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  Ikiya is a small business dedicated to Japan, and we focus on finding Japanese companies that share our philosophy of trade, centered on quality and sustainability. We are very proud to collaborate with two Osaka-based companies specializing in natural kombu seaweed from Hokkaido and togarashi made with spices grown in Japan. #japanesefood #smallbusiness #japan 1/2

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  Sendai Tanabata Matsuri: the festival of star-crossed lovers Held August 6–8 in Sendai, this is one of Tohoku’s Three Great Festivals. Vibrant paper decorations and streamers fill the streets, celebrating the legendary meeting of the star lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi. Born from a Chinese legend, the festival symbolizes hope and romantic dreams. A breathtaking blend of color, tradition, and celestial wonder. #JapaneseCulture #Tanabata #Matsuri #Summer #Festivals

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  We are on holiday! We have scheduled some toots to talk about Japan and its culture, but we won't be able to reply: enjoy them and see you after #Ferragosto (August 15th)! #Holiday

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  It's summer, and that means it's #Matsuri season! Matsuri are Japan's traditional festivals, full of history and traditions, and they vary from region to region. Deeply rooted in Shintoism, Japan's native religion, they fill Japanese summers with colors and sounds. In the coming days, we'll tell you about the 3 great Tohoku matsuri: ready to discover their secrets? #Japan #JapaneseCulture #Summer #Festivals

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  Did you know Daruma dolls symbolize perseverance in Japan? Their round shape represents Bodhidharma, the Zen founder. Paint one eye when setting a goal, the other when achieved. A reminder: determination leads to success. Read more on our blog https://www.ikiya.it/en/blog/daruma-history-meaning-traditions/ #JapaneseCulture #Daruma #Luck #Japan

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  Dear Fediverse friends, our English website is almost ready! Soon we’ll resume posting about Japanese culture, but first we’d like to ask for your advice: what would you like to see in our e-commerce navigation and online experience? Your feedback is precious! #askfedi

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  Last week, we talked about #Sencha, and today we’re focusing on another green tea: #Bancha. The term bancha refers to both a type of #tea and a category. As a type, it’s an unshaded green tea harvested later in the season (second, third, or fourth flush), made from larger, more mature leaves (from the third leaf down). These leaves are processed like Sencha but result in a tea with larger, crushed leaves and a dull green color. @tea #Japan #TeaLover 1/3

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  Nestled in Biei, #Hokkaido, the Blue Pond (Aoi-ike) is a surreal, milk-blue body of water that looks like something from a dream. Its striking color isn’t natural, it’s the result of aluminum hydroxide particles suspended in the water, a byproduct of erosion control efforts after the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi. The minerals scatter sunlight, creating that mesmerizing turquoise hue, which intensifies on sunny days. A must-see for photographers and nature lovers! #SilentSunday @photography

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  At #Ikiya, in addition to #tea tastings, we also host workshops in collaboration with artists and artisans. This Saturday, we’re welcoming the talented Momo Kanzashi, who will teach the art of tsumami zaiku. What is tsumami zaiku? Tsumami zaiku (つまみ細工 – "the art of pinching") is a traditional technique dating back to the 1600s, still practiced in #Japan today. #JapanCrafts #IkiyaShop #tsumamizaiku #JapaneseCulture 1/4

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  We just received this this stunning ceramic bowl featuring the iconic koi fish motif, crafted in the traditional Mino ware style. Mino ware (美濃焼) is one of Japan’s oldest and most beloved ceramic traditions, originating from Gifu Prefecture. Known for its durability and delicate designs, it’s been cherished since the Momoyama period (16th century). This bowl’s deep blue glaze and playful koi make it a perfect blend of art and function, ideal for serving or displaying! #JapaneseCrafts #Japan

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  #SilentSunday #Japan #Kamakura #travelphoto

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  Every year, #Udine hosts one of the most exciting events for Asian cinema lovers: the Far East Film Festival (#FEFF). For about 15 years, we’ve been proud guests of this incredible celebration of Asian movie productions. Today, Antonella is there for a special Japanese tea tasting, featuring teas and spring sweets straight from #Japan. A perfect blend of tradition and flavor! Have you heard of #FEFF? Have you ever been? Let us know, we’d love to hear your thoughts! ☕🎬 #fareastfilmfestival @tea

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  #Tokoname is more than just a city: it’s one of #Japan ’s six ancient #pottery capitals, where for over a thousand years clay has been shaped by the hands of skilled artisans. This is where tools of exceptional quality are created, pieces we personally select and bring to our shop in #Treviso 1/2 #JapaneseCrafts #handmade

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  Gyokuro is a rare and precious #tea, crafted with expertise and dedication, particularly through the "shading" process, where the plants are grown in the shade for at least three weeks. This results in a tea with unparalleled sweetness and umami, incredibly refined and with a complex aromatic profile. At Ikiya, in addition to importing and selling Japanese products, we organize tastings and events focused on tea and other aspects of Japanese culture. 2/3

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  Ine no Funaya is a small fishing village located in the northern part of the #Kyoto prefecture. In Ine evertything moves slowly, with shops closing at 5PM and no-one around after dinner. If you happen to be in the area, you should visit it, but please remember: Ine is a village where people live and work. Be respectful of its history and let it fill your heart with wonder. #Japan #slowtravel #travel #traveltips #SilentSunday

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  As a small business in a small Italian city, we must rely on internet to let people know about us and about what we do. But we don't have to rely on mainstream social media. Help us reaching people who might like us on #Mastodon and the #Fediverse : boosts are more then appreciated ❤️ #selfpromotion #smallbusiness https://mstdn.business/@ikiya/116211483567962233

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  Produced by the historic Ninshu workshop, they follow the Omuro-yaki style, the predecessor of the more widely known Kyo-yaki, traditional ceramics from #Kyoto. They are designed with everyday use in mind: durable, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe, while still preserving the quality and character of handmade craftsmanship. The selection is personally curated by us, through direct contact and relationships with suppliers in Japan. Do you like them? We immediately fell in love with them! 2/2

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  @Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de if you happen to find it again, try to eat the leaves after you steeped them, adding some soy sauce: they are extremely tasty! And if you want to know more, we're here 😊

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  We would love to hear more from #Mastodon and the #Fediverse ! At Ikiya, we love sharing stories about #Japanese culture, from the origins of our teas and crafts to the traditions behind washoku cuisine. We’d love to bring these conversations to life here too, but we need your help! What would you like us to explore together? Drop your ideas in the replies or boost this toot to spread the word: every suggestion counts! #JapaneseCulture #adviceneeded #tealovers

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  How to recognize real #wasabi 🌿 • Natural color: light, soft green, never bright or artificial • Elegant spiciness: hits the nose without burning the tongue • Complex aroma: vegetal, fresh, slightly sweet • Texture: creamy and fine, never gelatinous or uniform • Rare & unique: higher price reflects its scarcity and quality • Ingredients to watch: horseradish, mustard, or coloring → not authentic Our wasabi 🌿 It contains only pure wasabi, with no horseradish at all. 2/3

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  🌿 A Wild Oolong from Shizuoka’s Mountains 🌿 Discover with us Atsumi Tea Garden’s rare oolong, handcrafted from wild zairai plants in Shizuoka’s misty highlands. Cool nights and morning fog nurture its floral aroma and toasted depth, while Ryota Atsumi’s artisanal touch preserves its untamed essence. This pan-fired first flush (2025) is a sip of the slopes: wild, vibrant, and uniquely #Japanese . We already tasted it and fell in love with it! #Greentea #Japan #Japanesetea #tealovers

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  We are #Ikiya and we are finally on #Mastodon and the #Fediverse ! We are a small #Japanese shop located in Treviso, near Venice, and we focus on bringing to Italy a selection of Japanese teas (such as #matcha), ingredients for your recipes, kimono and haori, handmade pottery and much more. We would like to start leaving mainstream social media for good to connect with our customers in a different way, and this is our first step towards a better communication. Happy to be here! #introduction