Summer's greetings card, Kuchinashi

Since we will start to sell our new series #610 in August, we have just produced summer's greetings card using the same series.

The flower design of this card is gardenia, which we call "kuchinashi" in Japanese.
Don't you think the design look a little bit antique?



In fact, it is one of the vintage designs which was printed by woodblock printing in Meiji period (1868-1912) in Japan.

We were fascinated by the beauty of vintage designs during the period, and produced our new series.(Sorry, kuchinashi design is only for our summer's greetings card, not for sale. We look forward to introducing other pretty designs soon!)

Also, the card is hand made cotton paper produced by a Japanese artisan in Echizen area, where has a 1,000 year-paper-making history in Japan.

It is said that the flower, kuchinashi brings happiness and pleasure!

It's really hot(boiling!) here in Osaka, even though we are still in the rainy season..
During the summer vacation, I have a plan to visit Shikoku area (western Japan) to play in a river.
I'm a bit worried the weather, but I can't wait!

Please enjoy your lovely summer/winter season :)

Maki from Osaka

Tuesday night seminar

Our representative, Mr. Sugiura had a seminar last Tuesday.
The main theme of the seminar was about "how to write a better business letter."
Since the seminar was for business people, he told about the manners of business letter and some useful information such as the history of typography and paper.



Although we have been studying about these histories for a long time, I had learned some new stories through the seminar. It seems the world of letter writing culture is very deep.
(I should study more...!)

We will start some fun workshops in Tokyo store from autumn.
We look forward to introducing the joy of letter ;)

Rumi

Tokyo Style 2009 by Visa card

We are featured as one of design trendsetters in Tokyo by Visa card!





In their website, they introduce some unique stores in Tokyo.

You can check these chic stores here, Tokyo Style 2009.
They are all famous in Japan, and we are so happy that Visa could
choose us with them :)

If you have chance to visit Tokyo, check the Visa website
so that you can get some nice coupons.

Of course, please don't forget to visit Winged Wheel page, too.
Enjoy!

Rumi

July 7th, Tanabata Day!

Hello world :)
It's getting hotter here in Tokyo.
Hot summer is just around the corner!

July 7th is "Tanabata day" in Japan.

We celebrate this day by writing wishes on tanzaku (pieces of paper like Origami), and hanging them on bamboo.
Especially, this event is for children so we can see some tanzaku in preschools and elementary schools.

I fond it at the preschool near my office.
There are some cute wishes:

"I want to be a good baseball player!"
"I want to be a Kamen Rider (a famous cartoon hero in Japan)."



What's your wish for your Tanabata Day??

I cannot choose one since I have many!
Have a wonderful week.

Rumi