February 2020

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Have you ever heard of a garden made solely of rock? Sekitei (‘rock garden’), also known as Karesansui (‘dry landscape’) is a type of garden unique to the Japanese culture, founded within many temples located in Kyoto.

The delicate yet strong garden in Daigoji Temple, the garden borrowing the natural scenery of Daimonji in Shinnyodo Temple, and the mysterious garden of Ryoanji Temple, all located in the city of Kyoto and are representative, Japanese gardens.

Within such an atmosphere, one could feel the eternity of time and the appreciation of nature. In fact, rock gardens cut out a specific moment in time and portray it as if it is eternal while incorporating the motion of the surrounding nature. Thus, it is a fusion of static and motive nature.

If you would like to experience the sense of beauty unique to Japanese, we recommend you to visit temples with Karesansui.
https://goo.gl/maps/jAZaDbpJVUbw2XMc6 (Shodenji Temple)

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[Takada Kozo Shoten's Scrubbing Brush]

From the collection to the production of hemp palm, all procedures carried out at Wakayama Prefecture. What are the three merits of using a 100%-domestically-produced scrubbing brush?

1. As the brushes utilize carefully chosen hemp palm, that is soft and fine in texture, any dirt can effortlessly be removed without damaging frying pans and pots.

2. Since all procedures, from the collection to the production of hemp palm, are conducted under control of Takada Kozo Shoten, products are safe without any chemicals being used.

3. Scrubbing brushes made of hemp palm are soft and flexible compared to normal palm scrubbing brushes, and they could be used to wash body and head as well. All staff at Takada Kozo Shoten are washing their body and head using this scrubbing brush.

This scrubbing brush can be used for several years. It is something that we use on a daily basis, and that is especially why we recommend this topmost, 100%-domestically-produced scrubbing brush for the health of your family and your pot.

[Regarding the Hemp Palm Made in Kishu]

A long time ago, hemp palm has been an important product in Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture). Many people collected hemp palm, carried them on their back, and sold them to others, and hemp palm was so cherished that there existed bandits who used to target the sales obtained by those people while they were heading back home.

Today, however, hemp palm made in Kishu is no more collected. Demands for Kishu-made hemp palm has decreased in recent times, as low price substitutes are now imported from abroad, and there are few palm mountains that are maintained. Moreover, there are only a few craftsmen who collect hemp palm. Thus, Kishu-made hemp palm is now considered extremely rare.

Takada Kozo Shoten’s Scrubbing Brush carefully utilizes only 15% of the rare hemp palm skin, as to produce an ultimate touch. Please experience the high-quality, artistic touch created by scrubbing brush craftsmen.
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kozo/tawashi.html

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Yudofu refers to diced tofu that is boiled on top of kombu, served with soy sauce and spice. The tofu shouldn’t be fired up for long and should be collected when it starts moving inside the bowl.

Yudofu first appeared as a vegetarian dish at Nanzenji-Temple in Kyoto. Tofu has been an extremely important source of protein for monks, as they are prohibited to eat meat.

With the spread of tea ceremony, vegetarian diets that were served exclusively at temples and shrines familiarized within ordinary people’s dining as well, giving rise to tofu-selling business, Nara-tofu, and Uji-tofu, during Muromachi period. As Kyoto’s water is high in quality, tofu, which is mainly made of water, required Kyoto’s underground water.

Today, there are many restaurants famous for serving yudofu in Kyoto, and “Tousuiro” is one of those, which locate in Kiyamachi and Gion. If you have the chance to visit Kyoto, we strongly recommend you to experience the wonderful taste of tofu.
http://tousuiro.com/ (Tousuiro)
https://www.shokunin.com/en/tsujiwa/yudofu.html (Yudofu Shakushi)
https://www.shokunin.com/en/rikucho/sukiyaki.html (Sukiyaki Pot)