Japanese "Irezumi" art

Japanese koi fish are popular symbol of "irezumi" (tattoo).
I was looking at these Japanese sites here and here , there are really excellent Japanese tatto artist works. But when people put big big tattoos, how much pain they have to gone through???.

I found about "irezumi dish" from happy mundane (awesome blog, I found many interesting things in his blog!) , I think "irezumi dishes" are cool enough for me.

Osechi ryori and new year

Happy New Year!! Akemashite Omedetou!!

The new year shogatsu is an important time for Japanese people and we eat various kinds of special dishes during the new year with family, relatives and friends. One of traditional new year's food called Osechi ryori (above ) and usually that is served in few tiered lacquer boxes called jubako. This new year, one of my friend made osechi ryori, sushi and more.... I was so impressed!
She made all of these Japanese traditional foods herself .

Looks just like a flower.

I definitely put on weight during the new years holiday, because I ate so many foods all day and all night!

**I hope everyone have a wonderful 2010:)**

Japanese taiko : TAO drum group

Do you know a taiko drum group called TAO?
(Taiko is a Japanese traditional drum.)
Their are fantastic performers and they has given traditional taiko music a completely new style, Cool and awesome.

They are coming to Australia June-July2010.
I hope many people discover the sound of Tao.

Xmas card and Origami

Wow, Xmas is almost there!!!
This weekend I made few xmas cards.
I use Japanese origami paper to add some Japanese touch.
There are something reassuring about handmade, I’m thinking each of my friend and add extra love to my cards:)

Japanese living magazine

I love reading books and magazes especially interior, house magazines.
Recent trip to Japan, I bought lots of Japanese magazines.
I love to introduce one of my favorite.

This magazine is about the stories of various peaple and thier everyday routines with their office, atelier and living space.

12 Peaple appearing in the book are Japanese ceramic artist, photographer, interior shop owner, architect etc, I want to steal their cool living style! Most of there interior style are base on natural and fine balance of new and old style. This magazine is inspiring for me:) and I love their Japanes ceramics.

The magazine is written in Japanese but I think still can enjoy looking at photos.
87 pages , all color pages ,A4size

Kimono Patterns & business cards

I just love Japanese patterns. It's so unique and beautiful.

"wafuda"　in Kyoto Japan they transform a ordinary businesscard to unforgettable cards using

traditional Japanese kimono patterns. It can choose a patterns on the reverse side of the card.

I think great idea to let people know Japanese beauty also feel closer to Japanese culture. I strongly belive there are meaning in pass the tradition down from generation to generation, Japan to world, and will be bright future in Japanese industry to making beautyful things .

*A top pattern is not from "wafuda".