Shokunin.com Blog

March 31, 2017

Sonobe Sangyo's Meibokuwan

i7[7]

From left:S, M and L
From the front:Cherry, Zelkova and Beech
https://www.shokunin.com/en/sonobe/wan.html

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[Onifuku's Onigawara Wind Chime and Onigawara Paperweight Have Been Added] The most prominent feature is the unique beauty of the "ibushigin" (smoked silver) finish, created by firing at a high temperature of approximately 1150°C without using any glaze.

[Notice of Restocking] Some items that were out of stock have been restocked. Please take a look.

Yesterday's sunset was absolutely breathtaking. We spent the evening at Hirurantan, a wonderful place where you can enjoy drinks with an outdoor vibe after work. You get a great view of the sky.

[Tokoroten] Transparent, cool-looking, and with a smooth, refreshing texture as it glides down your throat. Do you enjoy "tokoroten," a dish that naturally becomes a favorite during the hot summer months?

Although the hot days have arrived, the inside of the Ueno Building remains cool and refreshing, much like being in a large shade.

[Wrapping and Knotting] I recently had a sudden thought: why not use a furoshiki (traditional Japanese wrapping cloth) instead of my usual everyday eco-bag? This idea sparked after meeting someone who is a true furoshiki enthusiast.

[Brutalist Architecture] "Brutalism" is an architectural style that spread worldwide from the 1950s to the 1960s. Despite its rugged and powerful appearance, its essence lay in the thorough pursuit of low cost and absolute functionality.

We made broccoli rice for the first time in a while. For 2 cups of rice, I added 1 1/2 tbsp of triple-concentrated tsuyu (noodle soup base) and 1 tbsp of sake to cook it.

Born in 1967 in Bari, Puglia, Italy, "assassins' pasta" (spaghetti all'assassina) is an exquisite dish where the savory aroma of charred pasta and fiery spiciness become deeply addictive, contrary to its grim name.

The "Black & White Bowl" from Ceramic Japan is a recent addition to my kitchen. It is part of the "Black & White Tableware Series" designed in 1982 by Sori Yanagi, one of Japan's leading industrial designers.

[Chilled Chazuke in the Midst of the Rainy Season] "Washing rice that was cooked with such care?" When looking up how to make chilled chazuke (rice with tea/broth poured over it), that was the part that surprised me the most.

[Museum Meiji-Mura] Museum Meiji-Mura opened in 1965 as an outdoor museum to preserve and display Meiji architecture.

[The Story of Korokke] The three major Western-inspired dishes of the Taisho period were tonkatsu (pork cutlet), curry rice, and korokke (croquette).

[After the Microwave Broke] It has been a few months since our microwave broke. We hadn't been using it that frequently, but there was one thing that became a problem. That was defrosting rock-solid frozen rice.

[Japanese Blue and Indigo Dyeing] The Japanese perception of color has developed uniquely, differing from the Western concept of "hue."

[Dear Customers in the USA] Thank you very much for your patronage of Shokunin.com. We are pleased to announce that, starting now, all shipments to the USA will be handled via EMS.

[Triangular Onigiri Mold S] There are days when I pack "small onigiri" (rice balls) for my son's bento lunch. However, making them "small" is unexpectedly difficult. What size would be easy to eat, and how much filling can fit inside?

[Notice of Restocking] Some items that were out of stock have been restocked. Please take a look.

[Vessels for Cooling: Kanamari] As the weather gets hotter, vessels start appearing on the dining table much more frequently for their refreshing, cool look.

[The Herring Mansions and Soran Bushi] Recently, I visited the Otaru Herring Mansion (Otaru-shi Nishin Goten), a historic building that preserves the past glory of the master fishermen (amimoto).

[Hanbang] Out of the blue, have you ever heard of "Hanbang" (Korean traditional medicine)? Those interested in Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine) or who watch Korean historical dramas might have heard the term.

[Jigokuzaka and the Guest House on the Hill] The sloped road leading to Otaru Guest House and further up to Otaru University of Commerce spans about 1.5 km in total length.

[Nakgopsae] "Nakgopsae" is a hot pot dish that originated in Busan, in the southern part of South Korea.

[A Delicious-Looking Jam & Butter Plate] Galettes, sablés, langues de chat, shortbreads—even when we group them under the single word "cookie," the varieties are truly endless.

[A Story About Garlic] Do you have a favorite way to eat garlic? I personally love eating raw garlic slices paired with bonito sashimi. It is a wonderful way to enjoy the stimulating sharpness of garlic.

Shoseien, located near Kyoto Station, is a peaceful oasis in the city. As a detached estate of Higashi Honganji Temple, this Buddhist temple garden, rich in literati taste, offers a unique view paired with Kyoto Tower that you cannot find anywhere else.

The "Hokusai" exhibition is currently being held at the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno. This event marks the first public unveiling of the "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" from the Iuchi Collection, which was deposited with the museum in 2024.

[Meiji Seimeikan and Seikado Bunko Art Museum] If you have some free time near Tokyo Station, walk over to the Imperial Palace to visit Meiji Seimeikan.

[World-Acclaimed, Japanese Tamago Sando] Japanese convenience store egg sandwiches have become so popular lately that they make foreign visitors say, "I want to return to Japan just for this."

[Notice of Restocking] Some items that were out of stock have been restocked. Please take a look.

[Katsumeshi and Renge Fork] "Katsumeshi" is a local dish loved in many restaurants and households in Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, and its surrounding areas.

[The Hidden Favorite: Kiya's Nail Clipper] Nihonbashi Kiya's "Black Nail Clipper" is said to be a long-standing best-seller.

[Palau's Spam Musubi] Palau, which I visited during the holidays. "Spam musubi," made with the luncheon meat Spam, is immensely popular there as a local comfort food.

Today, on Sunday, the Otaru Showroom will also be open. It has become a very beautiful season for flowers. We are truly looking forward to your visit.

[Walking Through the Past and Present of Senbon-Dori Avenue] Senbon-dori Avenue runs north to south through the city of Kyoto. Today, it is a calm residential street with cars and buses passing by and tightly-knit local shops lining the pavements.

[Homemade Yakiniku Sauce] A long time ago, my relative's grandmother used to make her own homemade yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) sauce.

[Chataku, Saucer, and Coaster] Chataku for yunomi teacups, saucers for cups, and coasters for glasses are all commonplace items on our tables. Each of these items has its own practical reason for being and its own distinct history.

At the end of a meal at a soba restaurant, "sobayu" is brought to your table. This smooth, mellow hot water is not mere cooking water; it is a concentrated essence of soba flavors and nutrients that have dissolved into it during the boiling process.

[SUMO] Sumo began as a ritual dedicated to the gods to pray for a bountiful harvest. Stories of gods testing their strength are recorded in the "Kojiki" (Records of Ancient Matters) and the "Nihon Shoki" (The Chronicles of Japan).

[Chicken Adobo and Renge Fork] The other day, I found some chicken drummettes at the supermarket for a very reasonable 68 g per 100 g, so tonight I made Filipino "chicken adobo" for the first time in a while.

[Shirakawa-go] The famous opening line, "The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country," flashed through my mind as a brilliant, almost blinding landscape of pure white snow unfolded before my eyes.

[The Connection Between Nordic Design and Mingei] Visiting the Aalto House in Finland, I noticed elements of Japan—such as sudare (bamboo screens) and sliding doors—woven throughout the space.

[Choosing the Right Teaware to Enjoy Japanese Tea] The names are diverse: yunomi, kumidashi, senchawan, and gyokuro-chawan.

[A New Landscape Unfolding at Otaru Port] When thinking of the iconic scenery of Otaru, Hokkaido, the Otaru Canal immediately comes to mind. However, the proximity of the port to the city center is another landscape uniquely characteristic of Otaru.

[Kudan House] Did you know that in a corner of Kudanshita stands a historical Western-style mansion called "Kudan House"?

[Local Eateries and Their Rice-with-Toppings] In the many countries I have visited, I have encountered various forms of "rice-with-toppings" (bukkake-meshi), each unique to its land.

[On Naoto Fukasawa] The design philosophy of Naoto Fukasawa, one of Japan's leading product designers active on the global stage, is centered around the concept of "Without Thought."

[Cherry Blossom Spots Discovered in Yoichi] When I traveled toward Yoichi last year to see the cherry blossoms, I realized that the town is dotted with wonderful spots I had never noticed before.

Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine is located in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto. It is said that during the Heian period, Sugawara no Michizane enjoyed poetry and music here with Ariwara no Narihira, a renowned poet of the era.

[Notice of Restocking] Some items that were out of stock have been restocked. Please take a look.

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