The Journal

Wood, Bamboo or Metal Chopsticks? The Choice That Changes Every Meal

Wood feels warm, bamboo feels light and grippy, and metal offers lasting durability. Compare comfort, care, food pairing and craftsmanship to find the chopsticks that suit your table.

Chinese Seals Explained: The Art, History and Meaning of Yìnzhāng

Discover the history, symbolism and craftsmanship of Chinese seals (yìnzhāng), from seal script and carving styles to materials, personalization, use and care.

Ultimate Guide to Chinese Mahjong: Rules, Tiles, Setup and How to Play

There is a sound that belongs unmistakably to Mahjong. A hundred tiles tumble face-down across a tabletop, clicking against one another as four pairs of hands sweep them into the center. Walls rise...

What Size Ramen Bowl Do You Need? The Home Cook’s No-Guesswork Guide

Buying a ramen bowl should be simple. Then you start shopping. One bowl is 32 oz. Another is 40 oz. A third is 50 oz. Some sellers give only the diameter. Others describe a bowl as “large” without ...

The Right Whisky Glass for Every Pour: Bourbon, Scotch and Japanese Whisky

Amber whisky catches the light differently in every glass. In a narrow tasting glass, the spirit gathers beneath a tapered rim, bringing malt, fruit, smoke and oak closer to the nose. In a broad tu...

Edo Kiriko vs. Crystal: Why Japanese Cut Glass Catches Light Differently

Place an Edo Kiriko whisky glass beside a window and turn it slowly. A cut that appeared dark a moment ago flashes white. A field of fine lines sharpens, then almost disappears. Where an artisan ha...

How to Choose a Japanese Sake Set: Cups, Carafes and Rituals Explained

Choosing a Japanese sake set is less about finding the most elaborate matching set and more about choosing vessels that suit how you actually drink sake. For most first-time buyers, the best starti...

Gaiwan vs. Teapot: Which One Makes Better Tea? The Complete Buyer’s and Brewing Guide

There is a particular beauty in preparing tea with almost nothing between the leaf and the hand. A Gaiwan offers a bowl, a lid, and complete visibility. A teapot encloses the leaves within a carefu...

Gaiwan: The Definitive Guide to China’s Most Elegant Tea Vessel

Three pieces of porcelain rest upon a tea table: a bowl, a lid and a saucer. There is no handle. No spout. No built-in filter. Nothing appears mechanically complicated. Yet in practiced hands, this...

Your First Sake Set: How to Choose One You’ll Actually Love Using

A beautiful sake set can be surprisingly easy to admire—and surprisingly difficult to choose. One set may feature a slender porcelain flask painted with cobalt-blue blossoms. Another may be formed ...