samurai, every bit as powerful, smart and deadly as their male counterparts. They were known as the […]
Symbols and motives have always been an integral part of Japanese art, both in traditional and modern designs. Hence, there is a meaning behind each Japanese embroidery and kimono symbol. You can find symbols at Oishya that have been subtly integrated into products. For example, our logotype is an ancient Japanese crest representing 3 geisha […]
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’ve found the perfect gift for someone special: a beautiful Japanese kitchen knife that will last a lifetime. But then you remember hearing something about knives and bad luck, and suddenly you’re second-guessing your choice. Should you really give a knife as a gift? The short answer is yes – with one important caveat. Let […]
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 […]