A photograph captures traditional Japanese summer items on a wooden veranda, featuring a glass wind chime, bamboo blinds, and a reed screen against a green garden backdrop.
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Traditional Japanese Summer Cooling Items: Natural Ways to Stay Cool Without AC

Timeless Ways to Stay Cool in the Heat of Japan’s Summer Summers in Japan are hot and humid, often making it difficult to stay comfortable. To beat the heat, the Japanese have long developed clever, natural ways to stay cool—known collectively as “ryō” (涼), or coolness. In this article, we’ll introduce some traditional Japanese items…

Hands weaving a small basket with colorful Japanese craft paper bands, glue, and tools on a table
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Colorful Creations: Exploring the Enchanting World of Japanese Craft Paper Band.

Introduction: Discovering Craft Band Have you ever heard of craft band weaving? It’s a popular DIY trend among Japanese crafters, using flat, paper-based bands made from recycled materials. Known locally as “Craft Band” or “Eco Craft,” this unique art form is gradually gaining attention abroad under terms like paper band weaving or Japanese eco craft….

Handcrafted paper band baskets and accessories displayed on a wooden floor, including a two-tone tote bag, small round baskets, an owl-shaped holder, and a matching tissue box cover.
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From Stay-at-Home Mom to Craft Business Pioneer: The Story Behind M’s Factory

How It All Began M’s Factory is now a well-known name across Japan for its colorful craft band creations. But how did it all start? The company’s founder, Hiromi Matsuda, once appeared on a Japanese TV show that featured her inspiring journey. The episode detailed how she built a company that would go on to…