February 2022

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[Shirokiya Shikkiten's Teshiozara has been added]

The history of Aizu lacquerware can be traced back to the Muromachi period when the planting of lacquer trees was encouraged in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. Later, in 1590, Lord Gamo Ujisato, who became the lord of Aizu by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, brought in woodworkers and painters from Hino (present-day Shiga Prefecture), his former domain, and handed down the advanced techniques of the time, and Aizu lacquerware developed into a thriving industry.

Teshiozara are called "suigasa" in Aizu, and are known as vessels for Aizu's local dish, kozuyu. This is a "hospitality" bowl, where you are allowed to have as many refills as you like at weddings and funerals. The bright red color with a yellowish tinge is a kind of vermillion lacquer called araishu, which has been used for shrine gates since ancient times.

Shirokiya Shikkiten was established over 300 years ago during the Keian period. From the 1720s to the present, the store has been engaged in the manufacture and sale of lacquerware in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. It has won numerous awards, including gold medals at the Belgian Exposition in 1905 and the Japan-British Exposition in 1910, and is highly regarded internationally.

Shirokiya Shikkiten's Teshiozara
https://www.shokunin.com/en/shirokiya/teshio.html

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[Kobo Aizawa's Straight Kettle has been added]

The Straight Kettle is the embodiment of the Aizawa manufacturing principle: "What is functional is beautiful, and what is beautiful in form is functional."

The kettle's design, which is unusual for a kettle, has a large contact area between the lid and the body, making it easy to wash inside.

The bottom of the kettle is wide and can be used for induction heating. Stylish, rust-resistant, and durable. It is the perfect kettle for daily use.

Kobo Aizawa's Straight Kettle
https://www.shokunin.com/en/aizawa/kettle.html

Kobo Aizawa was founded in 1922. They have continued to produce metal products and other daily life tools in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture. The company's products, which pursue "function" and "beauty," were selected for Permanent Collection by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 1986.

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Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries, including Japan. However, there are many different types of rice, each with its own unique characteristics, and each grain of rice has its own deep appeal.

There are three main types of rice grown and eaten around the world: japonica rice, indica rice, and javanica rice. Among them, japonica rice is mainly grown in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China, and parts of Europe, and is characterized by its short, almost circular shape and the fact that it becomes sticky and glossy when cooked.

Focusing on Japanese rice, there are actually over 800 different brands of rice in Japan. With so many varieties, it may seem difficult to find the rice you like, but each rice has its own personality and flavor, such as crunchiness and degree of sweetness, and can be broadly divided into attributes.

For example, "Koshihikari," a variety from the Hokuriku region that ripens to a brilliant reddish-brown color, has a strong stickiness and flavor, and a soft texture. On the other hand, "Hoshi no Yume," named after the image of a shining star, is less sticky, has a grainy texture, and tastes bland.

The process of selecting the perfect rice for your palate from among the many varieties of rice that have been created through various breeding efforts is truly interesting. We have a wide selection of rice chests for storing rice, rice bowls for cooking rice, rice scoops for sipping rice, and rice bowls for placing rice on. Please enjoy Japan's staple food on traditional Japanese crafts.

Azmaya's Rice Storage Box
https://www.shokunin.com/en/azmaya/komebitsu.html
Kurikyu's Magewappa Ohitsu
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kurikyu/ohitsu.html
Okubo House Mokkosha's Chestnut Rice Scoop
https://www.shokunin.com/en/okubo/shamoji.html
Seiryugama's Rice Bowl
https://www.shokunin.com/en/seiryu/chawan.html
Hakusan Porcelain's Hirachawan
https://www.shokunin.com/en/hakusan/hirachawan.html

References
https://panasonic.jp/life/food/110016.html