Gifts for Japan

[Sportique]

SWMBO (my Japanese wife) and me were booked to visit family in Japan last month, but after the disaster and with the threat of nuclear fallout still possible, we have postponed our trip.

This week's makings are destined for our own home (first pic). I have also made two additional versions of these to be included in a Japan Aid raffle soon to be held locally.

The second pic are items that I had made to take as gifts (felt like taking coals to Newcastle), but we know how much the Japanese people value hand-crafted items.


Critique would be welcomed

Thanks for looking

Dave

 

[woodbloke]

Those gifts look very acceptable to me. We've booked a visit to Japan next year and hopefully (fingers crossed [-o< ) the situation will be much improved...it seams like the nuclear situation is gradually coming under control, but difficult to asses accurately from the press releases. I'll certainly be doing much the same sort of thing as your gifts for our visit - Rob

 

[Blister]

Dave nice work

Can I ask what the wooden books are used for ?

 

[Sportique]

Rob,

Thanks for the comment. If you visit Tokyo I recommend you visit "Tokyo-hands" - this is a large Dept. Store with great selections of woods, plastics, metals, hardware, glues etc etc There is a store in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - both near their relevant stations (probably other locations too).

Allen - the "wooden books" are in fact business card holders - for both carrying and for desk-top use. The one on the left in the pic is in the open mode for desk-top use. (The cover folds right back to form a desk-top holder for business cards, and closes for carrying)

Dave

 

[sometimewoodworker]

Rob,

Thanks for the comment. If you visit Tokyo I recommend you visit "Tokyo-hands" - this is a large Dept. Store with great selections of woods, plastics, metals, hardware, glues etc etc There is a store in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - both near their relevant stations (probably other locations too).
Dave

FWIW The "Tokyu-hands" in Shibuya is the head office store and is quite a bit bigger than the two you mention, though the Ikebukuro store is the one I browse more often.

http://shibuya.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

 

[warrenr]

My sympathies to your wife. The stress of such situations can be terrible.

I was lucky to have left Japan less than a week before this Sendai earthquake having been skiing in Hokkaido. I did however watch the events real time on Japan's NHK TV as they unfolded; it was truly awful.

While I was with friends in Hokkaido there was the NZ quake. One of my friends had two sons living in Christchurch at the time of the NZ quake - luckily both unharmed - and another whose son-in-law was visiting and lost all his baggage in the hotel which collapsed.

Ironically I arrived back in Bangkok from Japan and witin two days we had a 6.9 earthquake in the north which shook my building for about a minute which is pretty rare here.

I have also seen the devastation caused by the great China Tangshan earthquake in the 1960's when I visited Tianjin some years later.

We are lucky in the UK to have only minor quakes as they are terrifying and the impact so great.

Richard
Bangkok

 

[woodbloke]

Rob,

Thanks for the comment. If you visit Tokyo I recommend you visit "Tokyo-hands" - this is a large Dept. Store with great selections of woods, plastics, metals, hardware, glues etc etc There is a store in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - both near their relevant stations (probably other locations too).
Dave

FWIW The "Tokyu-hands" in Shibuya is the head office store and is quite a bit bigger than the two you mention, though the Ikebukuro store is the one I browse more often.

http://shibuya.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

Chaps, many thanks for the recommendations and linkies...appreciated. I've got a vague idea of stuff that I want to look at and buy (chisels and planes maybe :duno: as well as kitchen knives ) though nothing is set in concrete at this stage. As we'll be moving around as part of a tour it's going to be difficult to go to specific shops/stores to browse or buy stuff. We have decided to have a couple of extra days in Tokyo and a few more at the end of the holiday in Kyoto, so if there are any stores that are specific to those areas?...I did intend to call in and see Schtoo but he's off the beaten (tourist) track and has no commercial outlet (strictly cybersales) at the moment.
One thing I have opted for is a visit to a swordsmith to see the making process and take part in it, which I'm really looking forward to - Rob

 

[sometimewoodworker]

:tongue9:

Rob,

Thanks for the comment. If you visit Tokyo I recommend you visit "Tokyo-hands" - this is a large Dept. Store with great selections of woods, plastics, metals, hardware, glues etc etc There is a store in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - both near their relevant stations (probably other locations too).
Dave

FWIW The "Tokyu-hands" in Shibuya is the head office store and is quite a bit bigger than the two you mention, though the Ikebukuro store is the one I browse more often.

http://shibuya.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

Chaps, many thanks for the recommendations and linkies...appreciated. I've got a vague idea of stuff that I want to look at and buy (chisels and planes maybe :duno: as well as kitchen knives )

For kitchen knives (and anything else cooking related including plastic food) you need to go to Kappabashi. One of the best shops is Union Commerce http://www.unioncommerce.co.jp/santokumokue.htm they only have a Japanese site. prices range from about ¥3,000 (£22.00) to the ultimate (and expensive) Noodle cutting Blue Steel Tiger blade Knife at :tongue9: ¥180,000 (£1,338.55) :tongue9: http://www.unioncommerce.co.jp/menkiriaokou.htm

One thing I have opted for is a visit to a swordsmith to see the making process and take part in it, which I'm really looking forward to - Rob

That sound really good

 

[sometimewoodworker]

:tongue9:

Rob,

Thanks for the comment. If you visit Tokyo I recommend you visit "Tokyo-hands" - this is a large Dept. Store with great selections of woods, plastics, metals, hardware, glues etc etc There is a store in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - both near their relevant stations (probably other locations too).
Dave

FWIW The "Tokyu-hands" in Shibuya is the head office store and is quite a bit bigger than the two you mention, though the Ikebukuro store is the one I browse more often.

http://shibuya.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

Chaps, many thanks for the recommendations and linkies...appreciated. I've got a vague idea of stuff that I want to look at and buy (chisels and planes maybe :duno: as well as kitchen knives )

For kitchen knives (and anything else cooking related including plastic food) you need to go to Kappabashi. One of the best shops is Union Commerce http://www.unioncommerce.co.jp/santokumokue.htm they only have a Japanese site. prices range from about ¥3,000 (£22.00) to the ultimate (and expensive) Noodle cutting Blue Steel Tiger blade Knife at :tongue9: ¥180,000 (£1,338.55) :tongue9: http://www.unioncommerce.co.jp/menkiriaokou.htm

One thing I have opted for is a visit to a swordsmith to see the making process and take part in it, which I'm really looking forward to - Rob

That sound really good