New noren curtains and tenugui added

Hello and Welcome to www.nipponcraft.com,

We have added new design noren curtains and tenugui hand towels.

Based on the past Q&A from customers, we would like to add some explanations that every noren door curtain is equipped with a rod pocket that allows going through 2cm-3cm diameter curtain rod. We hope you can get an adjustable length curtain rod or bar at home depot, but we also sell a plastic noren rod that is adjustable between 79cm - 105cm (31"-41") for your convenience. The rod we sell is separated in two for easing delivery, and please joint them together and rotate one side to adjust the length to the hallway or door width.
Another notice from us is that a noren curtain is just a cloth hanging, so you cannot bunch up the noren curtain at the curtain rod edge just like a soft window curtain. You need to pull up the noren curtain over the rod, for example when you clean the room.

New design noren door & hallway curtains

 

 

New design tenugui hand towel

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New Furoshiki wrapping cloth and silk mufflers added

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We have added new design furoshki wrappings on our shopping page. They are made of rayon, and the rayon is woven by the traditional method called 'chirimen'. Chirimen techniques turns rayon into durable and luxury fabric close to silk. In spite of the luxury touch, the price of rayon furoshiki is four or five times less expensive than silk products. This time, we have selected flower designs, mainly sakura trees. These furoshiki will be nice for home decor, small coffee table mat, and also for fashion.

New products

Also, we have added new silk mufflers produced by a silk chirimen weaver in Kyoto. They are very smooth, thin and elegant, suitable for wearing at a party or at a concert. By the way, mufflers are western fashion items, but Kimono men and women still wear them in Japan..We call mufflers 'erimaki' literally neck rounding.

Silk mufflers new lineup

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Nipponcraft.com attended Japan Block Fare 2013

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I attended the Japan Block Fare & Cherry blossom fare 2013 on April 13th (Sat.) on Roosevelt Island, NYC. The weather was a little bit cool on the day, but lucky enough that we had cherry blossoms already.
This year, I focused on introducing tenugui hand towels and noren curtains. (Last year we brought many items but we thought selling many *unfamiliar* items were confusing to the guest...) Thanks everyone for dropping by our booth!

Thank you!

Shipment will be delayed until April 18th

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Shipment of orders will be delayed until April 18th, due to our business trip overseas and our office vacancy. Very much sorry for this inconvenience.. (We are still running this web shop with limited number of persons. )

Thank you for your understanding.

New items added - noren curtain, kinchaku, Mingei bags

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We have restocked kinchaku bags, and added new noren and Mingei bags (tote bags and shoulder bags).

Patch work kinchaku bag

This kinchaku is a patch work of vintage kimono cloths. 16cm W x 17.5cm H (6.3" W x 6.9"H) bag is suitable for carrying small items and matches to Japanese oriental fashion.




New model

We have filled stock of new noren designs for 2013 spring and summer. We have close relationship with the producer in Gun'ma prefecture, so we are able to display new items as soon as they are released.  The above new noren is an image of a Japanese castle with full bloom sakura branches.

Tote bag made of vintage Maekake work aprons

 

Indigo fabric patch work shoulder bag

 

 

We have added a new category of Mingei bags. Mingei is a folk art that has developed among people's daily livings. Not so much elaborate as traditional crafts, Mingei crafts have been loved and utilized by the regional people. Mingei crafts are toys, dolls, and bags. Hundreds of thousands of Mingei crafts are produced throughout the country - if you visit any town or city, you will find at least one or two Mingei crafts that are deeply rooted in regional living. In a sense, Mingei concept is close to that of American Indigans' folk crafts or Thailand's regional crafts.  

We have selected tote bags that are made of vintage Maekake aprons (Japanese traditional work apron) and shoulder bags by parching indigo fabrics that are produced in a regional city in Hiroshima prefecture. All of the bags are 100% handmade & 100% cotton, and durable! We believe these items are also utilizable in western living.

 

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Sakura full bloom!

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I would like to share these sakura photographs with you. I shot these photos around our office today.



Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

In Tokyo, sakura flowers full bloom. Once sakura reach to full bloom status, the flowers stay for 3 - 5 days, and then they will scatter very quickly. That means you will have less than a week chance to enjoy flowers. The scattering is triggered by rain we often have during this season. We refer this rain as "flower scattering rain".

When sakura full blooms, the flowers come out even from the stem!

Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

In Tokyo, many sakura trees are planted along roads, pavements and small rivers for public enjoyment. The trees are maintained by the city. Althoug we only have one week for flower viewing during the year, very few argue against using tax for tree maintenance. Sakura are soul, spiritual trees for the Japanese. Cutting a sakura tree is bad moral.

If you look up a big sakura tree, you can enjoy more. The sky is covered with flowers!

Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

While taking photographs, I found many Japanese black pine trees. This is a small park with only pine trees. In the park, an old man cleaning staff was sweeping the ground. No visitors, very quiet when I came in. It was a weekday afternoon.

This pine tree is planted at a house entrance. I presume that this residence is owned by a wealthy person.











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We will attend Cherry Blossom Festival on April 13th at Roosevelt Is. NYC

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We will be attending at Cherry Blossom Festival to be held at Roosevelt Island in NYC on April 13th, 2013 (Saturday). The festival will be held along the promenade looking to Manhattan, next to Coler Goldwater Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility. You will see a festival signboard at the subway (F) station exit and also at the Tram Station.  The festival hour is 10:00AM - 8:00PM.
We will be expecting cherry blossoms around the day, according to the festival organizer.
Once again this year, we will be bringing some showcases. If you happen to reside around the area, we look forward to meeting you!

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