Inside Shinto Towel: The Quest To Make The Perfect Towel

Most people only think about their towels when it’s time for them to be washed, but for Takashi Shinto they’re the reason he gets up in the morning. As the owner of Shinto Towel, he balances a reverence for the company his great-great-grandfather started with an eye towards the future. Learn more about one of the newest additions Morihata Collection in our interview with Takashi Shinto.

Green Dream: The Matcha Dalgona

Have you heard about dalgona coffee? By now, you’re sure to have seen this frothy and delicious coffee drink pop up in your social media stream amongst everyone’s pushup challenges and facemask selfies. This creamy, whipped, subtly sweet, and layered butterscotch beauty is having its moment in the limelight; and for good reason - it’s delicious! This recipe was cross-posted to our sister blog, The Rikumo Journal.

A Note About COVID-19

As the world comes to terms with the rapidly changing updates related to the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to take a moment to communicate the measures we here at Morihata International Ltd. Co. are taking to help stem the spread and ensure the safety of everyone we do business with.

In profile: Interview with Kizara's Satoshi Koike

If you’ve ever picked up one of our wooden Kizara memo pads, you probably know they’re very different from the legal pads you’re used to scribbling on. Unlike the usual notebooks, Kizara memo pads contain thin wooden pages shaved directly from blocks of sustainable Japanese pine. Known as kyougi, these traditional wooden sheets were once commonly used to wrap and preserve food in ancient Japan. By that fact alone, it’s become one of our most beloved products. But a Kizara memo pad is more than a cool memo pad; it’s a movement to reclaim the Japanese forest for future generations. Behind its simple design, there’s a long history of craftsmanship and sustainability.  

From the Source: A Day in the Life of a Fifth Generation Tea Farmer

High atop a plateau at the foot of the imposing Kirishima Mountains sits the organic tea garden of the Hayashi family. Since 1897, five generations of tea farmers have managed these fields and pioneered the art of organic tea cultivation. time-consuming endeavor, and as a result, less than one percent of teas are considered organic.By eschewing chemical fertilizers and pesticides, producers like the Hayashi family accept smaller yields in favor of higher quality.