Moe Yagihara is an exchange student from Japan. She offered us some cool tips for the best back-to-school items from Japan. Everything mentioned here can be purchased at the Kinokuniya store in Seattle. Mild Liner/Sarasa from Zebra The hashtag #studygram, which is a portmanteau of “study” and “Instagram,” was trending among teenagers recently. With this hashtag, students share pictures of their organized and colorful...
Step into Nana’s Green Tea in Seattle’s Denny Triangle, and you’re stepping into a deconstructed Japanese teahouse. The stylish store, created by the same interior designer who has conceived of many of the more than 80 Nana’s stores in Japan, is meant to evoke a feeling of calm, an appreciation of nature, and an awareness of the senses, just as a traditional teahouse does....
Autumn is a time to celebrate the year’s harvest and enjoy some succulent in-season specialties. The weather turns cooler, we don sweaters, and our appetites start to come back. It’s a great time for cooking. In Japan, autumn is a time for grilled mackerel, matsutake mushrooms, eggplant, newly harvested rice, nashi pears, and much more. The Japanese word “shun,” which means “in season,” is...
SEATTLE (September 15, 2019)—Ichiro Suzuki delivered one last time for the SeattleMariners fans. This time, it wasn’t a game-winning hit, a stolen base, or a wall-crashing catch. This time, Ichiro delivered a speech in English. And it was good. As Ichiro approached the podium in front of the pitcher’s mound a few minutes before the Mariners played the Chicago White Sox, the crowd at...
Ever wonder what your beloved pet’s name would look like in Chinese characters, or kanji? We pick one pet photo and render the pet’s name in kanji. Hazel in Seattle Hazel is a silly, playful dog. She thinks she is human and loves to be around her family as much as possible. She loves playing fetch or tug-of-war, sunbathing and tiptoeing in the lake...
Ever wonder what your beloved pet’s name would look like in Chinese characters, or kanji? We pick one pet photo and render the pet’s name in kanji. Zen and Zoe Zen and Zoe are siblings, both four years old. Although they are related, their personalities are vastly different. Zen is very friendly to everyone he meets, always eager to make new friends. He would...
The vividly bright green powder known as matcha and the earthy brown hojicha provide the foundation for Nana’s marvelous menu. The subtle-tasting teas are the gateway to a whole world of delicacies that involve the powdered teas in some way. First and foremost, a pot of tea at Nana’s is a delight. Served in simple, white chinaware, the aromatic, slightly bitter teas pair well...
Once upon a time, masking tape’s primary use was to mark off areas on the wall you want to protect from paint splashes. The beauty of masking tape is it can be taken off without leaving marks or residue behind. But the practical painter’s tape has morphed into something completely different these days, which is why you’ll see various masking tape brands in the...
wa’z Every month, wa’z owner and head chef Hiro Tawara assembles a menu that puts seasonal local and Japanese ingredients front and center. He takes great care to make sure his diners sense the seasonality of each dish. He also ties his menu closely to Japanese traditional events. The result is a memorable meal of Japanese haute cuisine thoughtfully presented in kaiseki fashion. This...
A Mouthwatering Summer Reading List Before you head to the beach, make sure you have a good book to bring with you. Here are a few food-related suggestions we found on the shelves of our local Kinokuniya bookstore. Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy Jiro Ono is arguably the most famous sushi chef on the face of the planet. The stern taskmaster and unparalleled sushi maestro was...
