10 Great Gifts from Japan
These original gifts represent the rich cultural heritage of this country—and tend to go down well with overseas visitors, too!
Storybook Tenugui
A traditional "tenugui" cotton hand towel makes a great gift—or even a headband in the onsen! These tenugui go one step further, however, and tell a picture-book story when folded.
Odate Bentwood Lunchboxes
Odate bentwood, or magewappa, is characteristic of the Odate region in Akita Prefecture.
100 Best Drinks from Japan: #2 Umeshu
Umeshu plum wine is one of the most popular of Japanese liqueurs. It's made from a base alcohol such as sake and Japanese plums, and has a very nice, sweet flavor.
Power Pose Sketching Models
Artistic models equipped with swords, wings and plastic guns are hard to come by, but not for long!
100 Best Drinks from Japan: #1 Japanese Sake
Sake is probably the best known Japanese drink in the world.
Yamagata Cast Iron Teapots
Yamagata cast iron boasts a 1,000-year tradition influenced by the Kyoto style.
Katana Scissors Inspired by Real Samurai
Nikken Cutlery has three types of katana scissors for your slicing needs, including one inspired by Oda Nobunaga’s sword and featuring a gold-tipped “scabbard.”
Casting Craftmanship
NOUSAKU Corp. applies traditional Japanese casting techniques to contemporary designs to promote a unique, stylish lifestyle.
The Secret to a Hot Bento
Imagine opening the lid of your bento box and getting your chopsticks out to eat what should be steaming hot rice—but it’s cold and somehow tasteless. Want to avoid this disappointment?
A Modern Twist for Lacquer
Once used for salad bowls and decorative plates, lacquerware has found a new shape to wrap its sleek exterior around—iPhones.
Spruce Up Your Home with Kyoto Incense Sticks
These Shofuan incense sticks come in one of 12 boxes, each matched to the seasons and events of Kyoto.
Color-Changing Ramen Cup Holders
The Cupmen series are adorable little characters that hold the lid of an instant ramen cup while it's cooking.
