March 3rd is Girls’ Day, or the Doll Festival, in Japan, which derives from an old Chinese custom to remove impurities in the early March of the Chinese calendar called “the celebration of Peach blossom season.” The Japanese imported this custom, and by adding other Japanese-originated customs it was developed into one of the seasonal festivals.

Girls' Day or the Doll Festival derives from the old Chinese custom of removing impurities in the early March of Chinese calendar. This was called “the celebration of Peach blossom season.”

The Japanese imported this custom and by adding other Japanese-originated customs it was developed into Japanese seasonal festival.

In the Heian era (794 - 1185), the time Lady Murasaki wrote The Tale of Genji, there was a custom called Hina-nagashi, where the casting of Hina dolls in the river was done. People at the time believed that these dolls took impurities and bad luck away. (Although Hina-nagashi is not popular in present Japan, you can still see this rite in the Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto.) This custom eventually turned into the festival for girls to pray for their health and safety. The Hina dolls became more and more gorgeous in the later Edo era and the following years.

When the first baby girl is born, she is given a new set of Hina dolls, often by their grandparents. Her younger sisters, if they join the family, would usually share them, for it is impractical to have more than one set of dolls lying around. The full set consists of 15 dolls: the Emperor and the Empress, three court ladies, five court musicians, the Senior and Junior ministers of the State and three set guards. However, displaying the full set requires huge space, thus many simplified versions of the doll sets are sold.

Here is a simplified set of Hina dolls with the Emperor and the Empress my grandparents bought for me and my younger sister.

They are dressed in the Heian aristocrats style and are sitting on tatami, type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese rooms. Next to them, there are paper lamps. The lamps may be replaced with cherry and mandarin orange trees or with the pair of red and white Japanese plum trees. The red and white Japanese rice cakes placed in front of the dolls are served on the pedestal bowls, whereas the diamond-shaped rice cakes are placed on the diamond-shaped stands. A small wooden table in the center is to place offerings. Here, you can see a pair of peach blossoms in wine bottles.

In my family, we place the Emperor on the left hand side and the empress on the right. It depends on the regional customs in which side you place the each doll.

As a little girl, every year when I had the dolls displayed, I would spend a long time looking at the Empress doll imagining how it felt like to wear such a gorgeous dress, the twelve layered kimono.

The dolls aren’t the only lovely thing you see on Girls’ Day. The food can be quite lovely, too.

There are a variety of menus common for the seasonal festival: Chirashi-zushi (strips of egg, chopped sashimi, vegetables and crab meat served over vinegared rice), clam soup, white sake, the diamond shaped rice cake and my favourite of all, Hina-arare (pronounced HEENA-ARAH-REH.) Hina-arare is a special dry cake made of sweetened rice flour. The cakes commonly come in pink, green, and white with pink expressing the power of life, green expressing sprouts of trees, and white expressing the snow in winter. When yellow is added, the colors can also mean the four seasons; pink for spring, green for summer, yellow for autumn, and white for winter. We eat them in hopes to have good health throughout the year.

Well, there’s one belief about Girls’ Day that makes the tradition seem a bit less adorable. They say you need to put away the dolls away before the end of March 3^rd or the girls won’t be able to marry. It was probably a way of discipline, allowing girls to learn tidying things up. But then, I have never put the dolls back to the boxes in a timely manner, and considering where I am…I should apparently try to do this this year.

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Check out some handmade hina dolls below!

Hina Dolls

Bubble Glass Mini Hina Dolls

Michinoku Ceramic Hina Dolls

Hina Dolls in a Snow Hut

*Some are currently only available in Japan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item from overseas.

Yoko Samura

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Today, Februrary 22, is Cat Day in Japan, for 2/22 can be read as "nyan, nyan, nyan," cats' meowing in Japanese. What do we do on this day? We renew our appreciation and love for the soft, warm, little balls of fur!

So here's a little selection of cat-themed items from iichi to celebrate this unofficial holiday...

Cat Pot by gekkatoubou

Cat Brooch, Black / Blue / Pink by Rie Harimoto

Cat & Wreath Greeting Card by ALOANE

Cat & Pearl Silver Pendant by GINNEZU

Found You! by Hanawaka

Traveling Cat Postcard Set B by SNOW-DESIGN

chima-chima cat "sitting berry" by kazuko kishimoto

Cat Bastet by kazuya matsuo

Kana Sasayama

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Hi, this is Kevin and today I would like to introduce how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Japan.

Letter from a Squirrel Postcard by aroana 

THE FACT: 

The WOMEN give the men gifts of chocolate as well as other gifts such as cookie, cake, scarf, etc. 

IN DETAIL:

There are mainly two types of chocolate in Japan during the season: “Giri Choco” and “Honmei Choco.” Let’s take a look at each!

1. Giri Choco (obligation chocolate)
Giri Choco is the type of chocolate given to male friends, superiors at work, and male co-workers. It’s common for women to buy a large box of chocolate and hand them out at work or school. This reminds me of my painful memory in high school of getting a Giri Choco from the girl I had a crush on… Yes, it’s better than nothing, but it was as if she were implying that she had no interest in me. I’m sure many men in Japan can relate to this!

2. Honmei Choco (true-feeling chocolate)
Honmei Choco is the one a man should be truly happy receiving. It’s often given to the husband, the boyfriend, or the person the giver is interested in. Compared to Giri Choco, Honmei Choco tends to cost more or is completely homemade. 

What makes Valentine's in Japan special is the fact that it does not simply end by saying “Thank you” after receiving your chocolate. There is a day called “White Day” on March 14, where men have the opportunity to say, “Thank you,” back, often along with a gift. The gift can usually be anything: chocolate, marshmallow, cookie, ring, necklace, etc.

As you can see, Japan has absorbed the custom of Valentine’ Day from the Western culture and succeeded in turning it up into its original Valentine culture. I believe this is one of the strengths of the country; Japan has the ability of taking in technology and customs and then building them up into a higher dimension to our unique “Japanese culture.”

I hope I was able to give you an insight about Valentine’s Day in Japan!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Valentine gift ideas my coworkers have posted! :)

Have fun exploring iichi!

Kenji "Kevin" Sakai

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Tomorrow is the day we Japanese throw beans.

In the old calendar, February 3rd is the day before the first day of spring, and it is also the day we practice the tradition of Setsubun, bean-throwing ritual. It is said that the tradition was originally a part of New Year’s Eve celebration, for, back in the day, the first day of spring was also regarded as the beginning of a new year. Throwing beans was one of the ways to purge away bad luck and misfortune before the new year cycle set off.

Well, we switched to the Gregorian calendar over a hundred years ago and Feburary in Japan is not the start of the new year any more, but the ritual remains. While customs vary from region to region, the basics are the same. You throw beans out the door or window and/or at a family member (or a teacher if at school) wearing an Oni (ogre or demon) mask, saying, “Oni wa soto!” (Demons out!), and then into the house, saying, “Fuku wa uchi!” (Fortune in!). After the bean-throwing, you eat the same number of beans as your age to wish for a year of good health.
 

Regional variety appears in different parts of the tradition. In the West, for example, people traditionally eat a long, uncut sushi roll called Eho-Maki in silence while facing the Eho (lucky direction) of the year on Setsubun, which has become more of a national trend in the recent years (with not a little help of commercialism). You can also find difference in types of beans that are thrown. Growing up in Kanagawa, I thought roasted soy beans was the only way to do it, but Shizue, who grew up in Kumamoto, told me her family always used roasted shelled peanuts.

"With soy beans, cleaning up is troublesome because you might step on and crash them on the floor. You don't have to worry about that with shelled peanuts, and since they are shelled, you can pick up, crack open and eat them after throwing them," she explained. "And most importantly, you can throw them at someone with full force and it still doesn't hurt as much as soy beans. The shells make the perfect cushions."

Fair enough, though I would probably still give soy beans to my kids. It's one of those things that you grew so used to as a kid it's hard to let go no matter how trivial it seems. Thus, tradition gets passed on from generation to generation. 

No matter what kind of beans you throw, Setsubun is one of the few traditions that can be fully enjoyable for children. I guess the visualization of bad luck as a demon, as simplistic as it is, makes it easy for even little kids to understand the meaning of the event, and, more than anything, it is just plain fun to get to throw beans around. (I mean, throwing and scattering anything feels a bit festive, like rice showers at weddings and confetti bombs at graduation ceremonies, doesn't it?)

If you haven't had the pleasure of this Japanese tradition, I strongly recommend you get a bag of beans, any kind, and give bean-throwing a try tomorrow, February 3rd. If you are a crafter, don't hesitate to be creative with your ogre mask. Sure, it may create a bit of a mess (I'm personally still thinking about soy beans) but it will bring you health, fortune, and above all, smiles and laughter.

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Here are some bean-inspired items to get in the mood...

*Some are currently only available in Japan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item from overseas

 

Shelled Peanuts by Mizuho Takahashi

Silver Ring by ecubon

 

Edamame Chopstick Rest by Katsuyuki Miyabo

 

Kitsch Nuts Choker by cometman

 

SEED-2 by naoko murata

Bean Hand Mirror by Kinoko

 

Phone Pillow (Red) by jinen design

 

Fresh Water Pearl Necklace by Tane

Bamboo Hanging Flower Vase "Mame-Mame" by Masamitsu Hayashi

Bean-shaped Chopstick Rest with Feet by Hitomi Nakagawa

 

 

Kana Sasayama 

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Valentine's Day is the day to celebrate love, and the heart is where love is. Send your love to that special someone with these delightful heart-themed handmade items. 

*Some are currently only available in Japan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item from overseas.

Flower Stitch Heart Pendant by piikan

Heart Watermark Ring by Toshiya Sato

The Queen Ace of Hearts by Mihoko Seki

Silver Heart Pendant by Tetsuro Inui

Bud Vase, Red String Love by Hanawaka

Moss DEN / 2012 Winter Special Edition by LIEN

Woodprint Heartful Fish by Koji Masuda

Selected by Kana Sasayama

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Do you want to impress your man with a special gift on Valentine's Day? Find tasteful gifts for him on iichi!

*Some are currently only available in Japan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item from overseas.

Leather Keychain by Miho Ozaki

love by ikumi shirayama

Wooden Mug #0012 by Taisuke Hirabayashi

Tree Series by Toru Fukuda

The City by Tetsuya Hirajima

Deeskin Long Wallet by Sato Jun

Selected by Mizuki Wada

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It's hard to guess what girls like. If you are not sure what to give to your Valentine girl, let us help! Even the pickiest girls will smile at these lovely handmade goods.

Light Magenta Curly Rose Silk Corsage by Flowers Room
 

Casimir Homespun Scarf by Hisako Uematsu
 

ribbon ring by emika wada
 

gouttes de terre pierced earrings by MON ALLURE
 

Jute Bag by mamerucu
 

 Herkimer Diamond Ring by Hiroaki Tachikawa

Flower Purse by Kanae Kurokawa
 

Selected by Shizue Shin

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Eto, or Chinese zodiac, originated in China (duh) and was introduced to Japan a long, long time ago. There are twelve symbolic animals in Eto. Each year is assigned one, and the cycle completes in every twelfth year. For the Japanese, the zodiac changes on New Year’s Day; it is going to be the year of the Dragon this year. 

The Eto animal of the year is regarded as auspicious, so we commonly put it on New Year’s cards. We also decorate our homes with items of the animal, for they are supposed to protect us from bad luck. The Dragon particularly is the symbol of justice and trust and said to bring success because dragons soar high up into the sky. 

Here are some dragon-themed items found on iichi. Enjoy!
 

by erina kobayashi

by KIMURA & Co.

by Yoshinori Yagi

by Tetsuya Hirajima

by Sumio Asayama

by GINNEZU

by TOMOYUKI ISHIZUKA

by mamebou

Selected by Shizue Shin 

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After Christmas, we have to do lots of things to welcome the New Year in Japan. Although Christmas is a family occasion for Western people as Kevin mentioned, New Year’s celebration (Shōgatsu) is the most important family occasion of the year for Japanese people. It’s a precious time to see the loved ones like your family members, relatives and old friends. 

We have many traditions for this event, and it’s fun to learn the wisdom and culture cultivated by our ancestors. On New Year’s Eve, some people eat soba noodle for a good life, and others visit temples to ring the night watch bell. During the first three days of the New Year (san-ga-nichi), many people go out for the first visit to the Shinto Shrine. At the family gathering, people eat special foods called osechi.

Shogatsu is also an important chance to wear kimono. Nowadays, most Japanese women rarely wear kimono in everyday life because it is troublesome and quite difficult to wear for us living in the modern age. Though I know how to wear kimono, it is still difficult to put one on on my own, and I always need someone to help me. So I think Shogatsu may be the best season to wear kimono. It's a family occasion, and girls can ask their mothers for help! It’s kind of fun to struggle with kimono together with your mother or grandmother. Maybe in the present time, it has a new aspect as a family activity.

Spring Color Obi Sash, Pale Pink by Harue NISHIKAWA

Western style clothes are quite convenient and more fitting to our modern life style, but as a Japanese, I’m proud of kimono and think it’s absolutely beautiful.I don’t want it to be an “endangered” custom. I wish that family occasions like Shogatsu help preserve this important part of our culture.

I know there are people who think like me because there are many kimono-related items on iichi. Enjoy browsing a variety of items to wear with kimono!

A Plover Flying Over Waves Obi Sash Clip by GINNEZU

2012 is just around the corner. I wish you a very happy New Year! 

Mizuki Wada 

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Hi fellow handcraft lovers! This is Kevin from the International Communication Team. Have you guys kept up with our blog lately? Each member of our team searched for Christmas gift suggestions under certain topics and we enjoyed the process very much! Hope you guys enjoyed it, too, and found something special :)

While browsing through iichi, I thought about Christmas. 
 

Image: Felixco, Inc. / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As a kid in America, I absolutely LOVED Christmas. I remember on the morning of Christmas, me and my two brothers would wake up earlier than usual and dash to the living room where the tree stood. Under the tree, we would find numerous gifts packed in shiny wrappings. Each gift would have a name card stuck behind indicating who the gift belongs to, and we would vigorously tear the wrappings to unveil what we had received from Santa.

So this wonderful event continued till I got into middle school. Sadly, Santa stopped coming to my house when I entered puberty, and now only the beautiful memories are left. I still remember receiving Lego and a spaceship from Star Wars. I was so happy at the time; I would play with them until it got dark. After the special Christmas dinner, we would walk down our neighborhood to go see the Christmas light-ups and enjoy hot chocolate sold by other children in the area. After a decent walk, we would go home, get cozy and sleep with full of happiness. 

I believe my memory of Christmas is common to the general families in America. I asked my officemate Mizuki about her Christmas during her childhood, and told me an interesting fact. 

“Christmas in Japan is unique. It’s not too much to say that it’s a Holiday for couples.”

I had to agree to this! My vision of Christmas was the time to spend with your family, and go see light-ups in your neighborhood. Whereas in Japan, as Mizuki said, it’s mostly for couples, and almost no one lights up their house like in America; the light-ups are in the cities. (And they are beautiful!) It’s not that the Japanese don’t like spending time with their family. They spend time with their family during New Year, not during Christmas.

How was it? I’m sure each country has its own way of celebrating Christmas, so please feel free to share your Christmas memory or plan by leaving a comment.

Hope you guys will have a wonderful Christmas!

Kenji "Kevin" Sakai 

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In July, we celebrate the Star Festival, when we celebrate the reunion of Orihime and Hikoboshi, a young couple from a folktale who are separated by the Milky Way for the rest of the year. In the celebration, traditionally, we write down our wishes on strips of paper and hang them from bamboo branches.

That’s something our family copied for Christmas. The kids—my brother, sisters, and I—would write down things we wanted from Santa Claus on strips of paper and hang them from the Christmas tree. I want that toy from that cartoon, we wrote. I want a baseball bat. 

Sure enough, on the Christmas morning, we would find the presents by our pillows.

As a curious child, I once asked my mother, “Does Santa come to look at our wishes beforehand so he knows what to give us? Does that mean he comes twice?”
She answered, “He has very, very good eyes, so he can see your wishes from far away.”
That’s how I learned Santa had exceptional eyesight.

Wishes on a Christmas tree

Thinking about how much I looked forward to Christmas every year, it’s funny how I remember only one of the gifts I received.

I was five then. There was a cartoon I really, really liked called “Sally the Witch,” and I wanted a magical compact mirror Sally used to transform herself. I put it down on my strip of paper and looked forward to Christmas.

But when I woke up on the Christmas morning and saw my gift, I felt something wasn’t quite right. 
“Why is it so big?” 
I unwrapped the gift and found Sally’s horse carriage, not her magical compact mirror that I wanted.

“This isn’t what I asked for!” I protested.
“I guess he made a mistake.” My mother didn’t seem to care.
I wasn’t completely convinced, but began playing with the carriage in the afternoon, when more disappointment hit me.

The horse carriage was openable and had a lock so you could store things inside like a purse. It wasn’t long after I started playing with it that I realized I had lost the key. Panicked, I looked around everywhere from underneath the carpet to inside the drawers I had never opened, but the key was never to be found. It looked like the horse carriage was left forever locked.

Eventually, I learned to lock-pick the pretty horse carriage with a toothpick and that’s how I kept playing, but that afternoon, when I thought I could never play with the horse carriage again, I was really disappointed, much more so than when I found a gift that I hadn’t asked for in the morning.

Photo by happy factory

With this key, I might've been able to open the horse carriage...

This, somehow, is the most vivid memory of the Christmas gifts I got from Santa Claus. It’s a memory that brings back in me the sharp feeling of disappointment I felt as a five-year old, but the one that nevertheless makes me smile. To think about it, when I felt terribly disappointed over the lost key, I realized that I should have been more grateful for the gift I had received because it was something someone had picked and brought just for me.

Every gift, from Santa Claus or from anybody, is a precious one. I hope you will have a wonderful holiday season filled with great gifts!
 

Shin Shizue

(Translated by Kana Sasayama)

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There are many wonderful Japanese creations perfect for the upcoming holidays in iichi, and here are just only a few. Give your loved ones special gifts and enjoy the subtle and careful works from Japan!

*Some are currenly only available inJapan. Feel free to request international listingif you would like to purchase the item from overseas. 

 Sake Cup (Mt. Fuji) by Emi Shirakura

See the full gallery on Posterous

Neko (Cat) Silver & Brass Pendant by Tetsuya Hirashima

See the full gallery on Posterous

Tiger at Sunset by Yoshinori Yagi

Amulet Chopsticks by Katsuyuki Miyabo

Gamaguchi Style Snap Purse by Kaoru Ishikawa

See the full gallery on Posterous

Vase / Sumi Black Brush Design by hitomi nakagawa

See the full gallery on Posterous

Selected by Kenji "Kevin" Sakai

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Are some men in your life just hard to shop for? Don't worry, here are some handmade items that will put big, wide grins on their faces. We can never get enough of those, especially in this magical season, can we?

 *Some are currenly only available inJapan. Feel free to request international listingif you would like to purchase the item from overseas. 

Handwoven Rustic Scarf (indigo) by COCOON

See the full gallery on Posterous

Felt Case for iPhone4＆4S （sleeve type） by abicase

See the full gallery on Posterous

Silver Cup Pin by cacca

See the full gallery on Posterous

African Tabi Socks by Reiko Hosenji 

See the full gallery on Posterous

AC PEN CASE 01 BLACK by quan:savi

See the full gallery on Posterous

Lazuline Glass Wine Ewer with Two Cups by Ryoji Kobayashi

See the full gallery on Posterous

Selected by Kana Sasayama

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Looking for the perfect gift for her? Here are some ideas to spark a smile on the face of your partner or friend. These items will make her Christmas a special one!

*Some are currenly only available inJapan. Feel free to request international listingif you would like to purchase the item from overseas. 

Dolman Sleeve Dress "Pegasus," Deep Red by Ayumi Hashizume

See the full gallery on Posterous

bunting necklace by MION

See the full gallery on Posterous

Deer Brooch by kibori works

Ring Full of Stars by tools van de Lune

See the full gallery on Posterous

Summer and Winter Handwoven Scarf, Pink

See the full gallery on Posterous

Ribbon Ring by emika wada

See the full gallery on Posterous

Mizuki Wada

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There's nothing like a holiday season filled with children's laughter and smiles. Make your little ones happy with gifts that are unique and totally special!

*Some are currenly only available inJapan. Feel free to request international listingif you would like to purchase the item from overseas.
 

Baby Elephant by kuzoomiko

Coin Magic by Hideto Satou 

tiger lily feather (powder pink) by wee dude

Children's Chair, Walnut by Naoki Mutai

Frog Gomoku Game by KIMURA & Co.

Selected by Kaori Mitsushima 

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Find precious handmade goods for the precious people in your life. These colofrul creations by Japanese artists and artisans will brighten up your family time!

*Some are currenly only available inJapan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item from overseas. 

Pottery Accessory Case by Yuriko Harada 

Handwoven Wool Bag by myon

barcelona Clock by Yasushi Seki

Dinner Plate, Coral Green, by Yasuko Kohno

Black Smoked Heatproof Tea Pot by utsuwa hibi

Selected by Shizue Shin

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Need more excitement for the coming holidays? Decorate your home with these charming ornaments!

*Some are currenly only available in Japan. Feel free to request international listing if you would like to purchase the item(s) from overseas. 

Donkey Girl in Red Dress Soft Toy by Brown Betty

Dove Suede Strap That May Bring Happiness by YUKKY

Flag Garland by huglemon

White Bear Charm by Kiyomi Isimaru

Blue Roof Pottery House by Hanawaka 

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In my first year in the United States, when I was an exchange student in Santa Cruz, California, one of my professors, Prof. Beal, invited me to a potluck party at her place on the night of Thanksgiving Day. At the door of the lovely hilltop house, she welcomed my classmate and me by dropping kisses on our cheeks and invited us into a warm, cozy space filled with appetizing aroma of various dishes and pleasant chatters. When all the guests had arrived, we did a little activity.

Upon Prof. Beal’s call, we got up and formed a circle. She thanked us for coming, and gave a brief speech on how today many considered Thanksgiving as a day to gorge ourselves but in fact it was a day to be grateful. She urged us to hold hands, close our eyes, and think of what we felt thankful for, and so we did for a minute or so, silently holding hands of strangers and filling our minds with things we cherished. It was an experience quite spiritually-oriented and possibly very Northern Californian, yet it set for me a distinctive example of what Thanksgiving was about.

Every year since then, around this time of year, I would reflect on my life and renew my sense of gratitude while also looking forward to the traditional feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.

And because it’s the fourth Thursday of November here, although we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Japan, I decided to get in the spirit of the holiday and ask around what my coworkers were feeling thankful for.

Not surprisingly, everyone was thankful for their loved ones; partners, family members, and friends who “always watch over me and support me so I can keep going” (Shizue Shin, Coordinator) and “who have influenced me” (Mizuki Wada, International Communications).

Some also have more specific names to mention. “I’m very grateful for my grandmother, who was the kindest person ever,” Kentaro Iinuma, Co-Managing Director says. “I want to thank my parents for bringing me up the way they did,” Yu Sumiyoshi, Co-Managing Director, claims, “And my wife for guiding me through life.” Another member of the International Communications team, Kaori Mitsushima’s answer made me reminisce over my college days: “I’m grateful for my parents for staying up and waiting for me no matter how late I come home.”

“I also want to thank the iichi family,” Kentaro adds, and many agree that they are grateful for their coworkers at iichi. “I was just looking through pictures from the iichi launch party and thinking what a great crew we have. I feel really thankful,” Yu says. “I especially want to thank Kentaro, who started this exciting project.”

Kenji Sakai, International Communications, probably sums up our sense of gratitude for the people in our lives most tactfully in his one-sentence answer: “I thank everybody around me for being such a special part of my life.”

There are other things iichi members are grateful for. “It’s a sunny day today. I’m thankful for the sun,” says Hisashi Nakagawa, Programmer/Web Director. He then muses, “You know how we say ‘itadakimasu’ (thank you for the food) before we eat, putting our hands together. I was taught it was to express gratitude for the life we would be eating, and for the work of every single person who had been in the process of the food reaching us.”

“I’m thankful for the glimpse of Mt. Fuji we get from our house on sunny days,” Mizuki says. “On some days, she just looks stunningly beautiful. I love those mornings!” Shizue is another nature lover. “I appreciate the ocean of Kamakura. It never fails to cheer me up,” she then adds, “I’m very happy to have so many things to be grateful for.” And nature definitely isn’t the only thing we thank for as Taito Shigematsu, Web Director, simply lists, “I’m thankful for my father, my mother, my friends, and cartoon books.”

I go back to my list of things to thank for, and I realize I’m basically repeating my coworkers’ answers. I’m thankful for the wonderful people in my life, both near and far. I’m thankful for the amount of laughter we have at our office every day. I’m thankful for great stories and people who tell them.

Kana Sasayama

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Hello, everyone! My name is Mizuki. I am also a translator and a member of the international communication team at iichi. How have you been enjoying iichi? It’s been a little over one month since we started our international service. We are really happy to announce that some beautiful works have already flown across the ocean and received positive feedback! It’s so exciting to imagine each piece leading a new life with its new owner.

Today, I’d like to recommend another tool. We have a new function to send requests for international listing of the items that are currently only available on Japanese iichi. Some of you might have noticed that more items are listed on Japanese iichi than the international site. There are almost 7 times as many items available on the Japanese site. So here’s our new function to bridge the gap.

Have you noticed the “All” button on top of the Items page? You can browse the whole list of items, both for domestic and international purchases, by clicking this button.

Now you see Japanese and English pages all together. Browse them and when you find items you like, send requests for international listing by clicking the “Request International Listing” button on the right side.

Artisans and artists will be notified and know that there’s someone waiting to learn more about their work in another country. They will be thrilled! Once they request our free translation service, the item pages will be translated into English.

Now that you can see the whole list of items, there's more to explore. Hope your next journey on iichi is off to a fantastic start!

Mizuki Wada

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Hello! My name is Kevin and I work for the International Communication team at iichi in beautiful Kamakura. I mainly translate Japanese to English, and check the site whether it contains errors that disturb you from enjoying your shopping.

I was born in Osaka (West Japan) but raised in CA, USA. While studying in English at school, I went to Japanese school every week until 8^th grade to learn how to read and write in Japanese and study the Japanese culture and history. However it did not take much time to realize my ignorance of Japanese culture when I moved to Japan for college.

You know, in college we go out with friends to various places like the bar, bowling alley, shopping mall, and oh, the movie theatre, of course! When I first went to watch a movie in Japan, I was still 19, I believe, and I noticed the “how to watch a movie” was completely different from that of the US.

However, in Japan it is different. Most of the time, you only hear the sound from the theatre itself. The audience stays extremely quiet. I once got this awkward feeling when I burst out laughing at the movie's funniest scene and noticed I was the only person making such a noise. How embarrassing!

This was probably my first experience of cultural shock. In America, the movie theatre is a place to talk and watch. But in Japan it is a place to watch only. (We do the talking after the movie.) Not many people buy popcorn in Japan for movies while it is almost a necessity in America.

Why is this?

In Japan, there is an unspoken understanding that you are not supposed to talk too much during the movie. It is considered bad manner to disturb others by making noise.

At first, I thought it was boring that we could not talk freely and ask questions about the movie in the theater. However, the good part in watching a movie in Japan is that you can indulge in the movie because of its quiet atmosphere. There's nothing to bother you from enjoying the movie!

What I wanted to say is that, both ways of watching a movie have pros and cons and they both come from the cultural differences of the US and Japan. When you have a chance to visit Japan, try watching a movie in the theatre! You will understand what I mean. :)

Kenji "Kevin" Sakai 

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