For that special Valentine who also loves sushi – what better gift idea than a sushi set that will show how much they are appreciated? Valentine’s Day is a time when you can show a person that is important to you just how much you care. Why not give a gift that will last forever and be a constant reminder of the love you share?

Decorative sushi gift sets can provide the perfect setting for a romantic interlude with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day and enable you to enjoy countless other intimate dinners when you give someone a unique sushi serving set to enrich their décor. Just think how excited that special someone will be when they see the extra effort you have gone to just to make this romantic holiday even more promising!
So make this Valentine’s Day a little different. You could even plan to make sushi together for a fun-filled evening that will be remembered for its originality and your shared enthusiasm for sushi. Imagine sharing in preparing a special feast that says I Love You in other ways besides just sending a card or flowers!

If you are invited for dinner to someone’s home, what better way to say thank you than with one of these exciting sushi gift sets? Find a Valentine’s Day gift that will enhance any décor and in the style that you are looking for. Bringing sushi accessory dishes adds a festive touch that will be truly appreciated by your host – or hostess – and be a memorable gift that will be well received and used often.

Valentine’s Day gifts are meant to be from the heart – so what better way to give a gift from the heart that says that you know what your sweetheart loves and you want to share this special day with them?
Valentine’s Day is February 14 so you shouldn’t delay getting a special sushi dish set for that lucky Valentine in your life. Create the ideal setting for your perfect sushi dinner for two with all the accessories and atmosphere that you need to make it a memorable occasion that you and your lover won’t forget.

About the Author: Cindy Ragognetti is a professional writer serving clients in a wide variety of industries that include artworks, apparel, home décor and gift items, bridal favors and golf carts.

Author: Mike Zamora

In Asian décor in the east and west an item called a Japanese Shoji Screen is used as either a room divider or a form of decoration. A Japanese Shoji Screen is a room divider or door that is made up of rice paper fitted to a wooden frame and are made to be light so as it is easy to move them. These screens can be considered works of art because, as with all Japanese art, these screens were built from the earth’s natural beauty. A Shoji screen was used as doors, room dividers, and as privacy screens. Folding screens, like the Shoji Screen, was first introduced by China around the 8th century A.D. China might have invented folding screens but it was Japan who came up with the most popular variations of these screens and introduced them to western countries.

Japanese Shoji screens come in different sizes and each size may serve a different purpose. The use of the screen determined how many folds the screen had. The following list is some of the different sizes of Shoji Screens and what they were traditionally used for:

• Small, two-fold, Shoji screens: these screens were used for things like tea ceremonies.

• Large, eight-fold, Shoji Screens: These screens may have been used as the back drops during dances.

• Sliding Shoji Screens of all sizes were used for doors and/or windows, so as to conserve space and keep with the simplistic designs.

• All sizes and forms of Shoji Screens were used as room dividers, privacy screens, to separate interior and exterior rooms, and even used so as to see the silhouettes of a garden or plants.

• . These screens were even used during Buddhist ceremonies.

Traditional Japanese Shoji Screens may have had artwork on them, symbolizing the many Asian and/or Japanese traditions, legends, and the history. This artwork was concentrated at the bottom of the screens because it was customary that people would sit on the floor, so, naturally the artwork was at eyelevel. The art was usually hand painted, and detailed, but still minimal in design, because, all of Japanese art revolves around being simple, natural, and calming

Around the 19th century, the western world began to take notice of the Japanese Shoji Screens, thus began the modernization of the screen. As the demand of Shoji Screens grew more people, who were not as skilled in creating screens, started making them in Japan. The Shoji Screens were still elegant and still had the Japanese design, but were becoming more like Chinese screens. Newer materials and more ornate colors are now used to make these screens because the western world is more relaxed when it comes to the decoration of ones home. Japanese Shoji screens are still used as room dividers, but, they are also used to decorate spaces, to hide things, and maybe be used as window covers. The modern form of Shoji Screens are still very light as to allow them to be moved whenever needed.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/japanese-shoji-screens-246989.html

About the Author:

Mike Zamora writes articles about room dividers and privacy screen. Other information and articles published by the writer on the topic of shoji screens can be obtained on the web.

Easy Steps of Making Maki Sushi
By David Urmann

Maki is a famous and favorite Japanese dish. It can be any kind of sushi rolled with rice and nori (also known as seaweed) inside. “Maki” in Japanese means “roll.”

There are many kinds of maki, depending on the filling used. For example, there is California maki. This is salmon and mango rolled in rice and seaweed. Kappa maki is cucumber rolled in rice. And tekka maki is tuna fish rolled in rice.

Uramaki is more complex. Only an expert chef can do it to perfection. The easier ones to make are temaki. Temaki is often served in social gatherings at home.

There are several maki sushi according to thickness of the roll. Hosomaki is the most common and is made of thin rolls. By thin, it means the rolls are slender, with small strips of every ingredient inside. Hosamaki is cut to small sizes before serving.

Thicker rolls are called futomaki. These are thick because of the many ingredients inside. Thick roll can measure 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Most futomaki are made of vegetables like radish and cucumber. Some have eggs also. Like hosamaki, futomaki is also commonly cut to small pieces before serving. However, in big festivals, it is served in whole uncut rolls.

Next, there is also the uramaki, wherein the rice is outside the roll. And temaki is a cone-shaped sushi rice roll.

When making maki, remember to freeze raw fish or seafood first below 4oF to kill any possible pathogens or parasites that may be harmful when consumed.

In making a maki sushi, one should have a sharp knife, and bamboo mat. A rice cooker is optional. It just makes it easier to cook rice. There is a special sushi knife with only one sharpened edge. It is advisable to use this when you can buy one, instead of using an ordinary kitchen knife.

Maki Sushi Recipe

Ingredients:

Sashimi-grade fish or sushi

Nori (thin sheet of seaweed)

Wasabi

Vegetables or other fillings (e.g. asparagus, avocado, cucumber)

Short-grained rice with sticky consistency

Vinegar rice

Gari (thinly sliced ginger roots)

Soy sauce

First make the sushi rice. Prepare the vinegar rice. Combine it with heated salt and sugar. Cook rice, making sure it will have a sticky consistency. It is the suitable type of rice for spreading on the nori.

Lay out the bamboo mat and place a plastic wrap on top. Lay out the nori, with the shinier side facing down. Slightly wet your hands and take a handful of rice. Spread it evenly and thinly on the nori. Leave a margin of half inch on all sides of the nori. Put the other ingredients in the middle.

Next, hold the two ends of the bamboo mat and roll it away from you. Make sure that the food tightens as you roll. Don’t roll too tightly though or the fillings will fall out.

Unfold the bamboo carefully, making sure the rolled food does not break. Place the rolled sushi in a cutting board and slice it evenly to several pieces. Serve it with soy sauce dip on the side.

For more information on Sushi Knives and Sushi Plates [http://www.japanese-sushi.net/index.htm] please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann

http://EzineArticles.com/?Easy-Steps-of-Making-Maki-Sushi&id=1934550

Author: Adam Peters

The history of Japanese art through the ages. How Japanese art was influenced by Chinese and western influences over time.

Japanese art would not be Japanese art without its incredibly beautiful paintings. Japanese paintings took their inspiration from the Chinese style of painting of the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries. This is called the Muromachi period during which the Chinese were trading extensively with Japan, and introducing its art to this island nation. The intricate and exquisite style of the Chinese paintings of this time were very well received by Japanese noblemen, who vied with one another to create beautiful homes full of art and culture. Once this style of painting was firmly established among the nobility, the Japanese themselves started to emulate this style and soon Japanese masterpieces in this same still were being created.

The special qualities of the painters in Japan who followed the Muromachi style was the sense of space that was created, and the the telling of a story. Later, during the period known as the Momoyama, which occurred between 1573 and 1603, the now traditional landscape painting of Japan was developed. These beautiful landscape paintings were created on big screens, so all of the vastness of nature could be seen. It was only during the Edo period form 1603 to 1867 that the now familiar style of adding gold leaf and a mosaic look to the paintings was added. This clearly reflected the western influence that was now being introduced to the orient. Still, a traditional form of art called Ukiyo-e was developed at the same time that seemed almost a throwback to ancient art forms, since it used woodblock to create works of art.

The next important period of Japanese are is considered the Meiji period. During the years from 1868 to 1912, the western influence became more pronounced. Different schools of painting popped up, each with its own unique style. For example, the Suibokuga school used only black ink for their paintings, a reflection of Chinese influence and also very strongly influenced by Zen.

Originally, there was a protest against the Chinese methods of painting using black ink. The Kano school of painting, founded by Kano Masanobu and his son Kano Motonobu was actually a protest against this Chinese influence. As as stark contrast, Kano paintings use bright colors and unusual compositions when compared to the simplistic dark Suibokuga style. The Kano school is said to be the influence for the Ukiyo-e school of design. Another prominent style is the nanga style, popular during the eras called Bunka and Bunsai.

The deft use of space and the simple beauty have long attracted people to Japanese paintings. There is no one medium that a Japanese painter feels compelled to use and they also choose a wide range of subjects such as buildings, landscapes and women.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-incorporate-japanese-design-in-your-home-230306.html

About the Author:
Adam Peters is the journalist of consumer websites, who has written more articles on japanese interior design for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . You can find more information and resources on japanese themed decor at

Kutani Sake Cup Reveals A Fine Blend of Artistry and Artisanship

Beautiful Kutani Japanese sake cup (guinomi in Japanese). Kutani-ware has been produced in Japan for over 300 years within remote villages of the ‘nine valleys’ (Kutani means nine valleys) region of Kaga province in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture (please see map below). Noted for it’s fine brush work and delicate porcelain, Kutani kilns have produced some of Japan’s finest ceramic art through generations of refined production. Though the actual origins of Kutani-ware are uncertain, we know that the kilns of the nine valleys were long supported through the patronage of the powerful Maeda clan who were the hereditary rulers of the region.

About the Featured Item

This splendid Kutani porcelain sake cup features the hand-painted image a woman seated with two men. This sake cup was made during the mid to late Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) and is in poor to fair condition with a large chip at the lip as well as some hairline cracks. There are also some marks, stains and blemishes from handling and age. The cup was acquired in the beautiful and historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji. Click here to see additional high-quality Kutani ceramic items available for purchase from our eBay store The Old Tokaido or click here to see more sake cups!

History
Sake has long been an important part of Japanese culture. In the past, sake was considered a very special item, reserved for only the most important occasions, such as weddings, birth celebrations and other auspicious events. Sake was considered a sacred drink, and accordingly the first glass poured was always offered to the gods before the remainder could be shared among the celebrants. Sake can be served either warm or cold and special sake flasks are used to both prepare and dispense this unique Japanese drink. Sake is warmed either by immersing the flask (already filled with sake of course) into warm water until the desired temperature is reached or through the use of a special sake kettle called a choshi. The latter method however, though common in old Japan, is today usually reserved for ceremonial events only. Over time, sake utensils, such as cups have developed their own ritual significance which is still evident in modern Japan. For example, it is today common at Japanese engagement parties for the man and woman to exchange sake cups as a sign of their mutual intent to marry. Very beautiful sake cups are also given away to celebrate the birth of a child, as these cherished items are considered symbolic of the significance of the new parent-child relationship. Though normally small in size, sake cups and flasks have long been used in Japan as a medium for the expression of art and calligraphy. Hand-painted cups and flasks are highly collectable both within and outside Japan and are eagerly sought after by collectors who value their utilitarian nature and artistic splendor.

Size:
Height: 0.9 inches (2.2 centimeters)
Diameter: 2.2 inches (5.7 centimeters)
Weight: 0.9 ounces (27 grams)

See Additional Sakeware!
See Other Fine-quality Japanese Ceramics!
See More Treasures from Japan!

The Video and Article Provided By: softypapa who maintains The-Old-Tokaido store