Browsing posts in: Wakalture
7月 09, 2018 1

A traditional Japanese craft, Tsumami-zaiku

Tsumami-zaiku, it’s a traditional Japanese craft using small squared pieces of cloth that is pinched and folded with tweezers. No needles or thread!! It originated about 200 years ago during the Edo period:)
It’s used by Geisha and Maiko as hair accessories and Obi-dome(for kimono).
Now, it’s getting popular for regular uses:)
White Dahlia on my weddingWhite Dahlia

What you can experience at Tsumami-zaiku class?
You make a beautiful flower of either magnet, corsage or hair tie. Hair tie can be a bag charm:)
   
1, Choose your fabric (a special type of fabric called Chirimen). There are various colours so you can pick your favorite colour;)
2, Practice how to fold and glue then give it a try!! It may be a bit tricky at first, but you’ll soon get used to it:)
3, Glue* them together to make a flower and place on the base (magnet, corsage or hair tie).
4, Choose pearls or beads and put it in the middle of flower.
Done!! It takes about 1-1,5 hours.

*There is a traditional way spreading glue on a wooden board and place the clothes that you fold in the glue. At Wakalture, you use different type of glue as it’s easier and quicker:)

Photo frame for friend's marriage Cherry blossom earrings
I got to know about Tsumami-zaiku when I was planing for my wedding!!
As I wore 白無垢(Shiromuku), a kind of Kimono for wedding, I looked for Japanese style hair accessories.
Everything related “wedding” costs a lot  even for a rental lol Then thought about making them by myself!!
Since I like craft, making small things, I really enjoyed making Tsumami-zaiku and started learning more about it.  It’s one of my big hobbies now:) Tsumami-zaiku is very simple but amazing!! All are used squared fabric but different ways to fold so that can be various of flowers such as cherry blossoms, rose, sunflower, crane or golden fish!!
So I set up this new class to share this FUN activity and people get to know about Tsumami-zaiku more as it’s not well-known unfortunately…!!

4月 02, 2018 0

Make Japanese Omelette, Tamagoyaki at Wakalture!!

What is Tamagoyaki??

Have you ever had Tamagoyaki? In English, it’s Japanese omelette, Japanese rolled omelette or egg roll, I think.
The typical egg dish in Japan!! And one of my favorite dish♡
Tamagoyaki is a bento box staple, as well as being a popular sushi topping!!

On the left down, you see the yellow square thing next to the pink one looks like a flower?
That’s Tamagoyaki!! My mum used to put Tamagoyaki in my lunch box almost everyday when I was a student:)
If you’ve ever had bento box, then you sould’ve eaten Tamagoyaki!!

There are several types of Tamagoyaki. It is made by eggs, dashi and sugar or soy sauce. Additionally, sake and mirin are used in some recipes. Also between the layers, many ingredients you could put in like seaweed or spinach etc…
A friend of mine, she makes Tamagoyaki everyday for her husband’s lunch box. She put something different in Tamagoyaki so that he won’t be sick of eating Tamagoyaki everyday!!

Do you want to try to make Tamagoyaki now?
Then Wakalture is the place for that!! 😀
 
At Wakalture, you make 2 kinds of Tamagoyaki, sweet Tamagoyaki and savory Tamagoyaki.
  
Cooking with the long chopsticks (called Saibashi 菜箸) and squared pan:)
We (used to) use chopsticks only for cooking. And the chopsticks are longer than regular chopstick for eating. (For the safety.) To mix egg and other ingredients with the long chopsticks will be fun and new experience for you:)
It might be difficult to roll the egg with long chopsticks but you’ll get better soon!!
And same as Udon making class, if you take this class, then you’ll be able to make Tamagoyaki after returning home♪ It doesn’t need very special ingredients and tools;)

Tamagoyaki making class is an additional activity at Wakalture.
So take either Beginners or Advanced Calligraphy class or one of Udon making class.

*For people who have food allergies* Tamagoyaki is used EGG and Soy sauce. 

Other activities→Activities

To book the Wakalture Experience→Contact
You could also message me on WhatsApp(+81 80 7818 7823) or Facebook, Instagram:)

3月 13, 2018 0

Traditional Japanese Wedding

I just got married the end of last year:)
Then now, I would like to share my wedding ceremony which is very traditional Japanese style!!
These days, Many people prefer western style and actually I did too. But since I lived abroad and got to know our beautiful culture, why not having Japanese style?

The kimono called Shiromuku. There are flying cranes in the back:)

I made all hair accessories and the earrings:) It’s called Tsumami-zaiku.  It’s a traditional Japanese craft made using small squared pieces of cloth that is pinched and folded with tweezers. It originated about 200 years ago during the Edo period!!
You can make it as it will be a new Wakalture’s activity soon:)

I fell in love with this beautiful garden😌💕 Actually I’ve come here for a Wakalture’s event in 2016. But who could imagine that I would come back here again for my wedding!!
Read about the event⇒http://www.wakalture.com/wakalture-joined-an-event-at-chinzanso-hotel/
It was early December so perfect time for 紅葉(kouyou means autumn colour leaves)!! 


After the ceremony, we had reception. During the reception, We change dresses:)
I ordered this wedding cake topper:) It’s the same as our dresses!!
 
Look at my beautiful dress!!

I had busy days for preparing wedding but it became the most memorable day for me:)
Ask me when you come to Wakalture if you would like to see more photos!!

8月 23, 2017 0

Hawaiian Family


This great family came to Wakalture for Udon making and Origami class from Hawaii:D

Their daughter, she is only 11 years old but very talented:)
She knows how to fold some of Origami already and is good at cooking!!
She rolled and cut the Udon noodles by herself almost all!!

What made me happy the most is that they’ve sent me photos from Hawaii.
They made Udon noodle at home again and show me!!:D


The reason I picked Udon noodle for Wakalture’s activity is that it’s easy to make after returning home!! So happy they made it again:D

Here is the review they left for me:)
We talked about Japanese culture I’m glad they still remember!!

“Authentic Udon making and Origami”

While looking for fun and interesting things for my family to do I came across Hub Japan. Hub Japan has locals that want to share the “real” Japan with vistors. this where I found Wakana. Her business Wakalutre, teaches you the authentic way to make udon noodles. Being we had a 11 year old with us it sounded like something exciting and different to do. She loves to cook and when I found that you need to use your feet to knead the udon made it all the more fun. 

Wakana is very pleasant, speaks English well, entertaining and overall easy to talk with. I felt like we were talking to old friend, not someone we just met.

Wakalture is in a residential neighborhood, away from the busy city. It is a short walk from the Okachimachi Station. Google maps takes you right there. 

During the time that we had to let the udon set she taught us how to make various origami pieces. After she cooked the udon we got to eat our creation! She not only just served us the food but explained the reasoning for placing the zaru (bamboo plate) and hashi (chopsticks) a certain way. You even get the recipe so that you can make it at home. My daughter has made it already and it came out great, not mention fun to do. 

After a few hectic days all around Tokyo, it was nice way to relax for 3 hours. Go and visit Wakalture, I’m glad we did.

 
Thank you for choosing and coming to Wakalture!!
7月 21, 2017 0

My first Calligraphy student from German


He’s left Japan already but he was learning Shodo (Japanese Calliraphy) from me these few months.


He first came to Wakalture with his parents and did Beginners Calligraphy.
He’s lived in Tokyo for studying and his parents was visiting him:)
Then he decided to take my lesson once a week!!

Calligraphy is not something like you can get well in a few days. I always explain learning Calligraphy never ends.
So leaning Calligraphy for few months isn’t enough at all. He always said that he understood what I meant but he couldn’t do it. It’s so true!! Even though you know how it should be/ how you should write but you can’t make it if you don’t have enough skills.
However I saw he was certainly improving!! I was sad he’s gained his skills but he was leaving Japan then won’t have time to practice. He won’t lose all the skills but he will do some for sure. I know it as I felt after I came back from Australia and Toronto staying about a year each then didn’t practice Calligraphy.


Anyway!! I’m just glad I could help him to improve his Calligraphy skills:)
And I hope he comes back to Japan in 2 years (it’s his plan!) then see him again!!

At the last lesson, I gave him a present.

Fuku kumo no gotoshi… Fuku is happiness and good luck. Kumo means cloud. I picked this word  as I hope his new life will be lots of happiness like cloud:)

福如雲(福雲の如し)雲のように福が広がっている様。
初めての外国人生徒が日本を離れることになったので、この字をプレゼントしました。
彼の新しい生活にも、雲のようにたくさんの福が訪れますように!
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