When it comes to goods that epitomize beauty in functionality, we look to Japanese design. Fortunately, a slew of Japanese-made goods are readily available online, for the enthusiast on your wish list.
Cast Iron Candle Stand
Above: A sculptural cast-iron Hakuhoudo Candle Stand, made in the Iwate prefecture, looks stately on its own or with a candle perched on it; it’s $40 from Monolier.
Hinoki Soaps
Above: “Gen” Soap, handmade in Kobe, comes in three options, all with the scent of the Hinoki tree: clairière, or clear, for relaxation; on-sen, with Hinoki sawdust for gentle exfoliation; and sous-bois, with coal for antibacterial properties. rom Makie. Each is $24 from New York-based shop Makié and so pretty it hardly needs wrapping.
Above: Last year I received a set of Japanese-made Kinto drinking glasses for Christmas, and every time I use them they bring me joy. The Glass Coffee Jug by Kinto is just as beautiful and similarly low-priced: it’s $20 from The Primary Essentials.
Patterned Zabuton Cushion
Above: A collaboration between a Japanese textile artist and a nearly 100-year-old Japanese futon maker, the SouSou Zabuton Cushions are a new take on the traditional cushions found in tatami rooms. They come in six vibrant colors and patterns; each is $46 from Rikumo.
Earthenware Mortar and Pestle
Above: A new/old take on the mortar and pestle: the Spouted Earthenware Mortar with Wood Pestle Set (in Japanese, suribachi (mortar) with surikogi (pestle)) has been made by a pottery in Gifu prefecture since 1910. We like the black version, and the fact that the mortar can double as a serving bowl, spout included. It comes in three sizes: $30 for the small, $36 for the medium, and $46 for the large from Toiro Kitchen & Supply.
Stoneware Sugar Pot
Above: From London-based shop Native and Co. is a collection of stoneware ceramic goods, made in Aichi prefecture and tinged rust-colored in places during the firing process. The Stoneware Sugar Pot and Lid would make a lovely gift; £24 from Native and Co.
Sumac Candles
Above: Another gift that requires no wrapping: a box of Sumac Candles, made of wax from sumac trees grown in Western Japan, prized for candle-making since they burn steadily and without dripping. The candles “also have noticeably large flames due to the washi paper wicks,” the retailers note. A box of six is $42 from Nalata Nalata.
Above: And for the DIY enthusiast: a Kintsugi Repair Kit, for practicing the Japanese art of kintsugi and making broken pottery beautiful; £28 from Design Museum Store or $36.65 via Trouva.
When you register as a free Member of the Remodelista family of websites (Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home), you gain access to all current posts plus 10 archived posts per month, our internal bookmarking tool, and the community bulletin board.
Access 10 archived posts (older than one year) per month on each site
Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
Unlimited access to the Product Catalogs, Design Travel sources, and Architect & Designer Directory listings
Choose from our ten newsletters to keep up with the latest on the sites
Or Subscribe for Maximum Value!
For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.
Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
×
Subscribe to the Remodelista family of websites
For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.
Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
×
Sorry! As a registered member you get 10 free posts from our archive (posts more than a year old) every 30 days. You have reached your limit for this 30-day period. If you would like to access unlimited posts from the archive (ad free, too), become a subscriber today, and keep reading as many articles as you want.
Full Access Individual Subscription
Benefits include:
Unlimited access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home sites
Ad-free browsing environment
Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
Receive the full-text daily newsletters
All features that Members have access to
Annual subscribers pay just 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
Sorry! You have reached your limit of three (3) free posts from our archive every 30 days. You can increase this to 10 posts by joining as a free Member, or read unlimited posts with no ads by becoming a paid Subscriber.
Subscribe to the Remodelista family of websites
For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.
Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
Become a Member at no charge
When you register as a free Member of the Remodelista family of websites (Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home), you gain access to all current posts plus 10 archived posts per month, our internal bookmarking tool, and the community bulletin board.
Access 10 archived posts (older than one year) per month on each site
Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
Unlimited access to the Product Catalogs, Design Travel sources, and Architect & Designer Directory listings
Choose from our ten newsletters to keep up with the latest on the sites
Manage Newsletters
Congratulations on becoming a Subscriber to Remodelista, Gardenista and The Organized Home! You now have access to many great features across the sites:
Unlimited access to all three sites
Ad-free browsing environment
Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
Receive any of the newsletters, including the the full-text daily Remodelista and Gardenista newsletters
Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
Congratulations on joining as a free Member of Remodelista, Gardenista and The Organized Home! You now have access to many great features across the sites:
Access to all posts published in the past year
Access 10 archived posts (older than one year) per month on each site
Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
Unlimited access to the Product Catalogs, Design Travel sources, and Architect & Designer Directory listings
Choose from our ten newsletters to keep up with the latest on the sites
If at any time you want to become a Subscriber and enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to all our content, just go to the My Account link and choose Subscribe.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation