Our welcome ikebana arrangement for the 2022 Atlantic Canada Japanese Language Speech Contest at St. Mary's University is featured in the April, 2023 edition of "Sō" (「草」) magazine, the official publication of the Sogetsu Teachers' Association.
This Japanese Knife Is A Hidden Gem!
It’s not like we’re pioneers or anything like that. Of course many people here own Japanese knives…and most probably appreciate their quality. It’s just that Japanese knives have a reputation of being on the expensive side of the price spectrum…and in most cases, justifiably so. But we thought: there must be a Japanese knife out there whose quality would satisfy the discerning home cook or amateur chef without breaking the budget. And so we found Nagao, a hidden gem!
The Nagao knives are affordably priced but punches way above its weight class. These knives are produced in Tsubame-Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture. For those who are not familiar, Tsubame-Sanjo is famous for its metal craft and edged tools, including, of course, knives! Our shop has a strong bond with Tsubame-Sanjo. It is also the place where our kenzans and ikebana clippers are produced.
Though mass-produced, these knives are hand-sharpened (as opposed to machine-sharpened) by craftsmen. They are sharp and ready to work once out of the box! Molybdenum vanadium stainless steel is strong, durable, and rust resistant.
Our lineup consists of 3 types of all-purpose knives: gyuto, santoku, and petty knife.
Gyuto
The gyuto (牛刀), shaped like a chef’s knife, is the shape that people in the West would be most familiar with. The name literally translates to “cow’s sword” because apparently it was originally meant to cut up pieces of beef.
Santoku
The name santoku (三徳) translates to “three virtues”. It is said that it’s because this knife can be used for (1) meat, (2) fish, and (3) vegetables. Others say it’s because it can be used for (1) chopping, (2) dicing, and (3) mincing. It is the most popular knife in Japanese households.
Petty Knife
The so-called petty knife (ペティナイフ) actually got its name from the French word “petit” (“small”). It is a shorter blade and is often used as a utility knife used for cutting fruit, etc.
We asked our friend and master knife sharpener, Peter Nowlan, to take a look at the Nagao knives. Here’s what he had to say about them.
So we hope to introduce the Nagao knife to Halifax…and maybe North America. (They are avaialbe on our online shop too.)
My Ikebana: Under The Podium
The 2023 Atlantic Canada Japanese Language Speech Contest was held last Mar 11, 2023 at St. Mary’s University. We prepared an ikebana arrangement to brighten up the podium.
Congratulations to all the winners!
My Ikebana: Heaven-Sent Branches
Branches are like treasure for the ikebana practitioner. So it is always a great joy when we receive branches from thoughtful people who know how valuable they are to us! Last month a friend came all the way from Chester NS (about an hour’s drive from Halifax) to bring us branches that she had cut from her yard. We were truly touched!
Here are a couple of arrangements using the assortment of spruce and cypress branches.
Our warmest thanks to Myra for the branches.
My Ikebana: Roses and Eucalyptus
Here are roses “hiding” behind baby eucalyptus!
I hope you like it. --Miyako
My Ikebana: Dogwood Rings
Just a simple arrangement with dogwood branches curled into rings.
Happy New Year! --Miyako
Happy New Year 2023!
明けましておめでとうございます! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Welcome Year of the Rabbit!
Let us meet the New Year full of life and glee!
My Ikebana: Simple Christmas Arrangement
Just a simple arrangement to feel the mood of the holidays!
I hope you like it. —Miyako
2022 Year-End Store Hours
My Ikebana: Golden Maples
In contrast with the lush green of spring and summer, autumn brings a resplendence as the leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow.
The container used for this arrangement is a hibachi. (In Japanese, a hibachi [火鉢] is a brazier that holds charcoal to warm a room. The small cooking stove that Westerners often refer to when saying “hibachi” is actually called a “shichirin” [七輪] in Japanese.)
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako