November 2021

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[Mamezara Perfect for Shumai Sauce]

Shumai, or Chinese dumpling, is a hearty dish. We thought that vinegar and soy sauce was the standard sauce for shumai, but we learned that there are different popular sauces depending on the region: soy sauce, vinegar and soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.

According to the ranking of shumai sauce by region, soy sauce was favored in almost all prefectures in the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki regions, as well as Okinawa Prefecture, while vinegar and soy sauce was popular in most of the prefectures in the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions. So, which is your favorite sauce?

Koishiwara ware's Mamezara made in Toho Village, Asakura County, Fukuoka Prefecture, feature beautiful patterns of tobikanna, one of the representative techniques of Koishiwara ware. A continuous pattern is applied to a vessel rotated on a potter's wheel. This mamezara has a high rim, so it is very difficult for the sauce to overflow, even with large baked goods. Please try it as an accompaniment to your shumai at home.

Koishiwara ware's Mamezara
https://www.shokunin.com/en/koishiwara/mame.html 

References
https://youpouch.com/2017/12/19/480164/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSqMkR9ukyw (Shumai's Recipe)

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Founded in 1236, Tofuku-ji Temple is the head temple of the Tofuku-ji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, one of the five most important Rinza temples of Kyoto.

Many people visit the temple to see the autumn foliage and green maples in early summer, which can be seen from the famous Tsutenkyo Bridge, but the temple's appeal is not limited to its natural beauty.

The Sanmon gate, built in 1425, is the oldest existing gate of a Zen temple in Japan, and is designated as a national treasure. The main hall, which stands north of the Sanmon gate, is so large that it once enshrined a 15-meter-high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, and the ceiling painting of a bizarre dragon is very powerful.

There is a ravine called "Sengyokukan" running east to west across the temple grounds, and three bridges, also known as the "Three Famous Bridges of Tofuku-ji Temple." The bridges are covered with crimson maple trees, making you feel as if you are in another world.

However, Tofuku-ji Temple also has magnificent green leaves. And this year, there will be a special "night light-up" event. The vividly glowing blue maples in the precincts illuminated by the light are mysterious and fantastic. We strongly recommend that you visit Tofuku-ji Temple to see the blue maple leaves when you visit Kyoto. In that case, please stop by our Sanjo Showroom as well where you can see a variety of crafts in hand.

Sanjo Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/sanjo.html

References
https://lightup.Tofuku-ji.jp/
https://souda-kyoto.jp/blog/00534.html
https://wondertrip.jp/102341/

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In autumn, it is common to see small children visiting shrines in kimono with their families in Japan. Shichigosan is an event held every year on November 15 to celebrate the safety of children aged 3, 5, and 7, and to wish for their future growth and happiness.

Shichigosan is believed to have originated in the Muromachi period. In those days, the mortality rate of infants was very high, so the children were registered in the family register after three to four years of age. Therefore, it is said that there were many ceremonies to celebrate growth up to the age of seven. One of these ceremonies was the Shichigosan, which took its present form in the Meiji era.

The reason why Shichigosan is celebrated at the ages of 3, 5, and 7 is because the original rituals of "hair placement," "wearing hakama," and "untying the obi" were performed at those ages.

In modern times, the ceremony has become a way to pray for healthy growth at important points in the developmental process, as children begin to understand language at the age of three, gain wisdom at the age of five, and grow new teeth at the age of seven. Also, it is difficult to go to Shichigosan on weekdays due to school and work commitments, so the ceremony is held regardless of the date.

Even today, parents wish for the healthy growth of their children. We should cherish the earnest wishes of the people of the past and celebrate with the whole family. We have a variety of goods that are useful when visiting shrines and other places of worship, so please check out our online page.

Okai Mafu Shoten's Handwoven Linen Handkerchief
https://www.shokunin.com/en/okai/handkerchief.html 
MokuNeji's Bottle
https://www.shokunin.com/en/mokuneji/bottle.html 
Komiya Shoten's Mira Toray Folding Umbrella
https://www.shokunin.com/en/komiya/

References
https://www.happilyphoto.jp/column/256987/ 
https://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/rentalmiyuki/shichigosan_toha.html#column-1
https://www.studio-mario.jp/event/753/article/002/