Journal

EventsMade 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 ...
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EventsEbb & 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.
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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.
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24 SekkiOctober 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.
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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.
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24 SekkiSeptember 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.
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24 SekkiSeptember 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.
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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...
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24 SekkiJuly 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 ...
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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...
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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.
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For celebrating shouman today, Sen made Ayame-mochi; a classic Japanese confection inspired by the beautiful purple irises.
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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”.
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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...
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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...
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24 SekkiMarch 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.
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24 SekkiMarch 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...
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24 SekkiMarch 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.
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EventsJapanese 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.
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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.
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24 SekkiFebruary 4 – 立春 Risshun
Sweetened sticky rice wrapped in tsubaki leaves are one of oldest recorded wagashi-style sweets mentioned in Japanese literature.
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24 SekkiFebruary 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...
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EventsMade in Tsubamesanjo 新潟 燕三条
This month of February, Itsumo presents an exciting new line of housewares from Tsubamesanjo, Niigata Prefecture.
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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.
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EventsHa 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”.
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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”.
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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...
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2020 has forced many of us to take time to slow down, reflect and to always be thankful.
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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.
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EventsIKE | 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.
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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.
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Japanese craftsman & designer Masashi Ifuji specializes in creating simple but functional wooden objects, utilizing traditional techniques and minimal forms.
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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.
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We are thrilled to share exting news. ITSUMO Shop is now open. Located at 279 East 6th Ave. Vancouver BC.
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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.
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The intersection of design where harmony is found between aesthetic, function, form and ingenuity.
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