It’s the season for giving so I wanted to share some of my favorite things that I think would be great gifts for the people you love, especially if they love food, cooking, or Japanese things!
1. Chafinity – Organic Matcha Essentials
Matcha always makes a beautiful gift. It’s both elegant and tasty. Chafinity is my favorite premium matcha brand and their essentials kit has everything to make the best cup of matcha at home.
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1.5. Matcha Bloom – Purity Powder
If you’re looking for matcha that’s a little more affordable or something more simple, I recommend Matcha Bloom’s Purity Powder. It’s some of the best quality at this price point that I’ve tried. The packaging is also beautiful and they have easy “to go” sticks, too!
Use code “SW10” for 10% off your order.
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2. Fellow – Stagg EKG Kettle
This popular electric kettle is one I use daily. It’s perfect for coffee and tea enthusiasts (or people that just like pretty, well-designed products). It has variable temperature control so you can set your water to a specific temperature – perfect for matcha or coffee!
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3. Our Place – Always Pan
Yes, the intriguing Instagram pan. I personally own two and they have been working great for me so far. The versatility of these pans is amazing, which is great for people who are looking to slim down their pot/pan collection or who are just starting to build their kitchen. They are super nonstick, deep enough for stews and boiling pasta, shallow enough to flip eggs, and you can also steam in them. They’re also as pretty in person as they are online.
Use code Sylvia10 for $10 off your order (even on other items!)
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3.5 Our Place – Plates & Bowls
Aside from the Instagram pan, I own Our Place’s Main Plates & Side Bowls, which have grown into my favorite plates & bowls in the house (seriously). The plates and bowls are stackable and the plates are thin so they save a lot of space in the cabinet. They are hand-painted porcelain (and are as beautiful in person as they are in pictures), and while the top is glazed, the bottom is not, which I thought I would hate because I thought they would get damaged easily. After using them for a couple of months, cutting on the plates, and putting them all in the dishwasher a number of times, they actually have held up perfectly (even better than my “normal” plates).
Use code Sylvia10 for $10 off your order.
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4. Daruma (γ γγΎ)
Darumas are round Japanese “dolls” that symbolize perseverance and luck. When you get one, the eyes are blank. Make a wish or set a goal and paint in one eye. Once you reach your goal or wish, paint in the other eye and keep as a reminder of your accomplishments. It’s a great gift as we enter into a hopeful new year.
SHOP RED DARUMA / SHOP BLACK DARUMA
5. Mochi Magic
A fun cookbook all about mochi! From traditional to modern to cute, this book has it all. And the author, Kaori Becker, is a fellow hafu (half-Japanese)!
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6. Kokoro Cares Package
This is a perfect option for someone who loves Japanese food but doesn’t have easy access. Kokoro Cares has a variety of boxes (some subscription-based and some not) that are full of all-natural food products straight from small producers & farms in Japan. The items are always high-quality and a number of items can be used over multiple dishes (like yuzu salt, miso, noodles, etc.) which makes the price more than worth it. The Oshogatsu (New Years) box, which is the January subscription box and arrives at the end of December, is a great gift!
Use code “Sylvia_10” for 10% off any subscription order!
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7. Sake Set with Warmer
I always find sake sets are fantastic gifts (especially when gifted with a bottle of sake). I’ve seen these sake warmers popping up here and there easily and it is such a pretty and unique way to serve sake!
SHOP BLACK SAKE SET / SHOP WHITE SAKE SET
8. Milkbox – DIY Boba Kit
This year is the best year for boba lovers because there are so many DIY boba kits to gift! My favorite is Milkbox. They have a variety of good flavors (each box is enough to make 8 drinks) and with every boba box purchase, they donate a percentage to help feed those in the community in need.
Use code “sylviawakana” for 10% off your order.
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9. Akashi-Kama – Noragi Jacket in Black Wave
Akashi-Kama is a Japanese-American SF Bay-based brand. They use traditional Japanese elements with modern, clean twists to create their beautiful garments, like this Noragi Jacket. I have several pieces from them and love how comfortable the fit is.
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10. Totoro Ceramic Plate/Bowl/Spoon Set
Bring out your inner child with this fun Totoro set! This got a lot of interest when I posted it on my Instagram – and for good reason. Receiving this would make anyone smile.
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10.5. Noritake x Studio Ghibli – Vegetable Series Totoro Plate Set
If you want to gift a Totoro plate set that is a bit more mature, this Noritake set is the perfect one. Noritake is a well-known tableware company that has been around since the 1870s, and their products are delicate but good quality (I own several Noritake x Studio Ghibli mugs as well as a plate set).
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11. Lily & Onyx – Unitea Unimug
Would this list be complete without a mug?! This gorgeous mug (that is amazingly heat-resistant and microwave- & dishwasher-safe) comes in a variety of striking colors and is a nice addition to any table (or mug cupboard, if they’re crazy like me).
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12. Zojirushi – Fish Roaster
This is still one of my favorite appliances! If you know someone missing the built-in fish grills in Japanese kitchens, this is exactly what they need. While it roasts fish to perfection, it’s also versatile and great for veggies, chicken, burgers, etc! Plus, you know it’ll last forever since it’s made by Zojirushi.
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13. Mug Warmer
If you’re gifting someone a mug this year, gift them this mug warmer, too! Whether you’re working in your new home office or from your bed, this keeps your coffee or tea warm all day so you can stay as productive as possible.
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14. Weathering With You (Tenki no Ko) Blu-ray
A great choice for all Your Name fans! Equally stunning artwork and music.
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15. Donabe (Japanese Clay Pot)
Donabe is a traditional earthen Japanese pot that is extremely versatile and can be used for everything from hot pot to making some of the most delicious, fluffy rice ever. It may be a bit of a splurge, but they’re stunning to look at and really, once you have rice from a donabe you might not want to go back to a rice cooker.
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15.5. Kinto – Kakomi Donabe
This is a more modern styled donabe that can be used on an induction stove top as well as with open fire, etc. This one is on my wish list. π
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16. Amelia Haru – 2021 Calender
Amelia Haru is a fellow half-Japanese artist and paints some of the most amazing, whimsical watercolors. Her 2021 monthly calendar is CAT themed this year (what could be better?!) so you have 12 months of beautiful art.
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17. Uprisers – Gaia Tie Dye Set
Know someone who wants to support the community and important causes while lounging around in style at home? Uprisers is a Los Angeles community-driven streetwear brand focused on story-telling for activists and warriors of change. They also helped spearhead the #HateisaVirus campaign. This beautiful tie dye hoodie and pant (which is individually dyed so each pieces is unique), was inspired by the Gidra publication created in 1969 by students at UCLA that eventually became known as the “Voice of the Asian American Movement.” 5% of sales goes to Kosumosu, a program part of the Little Tokyo Service Center that is a transitional facility for survivors of domestic violence. You get a discount if you purchase the set together and each item comes with a Gidra patch that you can iron on anywhere!
SHOP THE HOODIE / SHOP THE PANT
18. Houseplant Homestead – Plants
I’m a sucker for beautiful plants and Houseplant Homestead has a wonderful selection of healthy plants that can be shipped safely and securely (and with eco-friendly packaging!). This small business is Japanese-American owned and donates a percentage of each sale to Rainforest Alliance, with a goal of changing the world one microclimate (your home) at a time. π One more thing – they have PLUMERIAS! Oh, and their pots are fantastic, too!
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Looking for more ideas? Head to my Amazon Shop to see more!
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