August 2024

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The best customer service I have ever experienced in my life. I was kept informed of the status of my order from start to finish. I'm extremely happy with my order also. It met all my expectations and it was safely packaged for transit, which is rare these days! Don't ever stop providing this level of customer service. I for one will definitely return to buy more products from Shokunin because I feel very confident in your products and your ordering service. I would like to see Shokunin expand its animal range, as well as its fantasy animal range. Your products will be classed as generational family heirlooms. Thank you again for maintaining the highest standards for your products and customer service.
A.C.L. from Germany

Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Mini Eto Series "Tatsu"
https://www.shokunin.com/en/otera/eto.html

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[Siwa, Everyday Japanese "Washi"]

A shoji is a traditional Japanese fixture, a sliding door with a wooden frame covered with Japanese paper. Shoji partitions a room while allowing light to pass through, bringing soft brightness. The transparency of the washi creates an open space while blocking the line of sight, and is a unique combination of beauty and functionality in Japanese dwellings. Furthermore, shoji screens are also an ingenious way to enjoy the natural light of the four seasons, and even today they are popular as part of Japanese-style interior design.

Onao, a washi manufacturer in Ichikawa Daimon, Yamanashi Prefecture, a washi production center with a thousand-year history, has developed “Naoron,” a tear-resistant paper for shoji screens. Naoto Fukasawa, one of Japan's leading industrial designers who has worked on designs for MUJI, noticed the texture created by crumpling this Naoron, and proposed a design for an everyday product that makes use of the material's gentleness. The brand name “Siwa” means “paper wrinkle” and the opposite reading of “washi,” meaning “paper harmony." Washi is carefully refined and produced one by one as if sewing leather.

Siwa offers products designed to make things that are usually disposable long-lasting. For example, the “String & Button Close Envelope” is a string envelope that is usually disposable, but is designed to be used over and over again. It has a wide gusset to hold documents and small items, and can hold 500 sheets of A4 copy paper.

The other is a “clutch bag” designed as a paper bag. By rolling up the lid and fastening it with a snap button, the bag can be carried while retaining its cute paper bag shape. This is a wonderful item as a going-out paper bag that can be used over and over again.

Both products use “Soft Naoron,” a proprietary paper made from wood pulp and polyolefin fiber and produced using the Japanese paper-making process. The paper is characterized by its soft and supple texture, and is tear-resistant and water-resistant. It is also an environmentally friendly material because it does not emit toxic gases when burned. Why not incorporate washi products developed from Japanese shoji screens into your daily life?

Siwa's String & Button Close Envelope
https://www.shokunin.com/en/siwa/himo.html
Siwa's Clutch Bag
https://www.shokunin.com/en/siwa/clutchbag.html

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[Fingertips for Musical Instruments]

For those who play the piano or guitar, keeping your nails at an appropriate length is crucial for producing a beautiful sound and maintaining the correct form. If your nails are too long, you might accidentally catch them between the keys while playing the piano, or if you play a stringed instrument, you might struggle to press the strings properly. You might also unconsciously adjust your form to protect your nails, negatively impacting your playing technique.

Generally, when playing the piano, it's recommended that your nails be short enough so they aren't visible when you look at your fingers from the palm side. Fingernails grow about 1 mm every 10 days, so trimming your nails once a week and filing them every 3 to 4 days can help maintain the ideal length. Regular filing also makes nail trimming easier and reduces the stress on your nails.

The best time to cut your nails is to avoid doing so after a bath or after doing tasks involving water, as nails tend to swell when they absorb water. Although it might seem easier to cut nails when swollen and softened by water, they will return to their original size after some time, which can lead to cutting them too short and causing discomfort. If you often end up with nails that are too short, consider adjusting the timing of your nail trimming.

For my nail care, I use a combination of a nail clipper and a nail file. I use the Kiya Nail Clipper S for quick trimming, which is great for precise nail length adjustments. For shaping and smoothing my nails after cutting, or for minor touch-ups as they grow, I use the Wataoka Nail File. This file allows me to easily create my preferred nail curve and leaves a smooth finish with no snagging.

You can place the two items in a Siwa's Coin Purse, making it easy to carry them anywhere in your bag. The coin purse has a divider, so the tools don’t rattle or bump into each other. This setup is great for preventing situations where you suddenly realize your nails are too long before a lesson or an outing and end up buying a nail clipper on the spot. By forming a habit of regular nail care, you can maintain good nail condition, which contributes to producing a beautiful sound. Why not make it a part of your routine?

Kiya's Nail Clipper S
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kiya/tsume.html
Wataoka's Nail File
https://www.shokunin.com/en/wataoka/tsume.html
Siwa's Coin Purse
https://www.shokunin.com/en/siwa/saifu.html

Reference
https://www.asahi.com/edua/article/14786619?p=2