Green Tea From Shizuoka

Added on by the ikebana shop.

In Japan, the 3 most famous teas are said to be those produced in Uji (Kyoto), Sayama (Saitama) and Shizuoka. Many years ago, we brought in green tea from Uji, Kyoto. Perhaps, it was only appropriate to start with Uji as it is known as the birth place of Japanese tea; but now, we think our customers are ready to try other green teas produced outside of Uji.

This year we travelled to Shizuoka and visited a local tea fair there. Shizuoka Prefecture is nestled at the foot of the Mt. Fuji. Just like Uji, tea culture is quite prevalant there, even tangible.

Mt. Fuji

Ladies on their way to a tea ceremony.

Many places selling different types/grades of green tea. Also selling all sorts of yokan (a sweet jellied red bean snack that goes well with green tea!)

Different varieties/grades of tea!

Yokan.

It was an educational trip where we saw how green tea is kneaded and rolled after the steaming process. We got to taste different teas as well!

“Massaging” tea leaves after steaming.

Tea tasting!

We introduce to you matcha from Asahina, Shizuoka! Asahina is an area of Shizuoka well-known for high quality matcha and gyokuro. We brought 3 different grades of matcha for you to try: culinary, superior, and premium.

Our Matcha line-up from Asahina, Shizuoka.

We also have a fukamushi (deep-steamed) green tea from Kakegawa, Shizuoka. Please try and compare the difference with our Uji tea! Kakegawa is the area of Shizuoka famous for fukamushi teas!

Kagoyose Fukamushi Tea from Kakegawa, Shizuoka.

The flower from Camellia Sinensis, the tea plant.

We hope to gradually introduce more green tea from Shizuoka. Please try them. We hope you will love them as much as our teas from Uji!

My Ikebana: At Sogetsu HQ Oct-Nov, 2025

Added on by the ikebana shop.

It is always a pleasure to visit and take lessons from the masters at the Sogetsu Headquarters in Tokyo. Flower material is always abundant and sometimes it feels like we have too many choices!

Here are the arrangements I worked on this time around.

27-Oct-2025

This one uses an interesting plant. Gomphocarpus physocarpus, the balloon plant. Japanese name: フウセントウワタ (“fuusentouwata”)

10-Nov-2025

I hope you like them. —Miyako

Shipments To The U.S. Restart

Added on by the ikebana shop.

We are pleased to announce that shipments to the U.S. have resumed.

The order process will be the same as before. However the new U.S. government rules require that the duties based on the current tariff rates be paid before shipment. So when we send you your order quotation, you will see the duties and clearance fees charged by the U.S. government added on to your order total.

Visit the Canada Post webpage for more details on U.S. sending requirements.

Please also note that the rules may change without any prior notice. All we can do is to try to react as best as we can.

Thank you for your understanding.

The 106th Sogetsu Annual Exhibition in Nihombashi

Added on by the ikebana shop.

My sensei gifted me with tickets to the 106th Sogetsu Annual Ikebana Exhibition at the Takashimaya Department Store in Nihombashi, Tokyo. 『花は心』 ”Flowers Are The Heart”.

At the entrance was a huge bamboo installation created by Sogetsu Iemoto Akane Teshigahara. It was like a graceful dance of bamboo, showing speed of movement and yet still elegant.

Here are some more of the beautiful arrangements.

And… how lucky for me to meet Iemoto Akane Teshigara herself! It was an honour!

 

My Ikebana: Autumn Fruiting Plant

Added on by the ikebana shop.

One of my students came back from the Annapolis Valley and brought these wonderful branches for me. We don’t know what they are. They have big, berry-like fruit and very long thorns!

I decided to use only these branches for an arrangement. The changing colours and slight curling of the leaves tell us that autumn is here! The glossy fruit give contrast to the fading hues.

I hope you like it. —Miyako

Shipments To The U.S. Suspended Temporarily

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Updated 6-Nov-2025:
Shipments to the U.S. have resumed. Thank you for your patience.

We love our American friends. And it pains us to make this announcement.

Shipments to the U.S. are temporarily suspended, effective Aug 23rd, 2025.

 
“…the United States has suspended its duty-free “de minimis” threshold of US$800 for all countries, including Canada. Starting August 29, 2025, all shipments entering the U.S. must have duties prepaid before crossing the border - regardless of their value.

This change, mandated under U.S. Executive Order 14324, applies to all business shipments from Canada, whether sent through the postal system, a Canadian courier, freight provider, or any commercial channel….

Goods valued at US$800 or less that are shipped to the United States through the postal network will be subject to an ad valorem duty. This duty will be equal to the effective tariff rate applicable to the product’s country of origin under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). For Canada, the current IEEPA rate is 35% for most goods.”
— Canada Post
 

The tariff will be required to be paid up front with new documentation including a “Declaration ID” to show that the tariff has been paid. We are not entirely sure how to go about this. We do not have the resources to dig deeper to get more clarity. On top of that, we really cannot afford to pay 35% more. To avoid jeopardizing any shipment, we have made the sad decision to suspend U.S. shipments for now.

We look forward to serving our U.S. customers again soon. Thank you for your kind understanding.