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(Photo courtesy of Simon Wearne)

Being an apostle of japanese ofuros and traditional woodworking technique enabled me to become acquainted with other fellow japan-lover “gaijins”. I correspond with Leonard Koren, Ricky Swaczy and Bruce Smith. I also have the honor of knowing the work of Douglas Brooks: a builder (or I should say “The builder”) of japanese boats.
The making of japanese bathtubs originates directly from boat building. The sawing technique, all the joinery and details (such as the use of copper plates or wood skin) are borrowed straight from the “funa-daiku” (boat carpenter) repertoire.

(Photo courtesy of Douglas Brooks)

Brooks resides mostly in USA but travels often to Japan. He is due to come on january 10th in Takamatsu to build a boat for Ritsurin Park. Then he is planning to build a boat for a museum in Gifu prefecture in may.
I hope I can catchup with him.

Meanwhile, if you are interested to have a specific information or have a project that may require a japanese traditional boat, please let me know.

Here below are some links to Douglas works, photos and book.
http://www.douglasbrooksboatbuilding.com
http://blog.douglasbrooksboatbuilding.com/
www.instagram.com/douglasbrooksboats

(Photo courtesy of Douglas Brooks)

This card consists almost entirely from material I received from a client I consider like a dear friend.

I especially like the phrase that life is precious and every moment should  be lived “consciously”. The more “deliberately” you experience and feel these moments the more fully (= happily) you will enjoy this year and the years to come!

I am dedicating you also two other yo-ji-juku-go idiomatic phrases that contain facets of the same concept:

★　sho-gyou-mu-jou: all things are in flux, nothing is permanent

★　mei-kyo-shi-sui: (be) serene as a polished mirror and still water

Of course you can find the two quotations in form of hinoki wood aroma cards.

Check the indiegogo campaign here: https://igg.me/at/hinoki-aroma-cards

Again, happy new year and may the 2017 bring you one step closer to the realization of your dreams!

iacopo torrini

Our client R. sent us more pictures of his superb house in Apollo Bay, Victoria.
Apparently it is available as a kind of Air B&B so if you are in the area you may want to experience the house with great open views and the japanese bathtub!
http://www.greatoceanroadholidays.com.au/accommodation/2064

More pictures below
(more…)

With the help of many advice and insight I received thru friends and comments by mail and thru the google survey I think our aroma cards took the right shape!

This super-seeds the previous posts.

1) for this edition, I will focus on japanese idiomatic expression “yojijukugo”

2) 6 cards make one set (priced as 5 cards so one card is free. All old perks will be upgraded.)

3) 2 sets are available. It is also possible to have 6 cards with the same message. Let me know.

4) To avoid accidents the corners are rounded (5mm radius)

This is it for now! Please go to the indiegogo page to understand about the development of the idea and this campaign!

Well, I think this does not need may explanations.
I tried to make a simulation with the yojijukugo idea and I love it!
Please let me know what you think.
I am now considering to prepare 3 sets of aroma cards with mixed messages.
Of course it is possible to get the 3 sets and assort the full collection.

I do not want to make more than 12 because of the costs of productions.
But please let me know if there are some you like or some you do not so I might replace them.

set 1 includes the cards ABCD
set 2 includes the cards EFGH
set 3 includes the cards IJKL

Please check https://igg.me/at/hinoki-aroma-cards
for more details!

We are receiving many orders of kadomaru tubs.
Maybe because of the following amazing salespoints?
1) it is reasonable,
2) compact and lightweight
3) it requires only 1 week from order to shipping
4) allows savings on packaging and transportation

I have to apologize as we are not managing to maintain the promise on 2 of the points above (but are working hard to re-establish the best conditions…!)
Here is the “new kadomaru” features:
1) reasonable: no change
2) compact and lightweight: no change
3) it requires only 1 week from order to shipping: sorry, we require 2-3 weeks but will try to contain the delay as much as possible.
4) allows savings on packaging and transportation: same price but better packaging!
(see also this article)
Remember also that you can order a kadomaru tub directly from the shop (note that there are 2 sizes: S and L).
Contact us by email or thru the contact form if you need any customization/options.