Journal

Events Made in Tsubamesanjo 新潟　燕三条 2023

Made in Tsubamesanjo Traditional Craftsmanship October 14 ~ December 24, 2023 Following tremendous interest last year, ITSUMO is pleased to welcome back our Made in Tsubamesanjo Event. Offering a ...

Events Ebb & Flow – Ceramics and Artwork by Janice Wong

ITSUMO and SORT are pleased to announce a solo exhibition of multidisciplinary artist Janice Wong from November through December.

Winter Light

The first snow of the season has fallen, the temperature is getting colder with each passing day. As we head deep into the winter months, there are many things to look forward to.

24 Sekki October 23 – 霜降 Soukou

We decided to use late harvest Portuguese peppers, walnuts, and Sen’s homemade miso to make these brown rice miso onigiri to celebrate the concept of 名残 nagori.

24 Sekki October 9 – 寒露 Kanro

Featured today is the traditional Japanese autumn dish, 茄子田楽 Nasu Dengaku. Sen used her homemade miso, that she started in the spring, to make a sweet miso glaze to dress the grilled eggplants.

24 Sekki September 23 – 秋分 Shuubun

In Japan, the equinox is a day of reflection when families gather and pay respect to their loved ones, spend time together and connect over food.

24 Sekki September 8 – 白露 Hakuro

With the last of the summer heat remaining and the recurring theme of dew during this micro season, we thought a classic Japanese sweet called 心太 Tokoroten would be fitting and refreshing.

August 2022

Hello friends, Our team has put together a seasonal newsletter to provide you shop news, inspiration & culture as we move through the seasons together. With Labour Day approaching, we are noti...

24 Sekki July 7 – 小暑 Shousho (Tanabata)

One of the customs in Japan for tanabata is to write wishes on thin strips of paper called 短冊 tanzaku and hang them on fronds of bamboo. Many households will have a length of bamboo displayed with ...

24 Sekki June 21 – 夏至 Geshi

To celebrate the beginning of summer, Sen surprised us with her homemade Strawberry Ichigo Daifuku mochi. The daifuku mochi is one of our favourite treats, especially with the first strawberries of...

24 Sekki June 6 – 芒種 Bōushu

芒種 Bōushu directly translates to “awn-types” and grains with awns would be sown in the ground by Bōushu and prepared for the rainy season.

24 Sekki May 21 – 小満 Shouman

For celebrating shouman today, Sen made Ayame-mochi; a classic Japanese confection inspired by the beautiful purple irises.

24 Sekki May 5 – 立夏 Rikka

As the sun gets higher in the sky everyday, we start to get longer days and begin transitioning into more summer-like weather with rikka (立夏) or “Summer Arises”.

24 Sekki April 20 – 穀雨 Kokuu

For celebrating Kokuu, Sen has made these spring treats called 草餅 kusa-mochi, sticky rice dumplings with young yomogi herbs (Artemisia princeps) that are filled with a sweet red bean paste. Kusamoc...

24 Sekki April 4 – 清明 Seimei

The salted sakura sable cookies that Sen made invoke a happy feeling of springtime, anticipating the arrival of new growth and all the different varieties of cherry blossoms we have growing in Vanc...

24 Sekki March 21 – 春分 Shunbun no Hi

Every spring we look forward to receiving Japanese baskets made during the long winter season from the snowy part of Japan.

24 Sekki March 5 – 啓蟄 Keichitsu

For this bright start of spring season, what we have here today is 桜餅 Sakuramochi, a spring specialty and one of our favourite Japanese sweets to make to enjoy while watching the plums and sakura b...

24 Sekki March 3 – 桃の節句 Momo-no-Sekku (Hinamatsuri)

Because Peach blossoms begin to bloom around this time and they were used to ward off bad omens, this March 3rd day is sometimes called 桃の節句 Peach Sekku.

Events Japanese Shears and Gardening Tools

Stunningly handcrafted by the skilled craftsmen in Tsubamesanjo using their traditional techniques and knowledge, a selection of essential Japanese tools for gardening are now available.

24 Sekki February 19 – 雨水 Usui

This little wagashi models its cute shape to this songbird and is called an uguisu mochi. Filled with sweet bean paste, they are only served during spring when these birds hold their spring choirs.

24 Sekki February 4 – 立春 Risshun

Sweetened sticky rice wrapped in tsubaki leaves are one of oldest recorded wagashi-style sweets mentioned in Japanese literature.

24 Sekki February 3 – 節分 Setsubun

It was thought that Setsubun was a day when the boundaries between our world and the spirit world were blurred and special measures were taken to prevent any evil spirits bringing bad luck into a h...

Events Made in Tsubamesanjo 新潟　燕三条

This month of February, Itsumo presents an exciting new line of housewares from Tsubamesanjo, Niigata Prefecture.

Happy New Year 2022

2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger (壬寅, みずのえとら, mizunoetora). It is said to represent the auspiciousness of beginning anew and nurturing what has been born.

Events Ha Plates 葉皿 – Joji Fukushima Feature Sale

ITSUMO is pleased to have another opportunity to invite Vancouver based artist Joji Fukushima for his final exclusive sale featuring his hand-crafted wooden plates “Ha Plates 葉皿”.

Summer Pop-Up – Sukui on Bowen Island

Miki Tanaka Jewelry and ITSUMO will come together once more for a pop-up event on Bowen Island. This year’s theme is Sukui すくい , a Japanese expression which means “to scoop”.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

In an effort to try to contribute to positive change in our local communities, ITSUMO continues to support indigenous-led organizations whose mandate it is to help promote education, healing and re...

Thankful for the New Year

2020 has forced many of us to take time to slow down, reflect and to always be thankful.

Photo Diary One Year

The images from our photo album show a small part of our visual memories from the days we spent behind the closed doors approaching to the opening day.

Events IKE | いけ Joji Fukushima Exhibition

Comprised of over one hundred wooden bowls, cups and plates, Ike exhibition explores the connections between two familiar objects: ponds and vessels.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the inspiration we find daily from the cultural contribution made by First Nations artists.

Oval Boxes – Masashi Ifuji

Japanese craftsman & designer Masashi Ifuji specializes in creating simple but functional wooden objects, utilizing traditional techniques and minimal forms.

Ohayo – Yasujiro Ozu, 1959

On this quiet Sunday, April 12th, marked for spiritual reflection, we wanted to share with you one of our favourite Japanese films, Yasujiro Ozu’s 1959 colour masterpiece, Ohayo.

ITSUMO Store Open

We are thrilled to share exting news. ITSUMO Shop is now open. Located at 279 East 6th Ave. Vancouver BC.

Meguri on Bowen: Pop-Up at Miki Tanaka Jewelry

We are excited to announce our ITSUMO seasonal Pop Up is back, this time on Bowen Island at jewelry designer Miki Tanaka’s beautiful atelier.

Form and Function

The intersection of design where harmony is found between aesthetic, function, form and ingenuity.