Dreaming of a minimalist kitchen? 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 […]
Last updated: April 2026 We’ve gathered 50 best cooking tips from top chefs for you to enjoy. The smaller the item, the higher the baking temperature. For example, I bake mini chocolate chip-toffee cookies at 500 degrees F for only 4 minutes. Perfect end result. Store spices in a cool, dark place, not above your […]
Today’s post is a step by step guide on how to make sourdough bread from scratch. With a recipe for sourdough bread and growing your own starter. Making the sourdough bread This recipe makes 2 loaves Preparation time: over 2 hours Cooking time: 30 mins to 1 hour Ingredients: 500g strong white flour, plus extra […]
Are you looking for some ideas to make your kitchen more organised? Look no further. We’ve prepared for you 15 clever hacks to do just that. Here come our tips for the most organised kitchen ever! 1. Use Drawer Inserts source: Kitchen Solutions One of the problems with keeping a kitchen drawer organised is the […]
https://www.finecooking.com/article/how-to-choose-a-chefs-knife Why buy a chef’s knife? A chef’s knife is an all-purpose, versatile knife with a blade that usually measures around seven to nine inches. Long blades can be a bit intimidating to newbies (I was certainly a bit daunted at first), but you’ll quickly grow accustomed. Of course, cooking is personal, and if you […]
When it comes to selecting a perfect Japanese knife for women, the truth is, there isn’t a specific Japanese knife type for women. The beauty of these knives is the fact that they can be used by everyone. What determines which type of knife is good for you is the size of your hands and […]
A traditional Japanese diet is well balanced. It contains more fish than red meat, plenty of vegetables, pickled and fermented foods, and small portions of rice. Raw fish in dishes are also common. The diet involves little highly processed food and lower overall sugar intake. Basically, the Japanese diet is low in calories and extremely […]
If you haven’t heard yet of the Slow Living trend – now more than ever you have the chance to practice it fully. The title explains it all – the essential message is about consuming less and taking a slower approach to everyday life. This phenomenon has its roots in the Slow Food movement, started by […]
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 […]
Throwing a dinner party or having guests for the holidays? Improve your party hosting skills with three quick and easy ways to create a proper table setting. Setting the table is often a hurried, last-minute task that can leave you wondering about the correct placement of the flatware, plates, napkins and glassware. Don’t add stress […]
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 […]
How to hold and slice with your Yanagiba (Sashimi) Knife Grasp the handle comfortably with your right hand and extend your index finger out along the blade. This will give you better control. When making a cut, start at the base of the knife (nearest your body) and draw the knife toward you completing the […]