Cloud and Moon

Apr 13

Warabi Mochi from Ungetsu. Cool paper package.

We are now in Tokyo! … meeting with great artists and seeing amazing designs everywhere.

After one of the meetings — at the studio of a bamboo artisan from Kyoto — we walked by a beautiful little store in Minami Aoyama, called Ungetsu. This is a satellite store of a Kaiseki restaurant in Kyoto, and it means Cloud and Moon. It’s named after a piece of Zen poetry describing a late evening conversation about mountains, clouds, the ocean, and the moon between close friends.

In keeping with it’s poetic name, the store is designed in Kyoto style, and the women working there are all dressed in pretty kimonos. We tried Komatsu Kombu (salted sea weed, which was not so salty and was full of umami!), some Plum Paste (also super yummy... and great with bowl of rice!) along with a cup of green tea. We also purchased some sweet cakes and Warabi Mochi too. We can’t seem to get enough Japanese sweets!

Stay tuned for more about our time in Tokyo meeting with new and exciting artisans — and finding little treasures around every corner.

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Japan Suite

Showcasing traditional Japanese crafts and the artisans who create them — their stories and their art in words and visions. Japan’s hand-made crafts have played an integral role in the lives of Japanese for centuries. They are created in response to basic, everyday needs and have long been used in the daily rhythms of life. They come from the earth and from nature, and they are prized for their simplicity and long life. Craftspeople pour their passion, pride and energy into their handiwork, creating objects that can far outlive their creators, but in doing so, they carry on the artist’s legacy. The artisans know their objects can live hundreds of years, and they want to be just as proud of it in 100 years as they are today. So, everyday household items take on a life of their own, their own spirit and their own story. They are unique, one-of-a-kind creations with a character and spirit that grows stronger with regular use. The artist creates the object, but that is just the beginning of the journey. In the hands of its owner, a relationship is created, one that is nurtured across time. Just as we do, these creations will change over time developing new imperfections and new character. Each region and each artisan have their own character. In Japan, this is known as meibutsu. The legacy has been passed down by Japanese artists across time down to today’s craftspeople who are advancing and redefining this tradition. We applaud these artisans, and we strive to support them as they re-interpret the heritage of their predecessors — and we are proud to introduce their work, their stories and the passion they put into their creation here at Japan Suite.

Cloud and Moon

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The Simple Truth