My Japan Journey Interview No 03: Mafalda: ink painting and book creating Mafalda Tenente, with a pouch full of brush pens, sits in a...

A short while ago we were contacted by the team at Best Japanese, in order to be included in an article about the best way to learn...

Our JanuaryInJapan Bookclub was so good last winter when we came together to talk about the first chapter of The Tale of Genji, that...

My Japan Journey Interview No 02: Anne: Communicating a language of plants in a calligraphic way I had such a lovely chat with artist...

Only Just Married I love watching Japanese dramas. There are quite a few romantic ones to catch up on. In fact I'm beginning to think...

The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata The novel is set in Kyoto, a city of high art and the cultural soul of Japan since it became the...

Welcome to our new Zusetsu ART store. Today we would love to introduce you to our truly beautiful contemporary and shin-hanga woodblock...

Kobai (Red Plum Blossom) by Masao Ebina. Note the fine gold strings and pattern on the koto. Many of you know that I am an artist with...

I've watched a few Japanese Rom Coms now and I really like them! They're a great way of learning about Japan, and improving your...

This year's Tanabata could not have been more special. We visited the Camellia Garden Teahouse in north west Kyoto, live on Instagram,...

Curious this day on which long ago they must have pledged their troth; like the River of Heaven's waves rising - this is sent out. This...

Here at Zusetsu, we're fascinated by the popular paper craft of Japan called origami. In this blog, not only do we want to have a try at...

Updated December 2024 I learned my authentic furoshiki gift-wrapping skills in Kyoto, the area where furoshiki originated over a thousand...

Welcome to summer in Japan, with its hot days and nights, and its reliance on water features, pools, shady green plants, airy wind...

My Japan Journey Interview No 01: Marie and Her 110 Kokeshi Collection We are excited to announce a new blog series on Zusetsu called My...

着飾る恋には理由があって Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte There's a Reason for the Love I'm Wearing This recent Japanese drama is a lot of...

茶の煙柳と共にそよぐ也 cha no kemuri yanagi to tomo ni soyogu nari the tea smoke and the willow together trembling I often think back to the tea...

We've been discovering some amazing Japanese animations this month which we would love to share with you! All of these animations are...

We loved looking at this beautiful image of Murasaki Shikibu. What could the significance of the green and red colours in her juunihitoe...

We've enjoyed exploring Heian monogatari and Japanese folktales over the last few weeks, and we loved our fantastic JanuaryInJapan...

Netflix series The Future Diary It's nearing Valentines Day, and while love is in the air, what could be better than watching the new...

Our new-in-for-spring 48cm Reversible Furoshiki Bright Pink Cherry Blossom and Blue Wave To celebrate our new spring furoshiki, I'm keen...

Kuzunoha by Yamakawa Shuuhou It’s January – the days are short and dark and the nights are long and cold. It’s a perfect time of year...

Genji's mother is diminished by the Kokiden Consort. Illustration for Kiritsubo by Masao Ebina, (Fuji Arts). Yukki and I couldn't think...