September 2025

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Kanaya Brush, Tokyo's beloved brush specialty store for over 100 years.

Their hair brush, featuring a perfect blend of boar and pig bristles for just the right firmness, fits comfortably against the scalp. Ideal for daily brushing, adding finishing shine, and massaging the scalp.

Add shine and comfort to your daily hair routine. This brush elevates your daily hair care, satisfying both your hair and your soul.

Kanaya Brush's Hair Brush
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kanaya/hair.html
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/

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[The Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto]

Located just outside Exit 3 of Kitayama Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line, the Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto is the world's first “painting garden” where visitors can admire durable ceramic plate reproductions of famous paintings outdoors, faithfully recreating the original works' beauty. Designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, it is a truly unique place where visitors can enjoy timeless masterpieces within a space of beauty woven from concrete, water, and greenery.

The Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto houses a total of eight ceramic plate reproductions, including Monet's “Water Lilies: Morning,” Michelangelo's “The Last Judgment,” and Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper.”

Ceramic plate reproductions faithfully recreate the original artwork's colors and dimensions on large ceramic plates. Unlike paintings on paper or canvas, their colors do not fade over time; it is said they will retain their vibrancy even after 2000 years. The process involves decomposing the original painting's colors, printing them onto transfer paper, then transferring and firing the image onto the ceramic plate. After repeated retouching and rigorous inspection, the finished ceramic plate painting is reproduced at actual size. This allows visitors to experience the same power and realism as viewing the original masterpiece.

Slowly strolling through the three-tiered corridor while appreciating the masterpieces. As you descend the slope leading down to the second basement level, glancing sideways at the waterfall flowing along the walls encircling the entire facility and the water surface shimmering in the light, the expression of the paintings subtly changes depending on your viewing spot and perspective shifts—whether standing or sitting on a bench. Though the day we visited was cloudy, the slightly subdued light beautifully illuminated the ceramic paintings' colors with restraint. It struck us as a wonderful space where you can experience the unique charm of any weather or season.

Walking through the minimal yet powerful concrete architecture while viewing masterpieces outdoors. When visiting Kyoto in autumn, why not try a slightly unusual art experience at the world's first painting garden?

The Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto
https://kyoto-toban-hp.or.jp/
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/

References
https://www.kyoto-museums.jp/museum/north/1022/
https://o-museum.or.jp/pages/46/

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[Easy Yet Impressive: Grilled Mackerel Pressed Sushi]

When you want something simple yet sure to please your guests, how about this “grilled mackerel pressed sushi”? It looks labor-intensive, but actually takes just minutes to prepare.

All you need is grilled mackerel (available as a prepared dish at supermarkets or convenience stores), cooked rice, sushi vinegar, and just pickled plum and shiso leaves.

One of the main hurdles to making sushi at home is preparing the vinegared rice, right? You need to cook the rice slightly firmer than usual, and getting the seasoning just right for the sushi vinegar is tricky. If you add too much vinegar when mixing it into the rice, it can become sticky and unpleasant. That's where “Sushinoko” comes in handy.

Sushinoko was developed and launched in 1963 by Tamanoi Vinegar in Osaka Prefecture, marking the world's first successful powdered vinegar. It's a fantastic product that lets you make sushi rice simply by mixing it into warm rice—whether freshly cooked, frozen, or even retort pouch rice. Many will recognize its iconic orange packaging, featuring a design that evokes a certain nostalgia, which has remained unchanged for over 60 years.

To make it, quickly mix 1 tablespoon of Sushinoko into 300g of rice (about 1 rice cup). Spread the rice into a mold, line it with pitted ume fruit, arrange several shiso leaves, and top with grilled mackerel. Finally, press down firmly and evenly from above, and it's done in no time.

The key point, in my opinion, is using a mold. While you can easily make it using just a storage container or plastic wrap, the neatly formed shape, beautiful cross-section, and the festive look when served on the table all give the molded pressed sushi the edge. Precisely because you skip the effort of making vinegared rice or grilling mackerel, using a mold seems to significantly boost the points where you get compliments.

The Yamichi Pressed Sushi Box absorbs and releases the steam from the warm rice and ingredients just right, resulting in pressed sushi that isn't sticky. The unvarnished Japanese cypress wood has a subtle, pleasant aroma. Once the mold is removed, it doubles as a sushi board, adding a special touch to the table and making it perfect for celebrations or entertaining guests.

Yamaichi's Pressed Sushi Box
https://www.shokunin.com/en/yamaichi/oshi.html

Reference
https://www.tamanoi.co.jp/company/info/history.html