Story

Discover the serenity of Kumamoto with Yoka Good Tea brewing in your cup! Personally, this tea holds a special spot in my childhood memories.When I was planning to start Yoka, I wanted to spread this...

A special peek into the world of a master bamboo craftsman, Yasuo Fukuzaki. During my business trip, I got to meet the bamboo craftsman Yasuo Fukuzaki, all thanks to my friend from my hometown Kumamoto....

Experience the Exquisite Craftsmanship of Kite Making in Japan Ohayo Gozaimasu! A Morning with Tradition Begin our day with a warm "Ohayo Gozaimasu" (good morning) as I set out on the first destination of our buying...

After one year since I visited the Kai family, I went to see the Kai family again in Miyazaki prefecture to spend a day with them. I didn’t get to spend that much time with the...

I will be donating part of our sales of this month towards the rebuilding efforts for Kumamoto Castle, which was destroyed by the devastating earthquake in 2016. The castle has historically been an important symbol...

I went to meet the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hirazumi who make Shimenawa wall hangings with the Igusa plants. Kumamoto is known for Igusa plants which are the materials for tatami mat.  They were having...

My hometown Kumamoto is known for the rich environment to grow Igusa plants and there are many farms and factories who make the tatami mats. I drove to the countryside of Kumamoto to visit a...

Driving 3+ hours and going across the Aso mountain from my parents house, I visited the Kai family in Miyazaki prefecture to learn how they make the straw ornaments. I knew about this family since...

Mr. Miyawaki lives in Beppu in Oita prefecture, which is known for its hot spring village in Kyushu Japan. When I saw Mr. Miyawakis’ dolls years ago, I fell in love with his funny and...

Kakishibu Uchiwa is a persimmon tannin dyed paper fan.　There are actually a few well known paper fan manufacturers in my hometown but I decided to pick the one made by the Miyamoto family, and visited...

Visiting Nishikawa family's kiln. Nakadera kiln was started in 1991 by Kousei Nishikawa who was born in 1951. Before he started his own kiln he trained himself as a craftsman at Fumoto kiln (one of...

Memory of the studio visit to buy the clay dolls in Amakusa, Kumamoto. Driving more than three hours from my parents home, I went to see the craftsman of the clay dolls. (I also went...