July 2023

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[Chobundo's Arare Tetsubin has been added]

This is a traditional tetsubin with lacquer baked onto the cast surface. The surface is adorned with a beautiful "arare" pattern, which is reminiscent of hail. Arare is said to depict the scenery of moisture in the clouds transforming into white ice particles and falling to the ground. By adding the arare pattern, it increases the tetsubin's surface area, resulting in better heat retention. The knob on the lid is designed in the shape of an eggplant. In Japanese, "eggplant" is pronounced as "nasu," which sounds similar to the word for "to accomplish" or "to achieve." So, it carries the auspicious meaning of "accomplishing great things." With its simple and practical design, you can enjoy using this tetsubin for a long time, forming a lasting attachment to it.

Chobundo's Arare Tetsubin
https://www.shokunin.com/en/chobundo/

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[Mount Hood]

Mount Hood is located about an hour and a half drive from Portland, Oregon, in the northwestern United States. It is 3,428 meters above sea level and has been nicknamed "Oregon Fuji" by Japanese-Americans and Japanese locals because of its beautiful snow-covered appearance even in summer. The area is crowded with people all year round, with camping and trekking in the summer and ski resorts open in the winter.

Mount Hood at this time of the year is a beautiful place with sparkling green trees under a piercing blue sky, and crystal clear lakes and streams that are difficult to describe in pictures or words alone. On weekends, many people from Portland come to visit, some pitching tents by the lake to read a book, some children swimming in the lake, and others trekking with their dogs, all enjoying the wonderful nature at their leisure. The trees are so tall that it hurts one's neck to look up at them, and it is no wonder that there have been many sightings of Bigfoot, an unidentified animal, in the area. Walking through the forest, one gets the feeling that somewhere in this forest there may be animals that we have not yet encountered.

One of the most popular places to stay on Mount Hood is the Timberline Lodge. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, it is an imposing stone structure that is a sight to behold. Some of you may know it as the filming location for the movie "The Shining. The lodge was built in 1937 as one of the projects of the Bureau of Public Works Promotion, a government agency established during the New Deal policy period during the Great Depression. Huge fir trees and rocks cut by hand from the local mountains were used in the construction, and the lodge was built by the hands of many craftsmen. The interior of the building, made of natural materials and decorated with meticulous handiwork, is a wonderful space where one can feel the energy of nature and the craftsmen's passion for making things.

All of our showrooms are located in historical buildings that have been carefully passed down through generations. By placing yourself in the space and actually holding the products in your hands, you will be able to feel the splendor of handcraftsmanship and beautiful appearance of the products. Please visit our showroom.

Showrooms
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
Mount Hood
https://goo.gl/maps/GBRbsuMDp4DmAad67
Timberline Lodge
https://goo.gl/maps/xuxh8WApeY5JqYVq9

References
https://www.travelportland.com/ja/mount-hood-lodging/
https://www.youmaga.com/odekake/northwest-nature/eco68/

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[Preventing Heatstroke with Handmade Neck Coolers]

Amidst scorching heat waves that continue to sweep across the nation, the intense heat is making life challenging for many. Even inside our homes, rooms without air conditioning or the kitchen can leave us sweating with the slightest movement. Stepping outside means being greeted by the searing sun, with temperatures matching our body heat. Nights offer little relief as the temperatures stay stubbornly high, causing restless tropical nights that trouble a significant number of individuals.

Given the current high risk of heatstroke both indoors and outdoors, I researched ways to prevent it using items we already have at home. Preventing heatstroke involves regular hydration, managing temperature and humidity, and regulating body temperature. For the latter, it's said that applying ice packs to areas near thick blood vessels on the body's surface, such as "both sides of the front of the neck (where the pulse is strong)," "both sides of the armpits," and "the front of the groin," can efficiently cool the body as chilled blood circulates internally.

Hence, I decided to try making a neck cooler using small ice packs that come with cakes or desserts from the freezer and Okai Mafu Shoten's Linen Tenugui. It's a simple sewing project that involves only straight stitches. I folded the tenugui lengthwise, marked the folds, unfolded it, folded the lower half towards the center, and then folded it again to about three-quarters of the fabric's length. I placed the tenugui around my neck to ensure the ice packs were positioned on both sides of my neck, marked the spots, and secured them temporarily with pins. Then, I sewed four straight lines vertically towards the center where the fabric overlapped. This created two pockets to hold the ice packs. I placed the frozen ice packs into the pockets, covered the unsewn fabric part, wrapped it around my neck, and lightly tied it. When I tried using it during sweltering outdoor activities or indoors without air conditioning, simply draping it around my neck provided relief as the fabric's cooling effect seemed to ease the intense heat.

If you find the coldness uncomfortable, you can wrap the ice packs in a small cloth before inserting them, or consider using gauze towels instead of the tenugui. For this neck cooler design, I intentionally avoided placing ice packs directly on the back of the neck to prevent excessive chilling, which could lead to reduced temperature sensitivity or skin irritation. So, it's essential to avoid prolonged use and be mindful of the risk of frostbite while enjoying its benefits.

The Linen Tenugui used for the neck cooler has excellent water absorption and breathability, keeping the neck area comfortably clean. You can appreciate its pleasant texture while it assists in preventing heatstroke. Moreover, since it's a straightforward project with just straight stitches, you can easily undo the stitches and revert to using the tenugui as a handkerchief, towel, or wear it like a scarf. Its quick-drying properties make it handy for travel too.

A handmade neck cooler can be a valuable tool in preventing heatstroke. Why not give it a try by using your favorite tenugui or towel? Start with making just one to see how it works for you.

Okai Mafu Shoten's Linen Tenugui
https://www.shokunin.com/en/okai/tenugui.html
ao's Stereoscopic Weaving Face Towel
https://www.shokunin.com/en/ao/rittaiori.html
Banshu Hamono's Grip Scissors
https://www.shokunin.com/en/banshu/nigiri.html

References
https://weathernews.jp/s/topics/202208/120245/
https://www.netsuzero.jp/learning/le02
https://kurashinista.jp/articles/detail/47194 (Reference for the sewing method)