As printed in Eighty Degrees Magazine: Volume 2. Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing a private tea tasting at PLANTATION by Teakha in Hong Kong. As for the technique, they use a simplified fusion of two tea ceremony types: Taiwanese and Chinese gong fu. This means they incorporate a teapot and multiple small cups…

As published on STORIED Magazine. Nestled amongst gleaming rice fields against the backdrop of Hokkaido’s Asahi Mountain lies woodworking studio Craft & Design TANNO. For over 40 years, Norio Tanno has hand-crafted a variety of beautiful objects, such as business card cases and hexagonal tea canisters, in a way that creates a satisfying, soothing sound…

Kumihama Bay. Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Visit with Atsushi Toyoshima: oyster farmer and innovator. After arriving in the Kyotango Peninsula I suited up in a bright rubber-duck yellow rain slicker alongside Atsushi in his modest blue one as we geared up to head out into the Kumihama Bay. Bringing around the skiff tied behind several larger…

As published on THE KINDCRAFT. The middle of September had me navigating through the streets of Tokyo’s downtown Sumida Ward, the sticky heat not quite ready to surrender to the much-awaited Autumn chill. My destination was Bunko-ya OOZEKI, a workshop that specializes in bunkogawa, pure Himeji white tanned leather goods, that are embossed and painted…

As published on THE KINDCRAFT.   Set in the Tokushima Prefecture of rural Shikoku, Awagami Factory creates some of the most stunning indigo washi seen in Japan. Eight generations of the Fujimori family have helped to preserve this beautiful Japanese traditional craft. Last Autumn I had the honor of meeting the overseers of Awagami, master…

As published on THE KINDCRAFT. My second trip to Kyoto was a whirlwind of art, design, and tradition: I didn’t stop moving for the few days I was there for, taking in everything I could within that short expanse. One moment I was walking through the Nishijin district and in another I was zipping through…