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[Tsujiwa Kanaami's Drop Lid]

Do you use a drop lid when making simmered dishes? While it is a familiar tool in Japanese kitchens, you might feel that you could get by without one. On the other hand, taking that extra step feels like casting a magic spell that makes the dish truly delicious.

The role of a drop lid is to gently yet firmly settle ingredients that tend to float in the pot, such as daikon radish, taro, and pumpkin, while allowing the cooking liquid to circulate. By ensuring the ingredients are well-submerged, they cook evenly, and as the liquid circulates, the flavors meld together perfectly. Since Japanese simmered dishes involve infusing flavor into the ingredients using a small amount of liquid, the drop lid plays a quiet but significant role. Its round shape, designed to fit along the sides of the pot without obstructing the flow, makes it a perfectly logical tool for simmering.

Traditional wooden drop lids are known for their light and soft touch. Nowadays, metal versions are also common, and “Tsujiwa Kanaami's Drop Lid” is one of them.

Tsujiwa Kanaami is a long-established specialty shop in Kyoto that carries on the tradition of Japanese wire netting, long beloved by both households and professional chefs. The mesh, woven from thin stainless steel wire, contacts the ingredients at specific points rather than across a flat surface. This mesh structure keeps the ingredients pressed down while maintaining the convection of the cooking liquid. Being made of stainless steel, it is easy to wash and does not retain odors when switching between different dishes, making it extremely practical for everyday use. Additionally, there is a small handle in the center, and you can lift the loop using the included rod. This action might remind you of the “yo-yo fishing” game at Japanese festivals, bringing a little bit of joy to your cooking routine.

Tsujiwa Kanaami's Drop Lid, with its simple form and effective function, significantly elevates the finish of simmered dishes. As you continue to use it, you will likely find yourself reaching for it instinctively, and it will become an indispensable part of your kitchen.

Tsujiwa Kanaami's Drop Lid M
https://www.shokunin.com/en/tsujiwa/otoshibuta.html
Nakamura Douki's Dantsuki Pot
https://www.shokunin.com/en/nakamuradouki/seiro.html
Koishiwara ware's Tobikanna Gosunzara
https://www.shokunin.com/en/koishiwara/

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[Azmaya's Copper Kettle]

How do you go about your daily tea-making routine? For those who have a habit of brewing a large batch of tea to stock in the refrigerator all year round, the choice of a kettle can be a small but significant point that affects the quality of your kitchen work. Lately, Azmaya's Copper Kettle has become an indispensable partner in my tea-making process. Today, I would like to share my experience using this kettle and the unique charm it brings to the home.

Previously, our household used a common 2L plastic pitcher. It served us well for barley tea in the summer and rooibos tea during other seasons, but I often found the actual process of making the tea a bit of a chore. The problem was that my iron kettle couldn't boil 2L at once, necessitating the use of extra pots and kettles—a “double effort” that felt inefficient. That is why I decided to take the plunge and welcome Azmaya's Copper Kettle, which holds approximately 2L, into our kitchen.

However, when this dazzlingly bright kettle arrived, its presence was so beautiful that I hesitated to start using it for a while. Today would be the first and last time I could see this brand-new, mirror-like shine. I often hear customers say, “I feel the most nervous when using a new item for the first time,” and I finally truly understood that sentiment. While I knew that the real pleasure of copper is the patina it develops over time—maturing into a calm, deep hue—I was caught in a pleasant tug-of-war between wanting to preserve its newborn beauty and wanting to use it. I found myself taking it out of the box only to put it back in again.

Eventually, my life with the Copper Kettle began. The convenience of being able to make a large amount of tea in one go is simply unmatched. Copper's thermal conductivity is twice that of aluminum, five times that of iron, and twenty times that of stainless steel. Since the water boils relatively quickly, it makes the process very smooth, even during busy hours. What I noticed most after starting to use it was its overwhelming efficiency. Once the tea is brewed and cooled to room temperature, you can simply fold down the handle and put the kettle directly into the refrigerator. Generally, long-term storage of tea in metal containers is not recommended; however, in our home, where two people finish the batch in about 1.5 days, we haven't noticed any odor transfer from the fridge or any metallic smell from the kettle. On the contrary, I am always pleasantly surprised by the icy-cold texture of the handle when I bring the chilled kettle to the table and pour. It saves the step of transferring tea to a pitcher, streamlining my housework. The lack of small parts like gaskets makes it incredibly easy to wash, which was another delightful discovery.

Heating it on the stove, placing it in the fridge, and bringing it to the table—as these days repeat, the surface of the kettle begins to bear the marks of water droplets and the subtle tints of the flame. Being able to see the copper change every day is a great joy in “raising” a tool. Perhaps the reason we find beauty in aging is that we can see the layers of time spent together. Copper changes because its surface oxidizes upon contact with oxygen and moisture, forming a natural protective film. By the time the shiny metal settles into a mellow, amber-like color, it will surely provide a sense of security, like a companion that has been by your side for years. The process of it becoming a “one-of-a-kind tool” while supporting daily chores is deeply satisfying.

The peace of mind that comes from always having delicious tea in the fridge, combined with the fun of maturing a tool into your own style. Imagining a future that spans decades, why not welcome this Copper Kettle into your kitchen? The spout and body are exquisitely finished through manual welding. Tools born from such careful craftsmanship by artisans will surely color your daily life more richly and vividly.

Azmaya's Copper Kettle
https://www.shokunin.com/en/azmaya/yakan.html
Seiryugama's Kumidashi
https://www.shokunin.com/en/seiryu/kumidashi.html
Tsuchiya Orimonosho's Pot Holder M
https://www.shokunin.com/en/tsuchiya/

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[Indigo Classic's T-Shirt]

At Shokunin.com, we are pleased to introduce new indigo-dyed products from Indigo Classic, with T-shirts now available for viewing at our Ginza Showroom. These T-shirts, made from a soft yet sturdy thick jersey fabric, allow you to enjoy an aging process similar to that of denim. Each piece has a strong presence on its own and is available in two beautiful variations: a deep, dark navy and a lighter blue with a charming, uneven texture.

Indigo Classic is a factory brand born from the soil and handwork of Nara. The entire process—from cultivating the indigo plants to preparing the “sukumo” (fermented indigo leaves), dyeing, and sewing—is consistently carried out by hand. Indigo dyeing is a traditional technique using dried and fermented indigo leaves. By repeatedly reducing and oxidizing the fabric within an “aigame” (indigo vat) filled with dye liquor, a beautiful blue color is developed.

The history of indigo dyeing is ancient, said to have been used in Japan as early as the Nara period. During the Edo period, when Awa Indigo from Tokushima became a major production center, practical indigo dyeing, which strengthens the fabric, deeply permeated the lives of common people. Indigo is known for its excellent antibacterial and insect-repellent properties, and it has a background of being favored since ancient times for its expected “medicinal effects” to protect the skin.

Blue is a color familiar to Japanese people, as seen in the nickname of the Japan national football team, “SAMURAI BLUE.” It is said that the term “JAPAN BLUE” originated in the Meiji era when the British scientist Robert William Atkinson visited Japan and praised the indigo-dyed noren curtains and clothing that colored the streets.

Indigo Classic's T-Shirts are designed with the criteria of being “clothes that can be worn for 10 years, and that you will want to wear for 10 years.” With a simple, refined silhouette and high durability, they are perfect for everyday wear that can be cherished for a long time. We invite you to visit our store and experience their texture for yourself.

Indigo Classic's T-Shirt
https://www.shokunin.com/en/indigo/
Ginza Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/ginza.html

References
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO31388170V00C18A6000000/
https://classicjapan.official.ec/about
https://www.ndl.go.jp/landmarks/sights/konyacho
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1312311/1/1