Hello and Welcome to www.nipponcraft.com
We are on new year holidays from December 30th to January 3rd, 2012. I would like to inform you that the shipment of order placement during this term will be delayed until January 4th. Sorry for this inconvenience.
I wish all of you a happy 2012 new year!
Thank you!
December 27, 2011
December 16, 2011
Seasons Greeting
Seasons Greeting from www.nipponcraft.com
I wish you happy holidays and a happy new year 2012.
Since we opened our web shop in March 2011 for international customers, our mission is to bridge the Japanese cultures and the world.
Nowadays you will find some Japanese shops and web shops in every nation and it has become easier to buy Japanese goods. However, our job is to continue to look for something Japanese traditional that you may not find in your countries.
One of the items not prevalent in the world yet I believe is Nishijin-ori fabric. These fabrics are woven by the traditional techniques developed since the 15th century in Kyoto. ("Nishijin" is the name of a district in Kyoto and "Ori" means weaving.)
Nishijin-ori fabric has a reputation of high qualities and it is used for kimonos, neckties, wallets and various interior products.
This time we have genuine products directly from Nishijin-ori weaver in Kyoto.
Thank you!
I wish you happy holidays and a happy new year 2012.
Since we opened our web shop in March 2011 for international customers, our mission is to bridge the Japanese cultures and the world.
Nowadays you will find some Japanese shops and web shops in every nation and it has become easier to buy Japanese goods. However, our job is to continue to look for something Japanese traditional that you may not find in your countries.
One of the items not prevalent in the world yet I believe is Nishijin-ori fabric. These fabrics are woven by the traditional techniques developed since the 15th century in Kyoto. ("Nishijin" is the name of a district in Kyoto and "Ori" means weaving.)
Nishijin-ori fabric has a reputation of high qualities and it is used for kimonos, neckties, wallets and various interior products.
This time we have genuine products directly from Nishijin-ori weaver in Kyoto.
Nishijin ori small bags and wallets lineup:
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| Small gamaguchi wallet with Sakura flower design |
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| Small shoulder bag made of Nishijin-ori |
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| Medium size gamaguchi wallet with tassel |
Thank you!
December 9, 2011
New kinchaku bags added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I have added six of new Kinchaku bags on our website. These small bags are made from patching silk kimono cloths and each one is handmade in Okayama prefecture.
Kinchaku is a small pouch that is useful for carrying small items on daily life.
Very colorful and unique.
Thank you!
I have added six of new Kinchaku bags on our website. These small bags are made from patching silk kimono cloths and each one is handmade in Okayama prefecture.
Kinchaku is a small pouch that is useful for carrying small items on daily life.
Very colorful and unique.
 |
| Chirimen patch kinchaku bag |
November 27, 2011
Business trip from November 29th to December 3rd
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I would like to inform you that we are traveling on business from November 29th to December 3rd. So there will be nobody who handles shipping during this term. However, you can still place your order but the delivery from our office will be delayed until December 4th. Sorry for this inconvenience.
During this business trip, we will hunt more items for global customers. We always look for genuine traditional products that we think global customers might be interested in.
Thank you!
I would like to inform you that we are traveling on business from November 29th to December 3rd. So there will be nobody who handles shipping during this term. However, you can still place your order but the delivery from our office will be delayed until December 4th. Sorry for this inconvenience.
During this business trip, we will hunt more items for global customers. We always look for genuine traditional products that we think global customers might be interested in.
Thank you!
November 24, 2011
Tenugui set added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I have created tenugui sets for customers' convenience. If you purchase a set, the total fee is cheaper than purchasing each one by one.
We will create more tenugui sets shortly.
Thank you!
I have created tenugui sets for customers' convenience. If you purchase a set, the total fee is cheaper than purchasing each one by one.
We will create more tenugui sets shortly.
Tenugui sets
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| Four pieces of Gauze tenugui |
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| Three pieces of Tenugui Concept of this set is Japanese plants - flowers, bamboos and fruits. |
November 18, 2011
A few more furoshiki added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com
I have added a few more furoshiki cloths onto our website. Furoshiki is a square sized (typically 68cm X 68cm in size) cotton cloth appropriate for wrapping gifts, home decor or scarf.
I hope that global people also find their beneficial way of using furoshiki!
Thank you!
I have added a few more furoshiki cloths onto our website. Furoshiki is a square sized (typically 68cm X 68cm in size) cotton cloth appropriate for wrapping gifts, home decor or scarf.
I hope that global people also find their beneficial way of using furoshiki!
New Lineups
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| Imaging lifting up carp flags on boys' day in May |
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| Imaging Hinamatsuri doll festival for girls in March |
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| Ukiyo-e of Kabuki actor Sharaku |
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| Imaging Sakura flower being blown by wind in April |
November 16, 2011
Outlet category added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
Today, I added "Outlet" category on our website. We use some of our brand new products for taking photos for our website or displaying samples. Actually they were used just once for photo and displays . Therefore they have wrinkled surface but I believe that they can still be used because they are not second hand items.
I have decided to sell these items as outlets with 50% - 60% off the market price to make customers' choice wider.
I hope you will visit our Outlet Mall.
Thank you!
Today, I added "Outlet" category on our website. We use some of our brand new products for taking photos for our website or displaying samples. Actually they were used just once for photo and displays . Therefore they have wrinkled surface but I believe that they can still be used because they are not second hand items.
I have decided to sell these items as outlets with 50% - 60% off the market price to make customers' choice wider.
I hope you will visit our Outlet Mall.
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| Wall hanging |
Thank you!
November 10, 2011
New Tenugui lineup added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I have added new Tenugui lineups. Here are some of the lineups I think you might be interested in:
Thank you.
I have added new Tenugui lineups. Here are some of the lineups I think you might be interested in:
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| Geisha |
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| Crab fighting with a monkey (Japanese old story) Monkey promised to take sweet persimmons for crabs in exchange for rice balls the crab had, but the monkey betrayed and threw bitter ones from the tree. |
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| Iris flowers imaging May in Japan |
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| Bamboos imaging July in Japan |
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| Darruma dolls No hands and feet because of sitting and praying for gods for long time |
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| Maneki Neko or cats inviting luckyness |
Thank you.
November 2, 2011
More Noren curtains added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
Today, I have added more lineup of Noren curtains to our shop. While looking for something unique for global customers, I have found hemp noren curtains that were hand-painted by a woman living in Okayama, Japan. These ones are really hand paints, so we have only one stock for each. Each painting design motif is a carp. Carps are the symbol of strength, success and richness in Japan. Many rich men keep red and white carps in their ponds in the garden!
I hope you will find these ones interesting.
Again, no shipping charge campaign through December.
Thank you!
Today, I have added more lineup of Noren curtains to our shop. While looking for something unique for global customers, I have found hemp noren curtains that were hand-painted by a woman living in Okayama, Japan. These ones are really hand paints, so we have only one stock for each. Each painting design motif is a carp. Carps are the symbol of strength, success and richness in Japan. Many rich men keep red and white carps in their ponds in the garden!
I hope you will find these ones interesting.
Again, no shipping charge campaign through December.
New Lineups
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| Koinobori carps |
 |
| Carps in a pond |
Thank you!
October 27, 2011
Photo albums
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I have compiled an album of photos we have taken so far. We occasionally travel to several places in Japan and take photos to show the seasonal culture of Japan to global customers.
The photos include the autumn colors, cherry blossoms (Sakura), Koinobori (carp flags), Maiko ladies, Jinriki-sha (a cart driven by man), Osaka-jo castle, funny neon ads of Osaka central.
Please visit our facebook to find more.
Thank you!
I have compiled an album of photos we have taken so far. We occasionally travel to several places in Japan and take photos to show the seasonal culture of Japan to global customers.
The photos include the autumn colors, cherry blossoms (Sakura), Koinobori (carp flags), Maiko ladies, Jinriki-sha (a cart driven by man), Osaka-jo castle, funny neon ads of Osaka central.
Please visit our facebook to find more.
Thank you!
October 25, 2011
New Gamaguchi Series Added
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com
We have added new series of Gamaguchi wallet to our web site. Ten lineups of small size Gamaguchi wallets and three lineups of medium size. The design prints are called Edo Sarasa which emerged in Edo era in Japan some three hundred years ago. Trees, flowers, birds are the motif of Edo Sarasa design and it was originally inspired by India design.
The design is all hand-dyed (called "Tezome" in Japanese) and the dye factory is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Although Shinjuku is a very busy shopping zone with three million visitors a day around the station, several traditional factories still exist until now. The dye factories gather around Ochiai district, two stops from Shinjuku station by local train.
Please visit our web site to find more.
Thank you!
We have added new series of Gamaguchi wallet to our web site. Ten lineups of small size Gamaguchi wallets and three lineups of medium size. The design prints are called Edo Sarasa which emerged in Edo era in Japan some three hundred years ago. Trees, flowers, birds are the motif of Edo Sarasa design and it was originally inspired by India design.
The design is all hand-dyed (called "Tezome" in Japanese) and the dye factory is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Although Shinjuku is a very busy shopping zone with three million visitors a day around the station, several traditional factories still exist until now. The dye factories gather around Ochiai district, two stops from Shinjuku station by local train.
Please visit our web site to find more.
Thank you!
 |
| A young successor painting design manually |
New lineup sample
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| Small size Gamaguchi wallet suitable for coin holders |
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| Medium size Gamaguchi wallet |
October 20, 2011
New Noren-curtains added and shipping free campaign
Hello and welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
We have added new Noren-curtains series and just started the free shipping campaign of them. This campaign will last until December, 2011. Please visit the Noren-curtain category of our website and take a look. We are still a small web shop but we will continue to expand the lineups.
In spite of the free shipping, all the listed prices of Noren-curtains at our website are the same as those prices sold in Japan. No hidden charges! And we will ship the goods via EMS express mail service, which is the reliable international mail service operated by Japan Post (Japanese government owned company).
All the Noren-curtains listed here are dyed manually (batik) in Kyoto and are of high quality. They are cotton 100% and tougher compared with the products of other vendors. What is fascinating about batik (Roketsu-zome in Japanese word) is that you will find some natural cracks on the dyed parts. Many people say that these natural cracks are the tastes of the products.
Noren curtain can be used for room divider, window sunshade, wall hanging and tapestry. I believe that Noren curtains look good for the western home interior. I hope you would like the products.
Thank you!
We have added new Noren-curtains series and just started the free shipping campaign of them. This campaign will last until December, 2011. Please visit the Noren-curtain category of our website and take a look. We are still a small web shop but we will continue to expand the lineups.
In spite of the free shipping, all the listed prices of Noren-curtains at our website are the same as those prices sold in Japan. No hidden charges! And we will ship the goods via EMS express mail service, which is the reliable international mail service operated by Japan Post (Japanese government owned company).
All the Noren-curtains listed here are dyed manually (batik) in Kyoto and are of high quality. They are cotton 100% and tougher compared with the products of other vendors. What is fascinating about batik (Roketsu-zome in Japanese word) is that you will find some natural cracks on the dyed parts. Many people say that these natural cracks are the tastes of the products.
Noren curtain can be used for room divider, window sunshade, wall hanging and tapestry. I believe that Noren curtains look good for the western home interior. I hope you would like the products.
Thank you!
New lineups
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| Short length lucky cat http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_135.html |
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| Arch style flower design (90cm length) http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_136.html |
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| Lily of the valley http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_137.html  http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_139.html  http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_140.html  http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_138.html  http://www.nipponcraft.com/goods_en_jpy_105.html |
September 28, 2011
Noren-curtain for studio room
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I did some experiments how Japanese Noren-curtain fitted and looked like for an US studio room in NY. Let me show you how it looked like.
(1) I hang the bamboo Noren-curtain at a window instead of a window shade. It's amazing that the Noren-curtain fits beautifully and looks quite good! The blue bamboo design looks refreshing.
(2) Then, I hang the Noren-curtain between the doorway and the kitchen. It's useful for the partitioning to keep privacy.
(3) Finally, I hang the Noren-curtain between the kitchen and the room. It's also useful for light partitioning between them.
I hope US people will like Noren-curtains and find them useful for US life.
Thank you!
- KEN
I did some experiments how Japanese Noren-curtain fitted and looked like for an US studio room in NY. Let me show you how it looked like.
(1) I hang the bamboo Noren-curtain at a window instead of a window shade. It's amazing that the Noren-curtain fits beautifully and looks quite good! The blue bamboo design looks refreshing.
(2) Then, I hang the Noren-curtain between the doorway and the kitchen. It's useful for the partitioning to keep privacy.
(3) Finally, I hang the Noren-curtain between the kitchen and the room. It's also useful for light partitioning between them.
I hope US people will like Noren-curtains and find them useful for US life.
Thank you!
- KEN
September 26, 2011
About the slide show
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
Recently we updated the top page slide show. I think I need to explain about them. My colleague visited Osaka and took these photos.
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan of Japan with the population of over eight million. This is the city where you can meet with unique culture - quite different atmospheres from other cities and towns in Japan.
For example, the neon advertisement boards are very bright and colorful. Osaka citizens love bright colors and unique designs. They just don't want to the same as other people. The language spoken in Osaka is called "Osaka-ben" or "Kansai-ben" (literally Osaka dialect) and has unique intonation. Tokyo people and Osaka people are still able to communicate with each other, but the spoken language intonation is quite different.
The following photos were taken at Doton-bori area where you can find many bars and restaurants. Doton-bori is the name of a river and you can find these large neon boards on the both sides of the river. The running man advertisement is the symbol of Glico, a confectionery and food producer in Osaka. They produce chocolates snacks, ice creams, and instant curry.
Along Doton-bori street, you can find many small restaurants and bars.
What Doton-bori makes attractive is many unique advertisements and symbols.
Easily understood, this restaurant serves crab - this shop is called "Kani Doraku" or crab mania!
This is the octopus pan cake called "Tako-yaki". They bake flour with a piece of octopus inside.
This is another confectionery ads. This snack is called "Carl" and has been long loved by Japanese people. In TV, this farmer wearing the hat always appears for this snack ads.
This is Biliken, the god of lucky. Biliken was first created by an American artist in 1908 and introduced to Japan.
If you have a chance, please visit these areas and meet with the unique culture and atmospheres.
Thank you!
Recently we updated the top page slide show. I think I need to explain about them. My colleague visited Osaka and took these photos.
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan of Japan with the population of over eight million. This is the city where you can meet with unique culture - quite different atmospheres from other cities and towns in Japan.
For example, the neon advertisement boards are very bright and colorful. Osaka citizens love bright colors and unique designs. They just don't want to the same as other people. The language spoken in Osaka is called "Osaka-ben" or "Kansai-ben" (literally Osaka dialect) and has unique intonation. Tokyo people and Osaka people are still able to communicate with each other, but the spoken language intonation is quite different.
The following photos were taken at Doton-bori area where you can find many bars and restaurants. Doton-bori is the name of a river and you can find these large neon boards on the both sides of the river. The running man advertisement is the symbol of Glico, a confectionery and food producer in Osaka. They produce chocolates snacks, ice creams, and instant curry.
Along Doton-bori street, you can find many small restaurants and bars.
What Doton-bori makes attractive is many unique advertisements and symbols.
Easily understood, this restaurant serves crab - this shop is called "Kani Doraku" or crab mania!
This is the octopus pan cake called "Tako-yaki". They bake flour with a piece of octopus inside.
Oh, a demon is there!
This is another confectionery ads. This snack is called "Carl" and has been long loved by Japanese people. In TV, this farmer wearing the hat always appears for this snack ads.
This is Biliken, the god of lucky. Biliken was first created by an American artist in 1908 and introduced to Japan.
If you have a chance, please visit these areas and meet with the unique culture and atmospheres.
Thank you!
September 14, 2011
Wind ring bell train
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
For traveling information, here is the wind-bell decorated train that run in the northern part of Kanto (approximately 100km north of Tokyo). This train runs between Kiryu and Maebashi in Gunma prefecture. The website of this train service company is at http://www15.wind.ne.jp/~joden/, but once again it's only in Japanese. This is a very local train. It's so local that I don't think any English written guidebook pick up this wind-bell train.
To visit there, take Tobu express train from Asakusa station in Tokyo and transfer at Akagi station. It is about two hours trip from Asakusa.
Wind-bell is usually used for feeling freshness in humid summer in Japan. It's very interesting that they attach so many wind bells on the ceiling of train cars so as to make them ring as they run.
Sorry to say, the wind-bell train service ended at the end of August but should be again next summer.
I have uploaded the movies. I hope you will find them enjoyable.
Thank you!
- Ken
For traveling information, here is the wind-bell decorated train that run in the northern part of Kanto (approximately 100km north of Tokyo). This train runs between Kiryu and Maebashi in Gunma prefecture. The website of this train service company is at http://www15.wind.ne.jp/~joden/, but once again it's only in Japanese. This is a very local train. It's so local that I don't think any English written guidebook pick up this wind-bell train.
To visit there, take Tobu express train from Asakusa station in Tokyo and transfer at Akagi station. It is about two hours trip from Asakusa.
Wind-bell is usually used for feeling freshness in humid summer in Japan. It's very interesting that they attach so many wind bells on the ceiling of train cars so as to make them ring as they run.
Sorry to say, the wind-bell train service ended at the end of August but should be again next summer.
I have uploaded the movies. I hope you will find them enjoyable.
Thank you!
- Ken
August 30, 2011
Japan Block Fair in NYC
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com
On August 21st, we participated in Japan Block Fair in NYC. Lots of guests visited the fair and thanks many customers for coming into our booth! We also enjoyed communicating with New York people.
The Japan Block Fair is the Japanese culture events held occasionally in NYC every year and it was our first time to get a chance to participate.
On the day, the weather was fine in the morning and through 4:30pm, but it was unfortunate that we were hit by a sudden T-storm just after 4:30pm, when we had to close our booth. Very much sorry for the guests to whom we told that we would stay until 6:00pm. We had to leave after the sudden storm!
You can find the whole photos of this event at the following :
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjw1YBqs
We flew back to Japan last week, but if our back flight had been this weekend we would be hit by the hurricane and could not make a back flight! This was fortunate.
We are looking forward to meeting with New Yorkers in the future again. We will make a chance to participate in this event again.
Thank you,
On August 21st, we participated in Japan Block Fair in NYC. Lots of guests visited the fair and thanks many customers for coming into our booth! We also enjoyed communicating with New York people.
The Japan Block Fair is the Japanese culture events held occasionally in NYC every year and it was our first time to get a chance to participate.
On the day, the weather was fine in the morning and through 4:30pm, but it was unfortunate that we were hit by a sudden T-storm just after 4:30pm, when we had to close our booth. Very much sorry for the guests to whom we told that we would stay until 6:00pm. We had to leave after the sudden storm!
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| Madison Avenue b/w 43rd and 44th |
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| Our shop decorated with our handmade flags |
You can find the whole photos of this event at the following :
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjw1YBqs
We flew back to Japan last week, but if our back flight had been this weekend we would be hit by the hurricane and could not make a back flight! This was fortunate.
We are looking forward to meeting with New Yorkers in the future again. We will make a chance to participate in this event again.
Thank you,
August 7, 2011
Shop closed from August 11th to August 25th, 2011
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft,
This is a note about our summer holidays.
We will suspend our shipping and delivery process from August 11th to August 26th, 2011 due to our business trip to USA and summer vacation. No one will be at the shop during this term. The shipping of goods from our site (Japan) will be delayed until August 26th if you place an order after August 11th.
Sorry for this inconvenience.
- Ken
Shop manager
This is a note about our summer holidays.
We will suspend our shipping and delivery process from August 11th to August 26th, 2011 due to our business trip to USA and summer vacation. No one will be at the shop during this term. The shipping of goods from our site (Japan) will be delayed until August 26th if you place an order after August 11th.
Sorry for this inconvenience.
- Ken
Shop manager
July 28, 2011
New York Japan Event on August 21st
Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,
I would like to announce that Nipponcraft.com will participate in JAPAN BLOCK FAIR which will be held on August 21st (Sun.) on Madison Ave. (between 43rd and 44th street), NY, USA.
This is an one day street event where you can meet lots of Japanese unique culture, performance and foods and lots more. The official site is JBF.
We will showcase our products there and we will be giving campaign to those people who could register E-newsletter on our website.
We will bring in Noren-curtains, Tenugui cloth, Furoshiki wrapping cloth, Sensu folding fans, Tairyo-bata flag and much more directly from Japan. They are genuine traditional handmade products and may be hard to find these brands in USA.
Please visit our booth and have a look at our products.
We are looking forward to seeing New York people!
I would like to announce that Nipponcraft.com will participate in JAPAN BLOCK FAIR which will be held on August 21st (Sun.) on Madison Ave. (between 43rd and 44th street), NY, USA.
This is an one day street event where you can meet lots of Japanese unique culture, performance and foods and lots more. The official site is JBF.
We will showcase our products there and we will be giving campaign to those people who could register E-newsletter on our website.
We will bring in Noren-curtains, Tenugui cloth, Furoshiki wrapping cloth, Sensu folding fans, Tairyo-bata flag and much more directly from Japan. They are genuine traditional handmade products and may be hard to find these brands in USA.
Please visit our booth and have a look at our products.
We are looking forward to seeing New York people!
July 13, 2011
Hohzuki (winter cherry) bazaar season
In July, there are several Hohzuki (winter cherry) bazaars in Tokyo.
Hohzuki pot is sold like this:
Most of the Hohzuki bazaars take places at shrines or temples and the biggest bazaar in Tokyo is the one at Sensoji temple at Asakusa. This year's bazaar was held on July 9th and 10th. There were about 120 Hohzuki shops and every shop sold a pot at 2,500 JPY for each. So, many same shops!
Some shop sold a bag of five pieces fruits at 500 JPY like this:
Traditionally, visiting the Sensoji temple on July 10th is believed to be lucky for many years and it is worth visiting and praying for 46,000 times. Since many people gather to the temple on July 10th, I think many Hohzuki dealers got together for selling pots because the Hohzuki whose fruit is becoming big in July was used to be medical herb. This custom of selling Hohuzki became the tradition.
Buy the way, the tenugui cloth sold at our shop has the Hohzuki design:
Thank you!
Hohzuki pot is sold like this:
 |
Each pot is 2,500JPY |
Some shop sold a bag of five pieces fruits at 500 JPY like this:
Traditionally, visiting the Sensoji temple on July 10th is believed to be lucky for many years and it is worth visiting and praying for 46,000 times. Since many people gather to the temple on July 10th, I think many Hohzuki dealers got together for selling pots because the Hohzuki whose fruit is becoming big in July was used to be medical herb. This custom of selling Hohuzki became the tradition.
 |
| Vermilion red pieces but should be still green in July in nature |
Buy the way, the tenugui cloth sold at our shop has the Hohzuki design:
Thank you!
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