Designer's Choice
Every guide and story on this site — watches, fishing tackle, knives, crafts and stationery — chosen and written by one designer in Japan. Not an algorithm; one person.
Why a Japanese Seafarer Started Making Fountain Pens: The Story of Pilot
Pilot began with a former ship's engineer trying to stop the tips of chart-drawing pens from wearing out. A short history from Pilot's own centenary records — Ryosuke Namiki and Masao Wada, a gold nib made entirely in Japan, lacquer used to protect pen barrels, offices abroad from 1926 and a deal with Dunhill — and two Pilot pens to give today: the Custom 74 and the Capless Decimo.
Japanese Knife Care: A Practical Guide for Your First Japanese Knife
You've bought, been given, or are about to give a Japanese knife. Day-to-day care comes down to a few habits: wash by hand, dry right away, use the right board, cut with the right knife, and store the edge safely. What makers and knife shops actually say — including where Shun, Korin, GLOBAL and MUSASHI disagree — and a short care note to include with a gift.
Hosting a Sushi Night at Home: What Knife Do You Actually Need?
Hand rolls, maki or a sashimi platter? The knife you need depends on the menu, and you may already own it. How to cut rolls and fish cleanly, when a gyuto, a sujihiki or a yanagiba is worth adding, three Japanese knives from Hocho Knife with their specifications, how to set up the counter on the night, and a short note on serving raw fish safely.
Fine or Medium? Choosing a Japanese Fountain Pen Nib for a Gift
You've chosen the pen and the color, and now the shop asks: EF, F or M? What those letters mean, why they aren't a standard across brands, how to decide from the way the person writes, and two Japanese pens you can order in either Fine or Medium, with the makers' own specifications.
The Best Japanese Knife to Give a Sashimi Lover (2026): Yanagiba, Sujihiki or Deba?
Which knife suits someone who loves sashimi: the single-bevel yanagiba, the double-edged sujihiki, or a deba for whole fish. Five knives from Hocho Knife with the shop's own specifications, and what to check before you give one.
JDM Watches Worth Importing (2026): Japanese-Market Seiko and Casio, and Which Are Really Japan-Only
What JDM means for watches, why a J, JF or JR suffix doesn't make a watch Japan-only, and eight Japanese-market Seiko and Casio models worth importing, from a small Casio digital to an urushi-dial Presage sold through Seiko's core shops in Japan.
Arita Ware 101: The 400-Year Story of Japan's First Porcelain
Arita ware is porcelain from the Arita area of Saga Prefecture, where Japan's first porcelain was made in the 1610s. Its history, how Arita, Imari and Nabeshima relate, the main styles, what to ask before buying, and two Arita pieces you can order from Japan.
The Most Beautiful Edo Kiriko Glasses You Can Buy from Japan (2026)
Thirteen Edo Kiriko pieces by Kagami Crystal, chosen by how they'll be used: rock glasses, sake cups, a small tumbler, bowls, a vase and a set of five wine glasses. Sizes and prices from the shop, what the patterns are named after, and how to order from Japan.
What Is Edo Kiriko? Japan's Cut Glass Craft, Explained
Edo Kiriko is Tokyo's traditional cut-glass craft, dated to 1834. Its history, the traditional patterns and what they're named after, how a piece is cut, how it differs from Satsuma Kiriko, and what to look for when you buy, from the Edo Kiriko Cooperative and Kagami Crystal.