I went to a fabric shop in Japan and saw a couple of kimonos where I had to double check I was converting from Yen correctly because I thought I'd misplaced a decimal point or two. I had not, they...
I went to a fabric shop in Japan and saw a couple of kimonos where I had to double check I was converting from Yen correctly because I thought I'd misplaced a decimal point or two. I had not, they really were £30k each.
We bought one small wall hanging print on cotton and even that was £150. It's one of the most beautiful things in my entire house and possibly the best souvenir I've ever bought.
Would be willing to share a photo of the wall hanging? I'd love to see it. :) I have a fair bit of Japanese art in my living room, but they're mostly thrift store finds, and gifts from other...
Would be willing to share a photo of the wall hanging? I'd love to see it. :)
I have a fair bit of Japanese art in my living room, but they're mostly thrift store finds, and gifts from other people, since I haven't visited Japan myself yet.
No worries, sorry for the delay I was not at home: here it is (featuring the questionable gold paint of our upstairs hallway) We have a couple or noren hanging in the house and a few bits of...
No worries, sorry for the delay I was not at home: here it is (featuring the questionable gold paint of our upstairs hallway)
We have a couple or noren hanging in the house and a few bits of ceramics - both me and my wife love ceramics which presents something of a challenge as we have to try to get stuff home unbroken. Also my wife has an original sumi-e scroll in her office but it's not hugely special, just quite nice to look at. Oh and we have some ukiyo-e woodblock prints from original woodblocks (but modern inks/paper), from when our Tokyo tour guide got excited about us liking prints and took us to the most amazing tiny backstreet shop where we got to see some incredible, actual period prints. Some of which were approaching millions (of pounds) in value. That was one of the highlights of our whole trip.
Oh wow, that is quite beautiful. I can totally see why it's your favorite souvenir. And yes, I would absolutely love to see some more pics, please. I love Japanese art. :) p.s. I have a similar...
Oh wow, that is quite beautiful. I can totally see why it's your favorite souvenir. And yes, I would absolutely love to see some more pics, please. I love Japanese art. :)
p.s. I have a similar sort of wall hanging too, but mine is not nearly as nice. It just has a folk saying and hokey aspiration printed on cotton cloth, with Kanji that I have no idea what it actually says. But I got it at a thrift store for next to nothing too, so meh. :P
Heh, I've had it for yeaaaaars and suspected that was the case, but never knew for sure. I was also kinda worried it was like one of those tattoos that says the complete opposite of what the...
Heh, I've had it for yeaaaaars and suspected that was the case, but never knew for sure. I was also kinda worried it was like one of those tattoos that says the complete opposite of what the person thinks it does though. So thanks for letting me know that's not the case. :P
woodblock prints (also yikes that room is getting dusty!) ceramic temple charm dude handmade matcha bowls from a pottery in Kyoto where we talked to the potter as he was making stuff. It was...
handmade matcha bowls from a pottery in Kyoto where we talked to the potter as he was making stuff. It was really cool. I liked the black one and asked if they had a matching one, we were presented with the green one which wasn't at all what I was expecting - but they match in shape and feel, not finish.
wall hanging from Ryōan-ji temple. The single most tranquil place I've ever been. We got up early to get there as the gates opened and were the second people in. Ryōan-ji
I also have a mishmash of various Japanese trinkets, and traditional figurines like those too. But I have nothing so nice as those bowls, woodblock prints, the ink scroll, or that Noren (which is...
I also have a mishmash of various Japanese trinkets, and traditional figurines like those too. But I have nothing so nice as those bowls, woodblock prints, the ink scroll, or that Noren (which is absolutely adorable!). Thanks so much for taking the time to snap all those photos and share them. I'm super jealous of your collection! :)
I'm surprised one company can sell 4000 kimonos each year, to be honest, especially when they're on the higher end of the market. Every part of this is beautiful.
I'm surprised one company can sell 4000 kimonos each year, to be honest, especially when they're on the higher end of the market.
My understanding is that, much like formalwear in the west, not a lot of people in Japan own a full kimono - but there's a pretty big rental market. So 4000 a year is perhaps less surprising given...
My understanding is that, much like formalwear in the west, not a lot of people in Japan own a full kimono - but there's a pretty big rental market. So 4000 a year is perhaps less surprising given a decent chunk of them are probably getting a lot more wear then if they were owned individually.
No particular reason, other than I thought it looked good at the time I put them up, and I had never heard of that edge-up tradition before now. I would assume doing that is more important when...
No particular reason, other than I thought it looked good at the time I put them up, and I had never heard of that edge-up tradition before now. I would assume doing that is more important when the blade is exposed, so the edge doesn't get damaged, since I don't see why the orientation would make a difference while they're still sheathed. They're pretty mediocre quality swords, and I got them for next to nothing at a thrift shop, so I'm not too worried about damaging them. But I will change them to the traditional orientation now. Thanks for making me aware of that. :)
p.s. You made a new top-level comment, not a reply to my previous comment. I only saw this because I made the topic so was sent a notification anyways.
AFAIK it's more symbolic than practical (yes you can theorically damage the blade, but it's a hunk of steel, not crystal glass). You display them the same way as you would wear them. Note that...
AFAIK it's more symbolic than practical (yes you can theorically damage the blade, but it's a hunk of steel, not crystal glass).
There's also more spiritual reasons (point towards the heavens, that sort of thing), but the bottom line is that everyone in the know does it this way. And so, for me at least, seeing a katana pointing in the wrong direction would be like seeing a bad kerning (ultimately nobody cares, but some do !).
I went to a fabric shop in Japan and saw a couple of kimonos where I had to double check I was converting from Yen correctly because I thought I'd misplaced a decimal point or two. I had not, they really were £30k each.
We bought one small wall hanging print on cotton and even that was £150. It's one of the most beautiful things in my entire house and possibly the best souvenir I've ever bought.
Would be willing to share a photo of the wall hanging? I'd love to see it. :)
I have a fair bit of Japanese art in my living room, but they're mostly thrift store finds, and gifts from other people, since I haven't visited Japan myself yet.
Sword set, statues, Meiji period coin, and prints
Wall fan
Large glass bonsai
Small glass bonsai, and vases
No worries, sorry for the delay I was not at home: here it is (featuring the questionable gold paint of our upstairs hallway)
We have a couple or noren hanging in the house and a few bits of ceramics - both me and my wife love ceramics which presents something of a challenge as we have to try to get stuff home unbroken. Also my wife has an original sumi-e scroll in her office but it's not hugely special, just quite nice to look at. Oh and we have some ukiyo-e woodblock prints from original woodblocks (but modern inks/paper), from when our Tokyo tour guide got excited about us liking prints and took us to the most amazing tiny backstreet shop where we got to see some incredible, actual period prints. Some of which were approaching millions (of pounds) in value. That was one of the highlights of our whole trip.
If you're interested I can grab some more photos.
Oh wow, that is quite beautiful. I can totally see why it's your favorite souvenir. And yes, I would absolutely love to see some more pics, please. I love Japanese art. :)
p.s. I have a similar sort of wall hanging too, but mine is not nearly as nice. It just has a folk saying and hokey aspiration printed on cotton cloth, with Kanji that I have no idea what it actually says. But I got it at a thrift store for next to nothing too, so meh. :P
My Japanese isn't so great, but I'm pretty sure it also just says 'follow your dream'.
Heh, I've had it for yeaaaaars and suspected that was the case, but never knew for sure. I was also kinda worried it was like one of those tattoos that says the complete opposite of what the person thinks it does though. So thanks for letting me know that's not the case. :P
woodblock prints (also yikes that room is getting dusty!)
ceramic temple charm dude
handmade matcha bowls from a pottery in Kyoto where we talked to the potter as he was making stuff. It was really cool. I liked the black one and asked if they had a matching one, we were presented with the green one which wasn't at all what I was expecting - but they match in shape and feel, not finish.
assorted trinkets
wall hanging from Ryōan-ji temple. The single most tranquil place I've ever been. We got up early to get there as the gates opened and were the second people in. Ryōan-ji
Noren on our stairs
Ink scroll in my wife's office
Wow, I love that Noren. It's so fun!
I also have a mishmash of various Japanese trinkets, and traditional figurines like those too. But I have nothing so nice as those bowls, woodblock prints, the ink scroll, or that Noren (which is absolutely adorable!). Thanks so much for taking the time to snap all those photos and share them. I'm super jealous of your collection! :)
I'm surprised one company can sell 4000 kimonos each year, to be honest, especially when they're on the higher end of the market.
Every part of this is beautiful.
My understanding is that, much like formalwear in the west, not a lot of people in Japan own a full kimono - but there's a pretty big rental market. So 4000 a year is perhaps less surprising given a decent chunk of them are probably getting a lot more wear then if they were owned individually.
that’s so cool. i love the look of them — so much craft involved
Is there any reasons you are placing your swords with the edge facing down ? I have always been taught to place them facing up.
No particular reason, other than I thought it looked good at the time I put them up, and I had never heard of that edge-up tradition before now. I would assume doing that is more important when the blade is exposed, so the edge doesn't get damaged, since I don't see why the orientation would make a difference while they're still sheathed. They're pretty mediocre quality swords, and I got them for next to nothing at a thrift shop, so I'm not too worried about damaging them. But I will change them to the traditional orientation now. Thanks for making me aware of that. :)
p.s. You made a new top-level comment, not a reply to my previous comment. I only saw this because I made the topic so was sent a notification anyways.
AFAIK it's more symbolic than practical (yes you can theorically damage the blade, but it's a hunk of steel, not crystal glass).
You display them the same way as you would wear them. Note that cavalry swords (tachi) are worn blade facing down, and thus are indeed displayed this way, see this the way this japanese museum show display a tachi and a katana+wakisashi.
There's also more spiritual reasons (point towards the heavens, that sort of thing), but the bottom line is that everyone in the know does it this way. And so, for me at least, seeing a katana pointing in the wrong direction would be like seeing a bad kerning (ultimately nobody cares, but some do !).
(Dang it for the wrong reply, I guess was tired)