Item, courtesy and elsewhere

This week I add a traditional household item rarely found in modern homes, a summertime courtesy and a land where visitors occasionally come from.

hibashi (metal hashi) 火箸

shochû-mimai-jô (summertime greeting card) 暑中見舞状

Tokoyo no Kuni (Eternal Land) 常世の国

Manga Cross-Stitch

Oh god it was only a matter of time.

And who else but the wonderful Helen McCarthy could do a book called Manga Cross Stitch.


It will be published in June by Ilex Press in the UK and by Andrews McMeel in the USA.

Stranger fishing promise

This week i chose three unrelated but interesting items ranging from rarely mentioned to often seen.

They are:

marebito 客人

tairyô-bata (large haul flag) 大漁旗

yubikiri (pinky promise) 指切り

Check 'em out and let me know what you think.

Don't hesitate to make requests for items I have yet to cover.

Old household stuff

This week I bring three items found in many houses of the pre modern period, and in some today.

fumiishi (stone step) 踏み石

goemonburo (large iron pot or tub) 五右衛門風呂

kaya (mosquito netting) 蚊帳

Incidentally goemonburo are still made, about 2,000 are sold each year.

Headwear, song and business

This week it is time for a little variety. In other words I just wrote up entries for stuff I thought was interesting.

bōkū-zukin (anti-air raid hood) 防空頭巾

kouta (little song) 小唄 or 小歌

manga kissa (manga cafe) 漫画喫茶 or マンガ喫茶

Donald Richie event

A posting on the Stone Bridge Press Blog.

Donald Richie in Berkeley, April 21st