Shop Online with ZenPlus

If you are a fan of Japanese culture and products, I have just the place for you to purchase that authentic Japanese item from Japan and ship it directly to your door without the hassle of not speaking Japanese. 

ZenPlus is an online marketplace in Osaka, Japan that connects Japanese stores (and their products) with people around the world. The online shopping platform allows you to discover goodies from thousands of Japanese stores and delivers the products directly from those stores in Japan to the user’s door anywhere in the world. 

They stock a huge range of Japanese products including anime goods, plushies, food & drinks, drugstore beauty products, kitchenware, traditional Japanese goods, handmade products, souvenirs, Japanese-language manga, DVDs, games, and many more. 

Some of the featured stores are Nicker, Nakamura Tokichi, and Kaiyodo. You can find a list of the Japan shops on their website. 

The product prices are based on the Japanese yen and are calculated by the exchange rate on the day. 

Check out their Shopping Guide for more information on how to shop with ZenPlus. 

The Benefits of Buying through ZenPlus 

There are numerous benefits to shopping with ZenPlus which include: 

• They are not a shopping proxy service, but work directly with the Japanese stores, which guarantees the products are 100% authentic. 

• You can purchase different products from different stores and include them in the same order. The products are gathered in the same parcel for free. 

• Users can pay a one-off price with the shipping fee included during checkout. This makes the whole process a lot easier as you DO NOT need to arrange any more steps after the 1-time payment. 

• There is a native English Customer Support team to help out with the whole communication process, which means zero worries about the issue of the language barrier with Japanese stores. 

• Users can pay in any currency and send to any country around the world. 

ZenPlus makes it easy to buy products directly from Japan with only a few clicks. Make sure to follow them on their social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, sales, and discounts.

Traditional Culture of Aizuwakamatsu

Aizuwakamatsu in western Fukushima Prefecture is known for its quality sake, traditional crafts and rich samurai history. If you have an interest in Japanese culture then Aizuwakamatsu is the place for you.

In the second part of this three-part series on Aizuwakamatsu we will explore the traditional culture and crafts of Aizuwakamatsu. Make sure you check out part 1 of the series about samurai culture before reading this post.

After the Boshin Civil War (1868-1869) and the fall of the Aizu clan, merchants played a big role in the rebirth of the area and its traditional culture. Industries that were first established by the samurai of the Aizu clan such as sake brewing and lacquerware were revived by local merchants, where they flourished and gained recognition across the country. Let’s take a look at some of the traditional culture and crafts of Aizuwakamatsu.

Aizu Lacquerware

Aizu lacquerware has a history that dates back over 600 years and was spurred on by the support of samurai warlord Gamo Ujisato (1556-1595) as well as Hoshina Masayuki (1611-1673), the first lord of the Aizu clan. Lacquerware is a traditional art of Japan made from the sap of the lacquer or urushi tree, native to Japan.

Aizu Lacquerware Plates at Suzuzen

 

Traditional techniques and methods developed in the Aizu region are used to create unique and rare pieces of art. Aizu lacquerware is characterized by its glossy black and red lacquer and decorative patterns.

Aizu Lacquerware Coating

 

A great place to check out some of Aizu’s finest traditional lacquerware is Suzuzen, which was founded in 1832. Suzuzen started out as a lacquerware wholesaler, trading nationwide with the seal of approval from the Edo Bakufu (Tokugawa Shogunate). Panel exhibits at Suzuzen walk visitors through the history of Aizu-ware and the Suzuzen facility.

Aizu Lacquerware Furniture at Suzuzen

 

Today Aizu lacquerware is famous all over Japan for its beauty and durability.

Aizu Lacquerware

Aizu Painted Candles

In the Tensho era (1573-1593), local samurai lord Ujisato Gamo ordered artisans to adorn candles with paintings and a new folk art was born in Aizuwakamatsu. Seasonal flowers are painstakingly hand painted on the candles one at a time to create a work of art. This traditional craft was once the main industry of Aizu Domain.

Hoshiban Erosoku-ten, which was founded in 1772 was the official purveyor to Aizu Domain during the Edo period (1603-1868). The current head, Kazue Hoshi is the ninth-generation owner with the time-honored tradition of painted candles being passed down from generation to generation over the years.

This shop is the only establishment still in existence that adheres to the same centuries-old process for creating Aizu painted candles. You can find the traditional shop in the Nanokamachi Street, a quaint shopping street, which retains the traditional landscape of the Taisho period (1912-1926).

Aizu Painted Candles

Aizu Hariko

Aizu Hariko have been made for nearly 400 years throughout the Aizu area. It started when Gamo Ujisato, the Lord of Aizu, invited doll makers from Kyoto to Aizu. This traditional toy is usually painted in red, and is considered a lucky charm in the Aizu region to bring good luck, a good harvest or success in business.

Aizu Hariko

Aizu Sake

Aizuwakamatsu is home to many sake breweries producing award-winning sake that is known all over Japan. The local Japanese sake is made with high-quality rice and natural local spring water.

Aizu Sake

 

You can learn about the process of making sake by taking a tour at Yamatogawa Shuzoten. This traditional sake brewery was founded in 1790 with the current owner the 9^th generation sake master. They use spring water sourced from Mount Iida and organic sake rice to produce their amazing sake. 

Yamatogawa Shuzoten

 

You can sample some of their finest with some sake tasting in their show room.

Sake Tasting at Yamatogawa Shuzoten

Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen Village

Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen is an area rich in nature with beautiful mountains and rivers. It is home to an abundance of natural hot springs (onsen), which can be enjoyed while taking in the breath-taking natural surrounds. Located in the Ookawaso Valley about a 25-minute drive from central Aizuwakamatsu, it used to be called “The Phantom Village” due to its remote location.

Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen

 

A stay at the Aizu Ashinomaki Hot Spring Resort Hotel will give you a chance to experience traditional Japanese-style accommodation and outdoor baths overlooking the Ookawa River. This is a great place to experience some traditional Japanese culture with kaiseki ryori (multi-course meals), shamisen performances and mochitsuki (rice cake making). The elegant performance stage at the hotel is said to resemble the setting of a scene from the popular anime, Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer).

Performance Stage at Aizu Ashinomaki Hot Spring Resort Hotel

Ouchi-juku

Ouchi-juku is an Edo period (1603-1868) post town located in the mountains southwest of Aizuwakamatsu City. The remote village is a well-preserved example of what an Edo period post town on the Nikko Kaido Route would have looked like in the age of the samurai. This well-traveled route was used by feudal lords who traveled between their domain and Edo (Tokyo).

Looking down at Ouchi-juku

 

The village is home to around 40 traditional thatched roof houses that were built about 400 years ago. Many of the houses have remained unchanged since their original construction.

Ouchi-juku Wooden Houses

 

Ouchi-juku was designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the Japanese government in 1981. The traditional techniques and skills used to preserve the wooden thatched roof houses have been added to UNESCO’s Representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Ouchi-juku Traditional Houses

 

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at Aizuwakamatsu’s traditional culture and crafts. Please stay tuned for part 3 where we will explore the amazing food of Aizuwakamatsu. 

Rising Sun Prints

Ukiyo-e is a style of Japanese art that flourished during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. The artists of this traditional art form produce woodblock prints and paintings of beautiful landscapes, scenes from history and folk tales, samurai warriors, beautiful women, kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers to name just a few.

Today's guest post is from Rising Sun Prints, an online store that brings a sense of Japan's timeless beauty to your home.

INTRODUCING RISING SUN PRINTS: OUR STORY AND PRODUCTS 

“Every room and every soul is better with art.” 

OUR STORY 

Rising Sun Prints’ mission is to help lovers of Japanese culture live a more artful life, and to conserve and share the wonderful works of the Japanese art (Ukiyo-e) masters.

In the words of our founder, Jack Jenkins:
"I felt moved by the transcendent beauty of the Ukiyo-e masters, and a desire to make these works known and available.

In the art-form’s heyday, Ukiyo-e were mass-produced for the general public, costing about as much as a bowl of rice. That way, anyone could enjoy a famous view of a distant land, or their home city.

Paintings were for the wealthy social elite, the aristocrats. Ukiyo-e prints were made so that everyone could enjoy the masterpieces of the renowned artists of the day, like Hokusai or Kunisada.

Nowadays, you'll need a spare $10,000 to compete against collectors in auctions, if you want a faded, probably damaged Hokusai print. But in the spirit of the original Ukiyo-e publishers, at Rising Sun Prints we’re making Ukiyo-e accessible to all."

- Jack Jenkins, Founder

With our curated collections of stunning prints, we offer anyone the opportunity to bring a fragment of Japan’s timeless beauty into their home. Our team of enthusiastic art lovers creates articles dedicated to renowned ukiyo-e artists, genre specifics and Japanese culture in general as well as live events and documentaries to grow our community and help them appreciate and discover Japanese artists and their life’s work.

OUR PRODUCTS 

We offer collections of ukiyo-e artworks from various genres. The term ‘ukiyo-e’ refers to prints (and sometimes paintings) made in Japan within the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. These were made using the technique of woodblock printing - where the design would be carved out of cherry wood and printed onto handmade paper, allowing multiples in the thousands to be produced. The subject matter of the artworks commonly varied around what was popular within the pleasure districts, for instance sumo wrestling, kabuki theatre or geisha, but inspiration also arose from the landscapes, warriors, eroticism and legends that formed Japan’s rich culture.

Landscapes 

“Starry Night at Miyajima Shrine” - Hasui, 1928

Landscapes were a common genre in ukiyo-e. At the time, Japanese people wanted to view images of travel because they themselves were unable to do so, due to the strict political landscape. But Japanese people also had a deep, spiritual love and respect for nature, relishing in its beauty. We have mesmerising works by some of the most famous landscape artists, including Hokusai, Hiroshige and Hasui.

Warriors, Myths and Legends 

“Tokuda Magodayu Shigemori” - Kuniyoshi, 1947-48

Warriors, Myths and Legends were another much-loved element of Japanese culture. They were usually tales of the adventures of: samurai (military noblemen), ronin (samurai without masters) and otokodate (commonly known as ‘street knights’). Rising Sun Prints honors Kuniyoshi's legacy as one of the last masters of ukiyo-e printmaking, and the leading model of Bushido values in Japanese art. This collection of majestic prints is a tribute to his mastery, skill and display of warrior virtue.

Beauty Prints 

“After washing her hair” - Ito, 1936

Beauty Prints (Bijin-ga) was one of the most popular forms of ukiyo-e. They depicted the beauties of the day: the courtesans and geisha of the pleasure districts. The artworks portrayed an idealised, traditional interpretation of female beauty. They were also the main instigator of fashion and styles within hair, make-up and clothes. Visitors of our website have the opportunity to acquire wonderful pieces by Ito, Yoshitoshi, Utamaru, Harunobu, Chikanobu and Eisen.

Birds & Flowers

“Cranes on a snow-covered pine tree” - Hokusai, 1834

Birds and Flowers (Kacho-e) were exquisite displays of the natural world - of which the Japanese had the utmost respect for. Many images are embedded with metaphorical and poetic meanings, such as cherry blossoms: which can represent a precious but transient life. Our product range includes many of Hokusai and Hiroshige’s masterpieces where they employ their artistic talent to portray the unique beauty of Japan’s nature.

Erotic Prints 

“The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife” - Hokusai, 1814

Erotic Prints (Shunga) were artworks that portrayed sexually exciting scenes. Unlike many Western cultures, sensual pleasures were considered to be a sacred part of Japanese culture and were not frowned upon in religion. Types of shunga scenes can range from the flirtatious showing of a woman’s neck to multiple couples engaging in exposed coitus. Our collection presents artworks by Utamaru, Eisen, Kiyonaga, Kunisada and Hokusai, the most well-known being “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife”, which has become Hokusai’s best known shunga print and has had a massive influence on Japanese culture.

Kabuki Actor Prints

“Ichikawa Sadanji as Fukashichi the fishmonger” - Kunichika, 1883

Kabuki Actor Prints (Yakusha-e) were one of the most popular forms of ukiyo-e. As the theatre art of kabuki was so actor-centred, the heroes and villains of the plays, and the actors who played them, became celebrities. Much like the famous actors of our time, the Japanese public wanted to display images of them in their homes. We have an amazing selection of highlights from masters of the genre: Kunisada, Kunichika and the enigmatic innovator, Sharaku.

Supernatural Prints 

“The ghost of Kohada Koheiji” - Hokusai, 1831

Supernatural Prints (Yōkai) covered everything from ghost, to demon to strange apparition. Japan’s history is rich with folklore, the exciting and scary stories of spirits and creatures that brought both good and bad fortune. Originally these beings were incredibly feared, but after being so heavily illustrated in ukiyo-e, much of the belief in yōkai has disappeared. Our community can enjoy a gorgeous collection of Yōkai prints by the great Hokusai as well as Kuniyoshi who specialized in the area.

You can find your own reminder of Japan’s captivating culture on our website, where masterpieces of the ukiyo-e genre transcend time!

Rising Sun Prints Website

The Great Wave

Unifying Power of Karaoke

I'm usually against stereotypes. I do not like the idea of judging an individual before getting the chance to interact with them properly. However, there is one stereotype that even I, a Japanese-American, am powerless against... Japanese love karaoke.

There are karaoke boxes all throughout Japan, mostly located near train stations and in big cities. Majority of the time they filled with young and elderly people a like. It is a good way to relax after school or work and blow off some of the day’s stresses. But why hasn’t karaoke’s popularity boomed in the Western world as it has in Japan? What is it about karaoke in Japan that makes it so special?

 Photo by Ed Schipul 

Impress your Japanese friends at a karaoke night & learn Japanese. Try a free class here.

The most noticeable difference between Japanese karaoke and Western karaoke is the structure. In Western karaoke, participants stand up on a stage in front of other bar patrons and sing their (drunk) hearts out. In Japan however, karaoke patrons are assigned a booth (depending on group size), completely separated from strangers and alone with their friends. Hence the difference in names; karaoke bars in the west, and karaoke boxes in Japan.

Not surprisingly, this plays a huge factor in karaoke’s popularity. Knowing that the only people who will hear them sing are their friends, may allow the Japanese to participate without hesitation. In addition, the dark and intimate setting provides the singers the feeling of being able to hide, while many Westerners succumb to ‘stage fright’ knowing that complete strangers will judge them. This leads to probably the biggest difference between Japanese karaoke and Western Karaoke—ideology.

Karaoke box. Picture from Wikipedia 

The ways in which the Japanese and the Westerners view the idea of karaoke are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Where Westerns tend to view karaoke as a talent contest for the vocally gifted, the Japanese focus on participating and giving a sincere effort. This can be viewed through the many talent shows that exist, such as American Idol or The X Factor, both of which look for a new star and spend the first couple of weeks ridiculing those of lesser talent. Whereas in Japan, although their actual singing talents are questionable, some Japanese music artists’ albums are able to sell in the millions.

Japanese people do not care if you are a skilled singer or not. They only want you to participate in the fun and enjoy yourself. Karaoke is a good bonding experience. Not only are you in a small setting, where you are able converse with everyone in the room, you are able to show your true self without the fear of being judged based on your singing abilities.

Shimatachi summarized the difference between the ideology of Japanese karaoke and Western karaoke in Japan Pop!: “[...] karaoke must be seen as a positive social development. In short, the Walkman isolates and the boom box domineers—but karaoke unites.” (Shimatachi, 2000) [1].

Obviously, Shimatachi wrote this article in a time where people used Walkmans and boom boxes, but the message remains unchanged. Walkmans, or more recently mp3 players, keep individuals isolated from each other and encourage introverts; boom boxes, or more recently American Idol, encourage the separation of the talented and the less talented.

The success of Japanese karaoke boxes is contributed to the combination of structure and ideology. The unifying power of karaoke to bond and connect with others around them overpowers any fears and embarrassments an individual might have, a leads to an awfully fun Friday night!

Ready to sing in Japanese like a pro? Try a free class here.

[1] Shimatachi, H. (2000). A karaoke perspective on international relations In T. Craig (Ed.), Japan Pop! (pp. 101-105). Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe.].

This guest post has been written by Greg Scott from LinguaLift, a 21st century online language textbook for Japanese and Russian. Take your free class today!

Winner of Things Japanese Announced!

Thank you to everyone who entered our competition for a chance to win a copy of Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff and Michael Freeman (see the book review). We had an overwhelming amount of entries and lots of fantastic comments about your favourite Japanese traditional objects. The competition has come to an end and now it's time to announce a winner. The winner has been selected by a traditional ancient Japanese method (drawing names out of a “kabuto” samurai helmet) and will be contacted shortly.

I’m delighted to announce that the winner is…

*** Buzz Quantock *** 

Buzz we will need your details to pass on to the publishers for your free copy of the book. If you could please email us at japanaustralia2011@hotmail.com in the next few days we can get everything organised for you.

Thank you everyone for entering once again and Buzz, we hope you enjoy the book.

Drawing the winner from the samurai helmet

Book Review: Things Japanese (Everyday Objects of Exceptional Beauty and Significance)

Things Japanese: Everyday Objects of Exceptional Beauty and Significance published by Tuttle Publishing is a wonderful guide and introduction to the unique objects that make up traditional Japanese culture. This is a must have book for any fan of Japanese culture and art. As most of you know, I love Japan and especially its history, culture and traditions. I guess, I’m lucky to be surrounded by these things on a daily basis. I probably take a lot of them for granted now that I’ve been in Japan so long, but this book really makes me appreciation them again and fully understand their cultural significance.


The book through its amazing photos and illustrations shares some of this culture and beauty of Japan with you. It is filled with more than two hundred colour photos and illustrations. Author Nicholas Bornoff and Photographer Michael Freeman examine over 60 traditional Japanese objects displaying their relevance and significance and will fascinate those who are intrigued by the art, culture and history of Japan. The traditional objects range from beautifully crafted samurai swords to elegant wooden tansu chests.

The cover of Things Japanese

Fantastic images and detailed information are a highlight of this book

A lot of the objects in the book are highly recognizable, some I see on a daily basis, others are more for historical value rather than daily use. Like most things Japanese they are exquisitely crafted with beauty in their diligent attention to detail and artistry. The book is beautifully presented and shows and describes each object in meticulous detail. Each item is illustrated in glorious full-colour photographs with detailed information, history and cultural context about the object.

At 143 pages long, the book is the right size to leave on my coffee table to take a peek when needed. I love my photography and a hobby of mine is shooting some of the wonderful traditional Japanese objects that I find around me. Whether its a byobu (painted screen) at a house, or ishidoro (stone lantern) at a temple, this book is a great accompaniment to better understand the cultural significance of the objects that I shoot. This book will certainly be picked up by me on a regular basis as I research these objects to find out more about them. I hope it becomes a part of your collection, too.

Things Japanese is the perfect book for anyone interested in the art, culture and history of Japan.
You can check out the book yourself on Amazon.com

*** Competition Time ***

Would you like to win a FREE Copy of Things Japanese: Everyday Objects of Exceptional Beauty and Significance?

Tuttle Publishing the company behind Things Japanese would like to offer one of our lucky readers a complimentary copy of this book. For a chance to win, please leave a comment below on the following topic, “What is your favourite traditional Japanese object? And why do you like it?”

We will select a winner at random and announce the result after the closing date. 

Entries close on Friday, 8 August 2014. 

Note: Please do not comment as Anonymous use a profile such as Google or WordPress, etc, so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner. We we also announce the winner in a future blog post, so stay tuned to Japan Australia.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your entries

*** Competition Has Just Ended ***

Thank you everyone for entering and stay tuned as the winner will be announced on Sunday, 10 August 2014.

Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff & Photographer Michael Freeman