Tag Archives: Japanese culture

Make more meaningful and memorable toasts with these stunning stacking sake cups

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There are quite a few things that have become iconic of Japanese culture, from clothes like the kimono to warriors like the samurai to food like sushi. When it comes to beverages, there is green tea and, of course, sake, both of which have deep cultural roots and, sometimes, solemn practices. You don’t, however, need to take part in an elaborate pouring and drinking ceremony to appreciate the rich experience when drinking this Japanese rice wine. All you need to create this sacred and profound atmosphere is the right drinkware, just like these finely-crafted tin cups that not only make drinking sake more meaningful, it even provides aesthetic value to your tableware.

Designer: Metaphys

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Drinking sake is a common part of Japanese life, whether it’s in social settings or more formal ceremonies. The rice wine can be served either hot or cold, with most drinking cups made from ceramic or even glass. What better way, then, to amaze your guest or even yourself than with an unusual sake drinking cup made from nothing but authentic tin, such as this unique and distinctive drinking cup set?

Authentic Tin – Authentic tin generally contains 95% to 97% tin, warranted by the Tinware Business Cooperative Association. The sake becomes pure and mellow when it is poured into authentic tin drinkware.

Tin might be an odd choice for drinking wine, but it actually makes even more sense when you consider how the material has been used for drinkware for over a millennium, thanks to its ability to absorb impurities and purify water. It’s also the perfect material for cold sake because it offers a softer and more comfortable texture for hands to hold while also making the sake taste smoother and more mellow.

What makes this tin drinkware special is more than just its composition. Designed to stack easily upon each other, the bowl-shaped vessels are uncommon for use in drinking sake or any other wine for that matter, and yet they also look elegant and pleasing thanks to their smooth curves. When stacked, the cups resemble kagami-mochi or traditional Japanese rice cakes, as well as the smooth stone piles found in peaceful Zen gardens. Even unused, these cups turn into decorative pieces that can become the centerpiece of your dining table or shelf.

Single Cup Edition

Two Cup Edition

Each piece of the stacking sake cups is made using ancient casting techniques by expert craftsmen that give tangible and beautiful form to this Japanese heritage. Whether you’re drinking by yourself with the single-cup configuration or toasting a drink with a friend with the two-cup set, the suiu stacking tin drinkware will add a spiritual flavor to your rice wine, immersing you in the deep cultural heritage of Japan.

Click Here to Buy Now: $239 $299 ($60 off at checkout). Hurry, 4th of July sale ends in 48 hours!

The post Make more meaningful and memorable toasts with these stunning stacking sake cups first appeared on Yanko Design.

Toy piano prototypes inspired by Edo-era reimagines Japanese piano and furniture

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At one point or another, most kids whose parents could afford to let their kids study the piano. Those who loved it or had the talent continued to play into adulthood and some may have even made a career out of it. There are also those, like me, who eventually lost interest or didn’t have the chops to be good at it and who consider tinkling the keys to just be a pleasant memory. If you like pianos as an instrument or as a decoration, this is something that might interest you.

Designer: Yamaha Design Laboratory

The Yamaha Design Laboratory partnered with the Department of Design at Chiba University to come up with piano designs that are styled as furniture based on the Edo era. They tried to imagine what it would have been like if the piano was allowed to evolve independently in Japan without any modern Western influence. What they come up with is prototypes of three variations of the Sumida Toy piano that were displayed in a space designed as an Edo-era piano store.

The first one is called SUKIMA and the design is blended with the wooden partitions in Nagaya houses in downtown Tokyo during the Edo-Sumida era. These free-standing screens were previously used as partitions for small spaces in the houses and is see-through to still give the feeling of transparency with a hint of privacy. The prototype looks a bit like a piano with a harpsichord background but would look at home in an Edo-era house.

The OTO-TSUKUE prototype meanwhile is inspired by the traditional writing desks that were used in local educational institutions called “terakoya”. Instead of opening up to a writing table, you get a piano under the plane and above the distinctive legs of the desk. The design is what we would have seen if there were already pianos during the Edo era and it would follow that there would have been terakoya music schools.

Lastly, the HIKI-TANSU was inspired by the chest drawers that were given as gifts during important occasions like weddings. The piano is in the middle of the three drawers and is designed as a baby shower gift. This symbolizes a happy future for the baby and the family and maybe music playing a big part in that life. The prototype has distinctive etchings or carvings from that era as well.

These Sumida toy piano prototypes will be displayed in the Yamaha Ginza Store in Tokyo by May 2022.

The post Toy piano prototypes inspired by Edo-era reimagines Japanese piano and furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.

Japanese tea rituals inspired this flexible, modular, origami-like wooden table!

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Tea time is significant in many Asian cultures, it is a moment of pause in the day where one can enjoy a peaceful moment of solitude or socialize and relax with friends. Tea time is a beautiful ritual in Japanese culture and Hasu is a tea table inspired by that zen practice. Hasu transforms itself as the tea ritual progresses making it a contemporary piece of furniture that still pays a tribute to the process.

It starts as a minimal compact structure and ends as a complete furniture set for tea time. Hasu’s design allows storing an extensive tea collection while presenting it in a unique and clean manner – it is almost like you can fold or unfold the tea time ritual like origami. There is a lot of storage for all the objects needed for tea rituals and the table allows you to present them one by one during tea time, it is all on-site so everything is handy as well as neatly tucked away. The unfolding of the four upper tabletops marks the beginning of the tea time ritual. Extend the seating to four guests by simply pulling the floor chairs from the table. Even when it is not in use, it still upgrades the space as an abstract piece.

Hasu is produced using several construction techniques (traditional + modern) and different types of wood joineries. The body is crafted from solid oak and features powder-coated aluminum details. It includes a brand new hinge system that was specifically designed for Hasu. The simple yet innovative design gives tea lovers a chance to elevate their rituals without adding clutter. It allows you to disconnect from the surroundings and cherish peaceful moments with loved ones while enjoying the warmth of the teacup in your palms.

“Just like an opening lotus flower, when the first rays of sun caress the horizon during sunrise, symbolizes the start of a new day,” says Mortelmans while perfectly describing the soul of Hasu.

Designer: Dieter Mortelmans

Cook the perfect single serve of rice with this portable Japanese rice cooker!

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Rice…I don’t think it gets appreciated enough so I am going to tell you how rice is a global food icon. It is found in every country and every cuisine, rice can be fancy gourmet and also comfort home food. Rice can be had for any day of the meal, unlike ‘breakfast for dinner’ no one says ‘rice for dinner’ or lunch or brunch because it can truly be eaten anytime, anywhere. Now that we all agree on its omnipresence in the food world, the Thanko Electric Bento rice cooker is here to make rice omnipresent – literally. This portable cooker will let you cook a bowl of warm rice wherever you are!

It is a perfect gadget for those who want to cook a single-serve in a short time and the LED light will glow when it is ready. It is very optimal for those who travel often or want fresh food at the office instead of takeout. The cooker has the capacity to cook 6 ounces of rice at a time and comes with a measuring cup for convenience. Add water, rice (pro tip: salt the water or use chicken broth to up the flavor!) and depending on the ounces it should be cooked between 14 and 20 minutes. Unlike the usual cookers, this particular device doesn’t let out steam or make any noise so it is discreet enough to use practically anywhere. It only weighs 2 pounds and is compact enough to fit easily in your bag.

What I love the most is that you can eat the rice directly from the container after cooking and that means fewer dishes to do! Rice is a quick meal that goes with everything, and Thanko lets you eat some anywhere, leaving your stomach full and soul feeling fulfilled.

Designer: Thanko.

A Japanese charm redesigned to keep you healthy by syncing with the earth!

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Omamori (お守り) are traditional good luck charms in Japanese culture that protect the wearer of the charm. The Japanese word “mamori” (守り) means protection, while prefix “o” gives the word an external movent connotation, transforming it to “your protection” and there are Omamoris for every area of life: love, health, luck, trips, success, protection. The concept of Kenkō is a futuristic take on the traditional Omamori, it does not cure illnesses or ward off evil spirits but it helps you stay healthy by being in sync with the earth’s electromagnetic frequencies. It is ergonomic, travel-friendly and minimal while still being a powerful force.

The earth is constantly emitting 7,83 Hz (also known as the earth’s breath, who knew that?!) along its surface which is believed to allow living beings to regulate their physiological functions. Scientific studies show that the earth’s natural magnetic fields have a positive influence on our brains. With the rapid development of electronic communication technologies, our bodies are getting confused between the natural and artificial frequencies which are dwindling our inherent ability to be in sync with nature. This concept device is aimed at increasing focus, coordinated neural activities, improve sleep and circadian rhythms, stabilize blood pressure and stimulate osteoblasts. Kenkō will be created to produce a 7,83Hz signal, reproducing the natural frequency using technology which will help human bodies re-establish their intrinsic relationship with being healthy naturally. It will have an LED light strip that glows when you switch on the device. Electrosmog caused by Wi-Fi and smartphone frequencies can no longer disturb the sync between the natural rhythm and your brain with Kenkō’s 1.5m protection radius around you. It is also designed to be pocket-sized so you can carry it everywhere like the traditional Omamori is meant to be but with a sleek touch of tech!

Designer: Daniele Peruzzo

Make authentic Japanese matcha like the ancient masters with just one button!

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Gone are the days when you just picked between tea and coffee; now it is about matcha, kombucha, spirulina, and activated charcoal drinks! Yes, everything in my previous sentence is real – it is enough to fluster anyone going to a cafe and trying to order healthy. My mother rightfully said “Why to pay for it outside when you can make it at home?” which brings me to another CES 2020 innovation award honoree – the matcha tea maker for home.

This matcha maker is compact and sleek, making it perfect for homes, offices, any space with an outlet because it is portable. This matcha maker stays true to its Japanese roots and lets you enjoy an authentic cup every time by using freshly ground leaves from its ceramic mill for individual uses, just like the masters do. The movements of the traditional bamboo whisk are replicated by the magnetic whisker that mixes cold water with the tea for a frothy matcha-presso!

Matcha tea has been challenging coffee by providing lasting energy without jitters or caffeine crashes making it the hero for non-coffee drinkers. The all-in-one tea maker also comes with an aluminum canister to keep your leaves fresh and supports sustainable tea farming with eco-friendly packaging, they really mean green business in every sense. My personal tip on enjoying matcha is with steamed almond milk (oat milk if you have a nut allergy) for chilly days or with lemon sparkling water for summer – you will love it as matcha I do!

Designer: Cuzan Matcha

Top 3 Karaoke apps for Android users

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Here is a list of 3 top karaoke apps for Android users which will turn your ‘singing’ mood on!Karaoke Bird – The Karaoke Bird app is about one little, very beautiful bird with a great voice. This...