Countryside ChroniclesFinding Space for Herbs
"Don't my in-laws grow shiso?" my wife has asked me several times.My parents' house, where we can harvest Japanese butte...
DIY
Countryside Chronicles
Eclectic JapanSharpening Japanese Knives at Home: A Farmer’s Guide to Honing Blades
It's quite common in Japan for people to sharpen their own kitchen knives at home, and this is especially true for farme...
Eclectic JapanA Handmade Bamboo Needle for Japanese Weaving
Photo courtesy of Saga Prefecture Tourism FederationJapan's got all sorts of amazing traditional crafts, you know? Thing...
Eclectic JapanFigurines of the Ohmu and the Toxic Jungle from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
"Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" is an animated film by Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.I created a figurine of the...
Countryside ChroniclesDIY Renovation of a Japanese-Style Building Built in 1951
Grandpa and Grandma's house consists of a main building over 100 years old and a detached structure dating back about 70...
Countryside ChroniclesRepairing Soba-making Tools
At Grandma's house, there are tools for making handcrafted soba.These tools, estimated to be made nearly 100 years ago, ...