They trained with the naginata and fought to the same standard as the men. Meet Empress Jingu, who led a campaign into Korea, and Tomoe Gozen.
Nicole
Nicole wrote for the Oishya Journal from 2017 to 2021: recipes, Japanese food culture and the early knife guides.
Japanese Embroidery And Japanese Kimono Symbol Meanings
Every motif on a kimono says something. Nihon shishu embroidery dates back 1,600 years to the Kofun period, and its patterns carry coded meaning.
What Is The Difference Between Scissors And Shears?
Cross six inches and it’s shears, not scissors. The larger handle gives leverage for tougher cuts; scissors stay small and multipurpose.
Japandi – Merging Japan And Scandinavia In Your Home Decor
Scandinavian cool meets Japanese warmth: Japandi leans on wabi-sabi and hygge for rooms that stay minimal without feeling clinical.
What Japanese Knife To Buy?
First proper knife? Buy a gyuto. Add a nakiri and a petty later, and those three handle most of what a kitchen throws at you.
Knife History – Forging Methods
Sakai’s blacksmiths turned samurai sword craft into tobacco-cutting knives after the Portuguese brought tobacco to Japan in the 16th century.
5 Best Kitchen Tools Of All Time (2024 Update)
Beyond a good Japanese knife: the magnetic rack, walnut board, wooden spoons and linen apron that quietly earn their counter space.
Four Knives Your Kitchen Just Can’t Live Without
Skip the fifteen-slot block. A Gyuto, a Nakiri, a Petty and one serrated blade handle nearly everything you’ll cut at home.
6 Magnetic Products That Will Make Your Life In The Kitchen Easier
A towel holder, a clip-on meat thermometer, measuring spoons that nest together: six magnets that claw back counter space in a small kitchen.
Kumihimo – The Japanese Art Of Silk Braiding
One suit of samurai armour needed up to 300 metres of braided silk cord. Kumihimo’s patterns were guarded like family secrets, and some still are.
This Is How We Roll: How To Cut Fish And Veggies For Sushi Like A Pro
Index finger along the spine, one smooth pull toward you: slicing fish with a yanagiba, from the straight hira giri to the angled sogi giri.
Japanese Gift Giving – Customs
In Japan the presentation outweighs the price tag, and every gift received calls for an O-kaeshi return worth about half its value.
Ikigai – Japanese Secret To A Long And A Happy Life
In Ogimi, a village of 3,000 with the world’s longest-lived residents, ikigai sits where what you love, what you’re good at and what matters overlap.
Which Whetstone Grit To Choose For Sharpening Japanese Knives
Which whetstone grit to use for Japanese knives, from coarse stones under 1000 for chips to 4000 to 8000 finishing stones for the edge.
Santoku Vs. Gyuto – What’s The Difference?
The santoku’s flat blade wants a straight up-and-down chop; the gyuto’s curve lets you rock. That belly, or lack of it, decides which suits your hands.
How To Use Chopsticks Like A Pro
Grip two-thirds up the barrel and let only the top stick move. The mechanics of chopsticks, plus which length and wood make them easiest.
How To Use Magnetic Knife Racks?
Blade up or handle up? After testing racks up to 50cm, the Oishya team keeps handles at the bottom so no edge sits where your reaching hand lands.
How To Choose The Best Cutting Board?
Glass, marble, bamboo and steel all wreck a fine edge. End-grain hinoki, hiba or walnut give the blade something to sink into instead.
Why Minimalistic Interiors Are Good For Your Wellbeing
Why minimalist interiors help your wellbeing, tracing the idea from Lao Tzu and Confucius to Japanese danshari and Zen-influenced design.
Guide: Best Kitchen Knives At Any Price Range
You’ll reach for the chef’s knife 99% of the time, so spend there first. Why a £30 blade can beat a £500 one, and why the sharpest is the safest.
Japanese Onsen: The Healing Power Of Water
Japanese onsen are mineral-rich hot springs that ease stress and aid recovery, with a clear guide to bathing etiquette for first-time visitors.
Danshari – Decluttering For A Happier Life
Fumio Sasaki owns 150 things and lives in 30 square metres. Danshari is Japanese decluttering measured by how your stuff makes you feel.
Do Magnetic Knife Holders Damage Your Knives?
No, a magnet won’t ruin a well-kept blade. The real harm comes from cheap racks that drag your edge across a bare metal face.
Japanese Minimalism: What Japan Can Teach You About Living Simply
Why do Japanese and Scandinavian interiors look so alike? Six lessons on simple living, built around three materials: wood, stone and steel.
Declutter Your Kitchen Using Japanese Methods
How to declutter your kitchen the Japanese way using danshari, taking stock, paring down glassware, and storing daily items within easy reach.
The Ultimate Kitchen Tool Essentials List (Our Top 8)
After advising thousands of customers, here are the eight tools we’d actually stock a kitchen with, and yes, we lean hard toward Japan.
Aomori Hiba: The Tree Of Life
A house of hiba keeps mosquitoes out for three years, the saying goes; this cypress grows 250 years and carries hinokitiol, a compound that repels insects.
Ceramic Knives Vs. Steel Knives – Pros And Cons
Ceramic is the second-hardest material after diamond, so it keeps an edge for years and won’t pass odours between foods. Its weakness against steel? Chipping.
Guide: How To Choose Your First Japanese Kitchen Knife
Buying your first Japanese knife feels like a gamble. Here’s how to read shape, steel and handle so it isn’t, plus the 100-day guarantee that softens the risk.
15 Best Christmas Gifts For Japan Fans
Fifteen presents for the Japan obsessive in your life, from a 100-sheet origami set to a kintsugi kit and 24-carat gold-lined bone porcelain.