News

I would like to call your attention on 2 changes in our lineup of japanese bathroom accessories:

1) the design of the ladle (small bucket with handle) was updated with the use of a braided wire.
This gives more stability even if it makes the look different from the large bucket which still has the flat copper bands. On the other hand, the new ladle coordinates with the round foot bath.

2) there will be few adjustments (prices increases) in the accessories due to the cost increase of the stools and new pricing categories of the EMS Japan post service.
Please find the new prices below.
170601-hinoki-bath-accessories-pricelist
This new price list will be effective from june,1 2017 so if you are ready to buy some accessories, I recommend to place the order by 5/31.
The shopping cart will be updated with the new prices on 6/1 at 0:00 JST

Today I went to the gorgeous Minatogawa Shrine in Kobe.
The building was rebuilt in reinforced concrete as many other examples thru-out the country but the balance, its setting in the green in the center of Kobe always gives me a sensation of wellbeing. Incidentally, here is where I got married, 15 years ago… but this is a different story…

This time I was not a normal visitor: I came to participate to a casual festival as a … Kabuki actor!
Actually I have been impersonating the character “Nango Rikimaru” from the play “Shiranami go nin otoko” for over 18 years!
It all started when I visited a traditional festival and forgot on the ground my note-book.
It was promptly returned to me and one year later I was recruited to be on stage!

Nouson-kabuki (rural kabuki) is a standard (or maybe I should use the past tense) of local festivals and the amateur actors (in the past mostly peasants) were dressing up and making up their face to entertain the community.

The five characters are thieves that are surrounded　by the police and are giving their testaments before the final fight. Some of them had noble origins, some of them are played as onna gata (with an effeminate makeup). Nango is a rough pirate hiding on ships and popping out all at the sudden and threatening the crew with his shining sword. He is not repented and showing off his red underwear he draws his…umbrella preparing to sell his life dearly!

Roses are red violets are blue, sugar is sweet…
I studied this short poem as 1st grade junior high student in Torino some 33 years ago: what a flash back!
But this is just to say that flowers in japan are not only sakura.
A friend went to maihama seaside park in ibaraki prefecture (north of tokyo) and sent me some shots. I did not know it so I felt I had to share it with you! I am enclosing here some photos.

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Are you a moon-watcher?

Today it is matsu-yoi-no-tsuki.

Did you know it?

The day before the full moon is a special day because … we can look forward to seeing the full moon the next day!

In japan (before the advent of TV…) japanese were big fan of enjoying the change of seasons and natural processes. See below: (more…)

after a long winter, finally the sakura are blossoming here and there!

The weather has been bad in kansai area, especially on weekends, so here are some pictures that a friend sent me from Tokyo.

april 2nd:

tsubomi: beginning of blossom with prominence of florets

april 5th:

mankai: full blossom. This is actually a photo of one of my favorite hanami spots: the Meguro-gawa.

april 7th:

chiri-sakura: gorgeous. the trees are still completely white but many petals are falling on the ground. The perfect symbol for the ephemerality of beauty. The peak is also the beginning of the end.

For those of you interested, you can find all you wanted to know on sakura blossoms viewing and real time forecasts on this site:
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/en.php

details are in japanese only. Here is a collection of graphs relative to the Tokyo area:
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/area.php?city=Tokyo
If you still not have enough of sakura viewing you can migrate north little by little and enjoy the peak of cherry blossom viewing everyday!

If you are not yet in Japan, do not be sad: if you go to Hokkaido you will still be able to catch up with the cherry blossom as late as up to the mid of may!

A big thank you again to all who supported us for the hinoki aroma cards crowdfunding campaign.
This is to confirm that I shipped all the items pledged by small-package (airfreight).
There is no tracking code but you should receive the items by 3/31 at the latest. If you do not receive it, please contact me at japanbartokdesign.com

From now on the [hinoki aroma cards] are also available for purchase!
Please check in the shop. The cards are already finished with essential oil but the aroma may fade overtime. If you want to “recharge” them, remember to purchase separately the essential oil of your choice.

I am about 20days late on the original schedule but I have good news!

The hinoki aroma cards are ready and I am planning to prepare the shipments over the weekend and send early next week.

After that I will also add the actual pictures in the shop page.
But before that, I want to present here an outstanding original design and superb result:

The client is going to use the cards for a friend`s wedding.
I thought it is a great idea and it may give an inspiration to other people!
Thanking the Ms. D who kindly agreed to show the photo in this blog, I am glad to introduce here the activity of her 2 daughters.
With “Musical traces“, they bring music in the community with classical concerts in local libraries, hospitals and private homes.
Check out their youtube channel.
Not only listening to the skillfully played music is mind soothing, but seeing that the performers are mostly children is heart warming and really inspiring!

This reference is not strictly ofuro-related but I am so glad to have such wonderful clients that I cannot help wanting to let the world know about it!

Enjoy the weekend and look for the musical traces…

A short story about the Bartok design ofuros was published on the march issue of the famous british magazine “the World of interiors”!
Well, it is a little embarassing…but I did not see it yet. The issue was released on 2/12 but in Japan it was quickly sold out and is unavailable in the newstands or on amazon at the moment. I asked the editor to send me a copy but I cannot wait to see it!
Anybody has a copy? Please share!

2017.3.17 update:
I could obtain a copy. Please find below the referral to our tubs (on page 156)
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Hi to all the backers of the hinoki aroma cards campaign!

This is an update about the development: I am a little behind schedule but my laminating company made a great job and finally deivered my hinoki cards! We could use the Kiso valley hinoki and they are much more aromatic and resistant to water than any other wood veneer card I tested until now. There is another good news: I am also tasting other essences and could obtain very stable cards also from sawara wood and koyamaki! I am considering to make it possible to choose the wood essence, but it will introduce after the main product variations have been tested on the market.

I should be ready to ship towards the mid of march: sorry for making you wait. I will keep you updated.