2026-10

Sashiko

Best Sashiko Needles: 4 Packs from Japanese Makers, Compared by Length and Eye

Four sashiko needle packs from Japanese makers Clover, Lecien, Tulip and Olympus compared by length, thickness and eye size, plus how sashiko needles differ from regular needles and when a thimble helps.
2026.10.04
Sashiko
Japanese Knives

The History of Sakai Knives: From Burial Mounds to Chefs’ Kitchens

How Sakai became Japan’s knife city: iron tools for burial mounds, guns in 1543, tobacco knives with a shogunate seal, and a three-craft division of labor.
2026.10.04
Japanese Knives
Japanese Knives

Best Japanese Santoku Knife 2026: Picks by Budget, Steel and Handle

Five Japanese santoku knives compared by budget, steel and handle: Kai, Tojiro, Sakai Takayuki, Takamura and Tsunehisa, from about ＄57 to ＄292.
2026.10.03
Japanese Knives
Sashiko

Best Sashiko Pattern Books: 5 Picks by What You Want to Stitch

Five English-language sashiko pattern books compared by use: a first book, a pattern reference, a stitch dictionary, a daily sampler, and a mending guide.
2026.10.03
Sashiko
Japanese Knives

Hongasumi vs Kasumi: What’s the Difference in Japanese Knives?

Hongasumi vs kasumi explained: both join soft iron and hard steel, but hongasumi is the higher grade, with finer finishing and often better steel. How to tell.
2026.10.01
Japanese Knives