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Celebrate Tanabata with Mino Ware: Stars, Wishes, and Summer Flavors

Hello, this is Eri.

July 7th marks Tanabata, a traditional Japanese festival.

It is inspired by a romantic legend where Orihime and Hikoboshi, two lovers separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet only once a year—on this special night.

On Tanabata, people write wishes on colorful paper strips and hang them on bamboo branches. Star-themed decorations also add a festive touch to the celebration.

This occasion also brings seasonal charm to the dining table.

A popular Tanabata dish is somen noodles, arranged to resemble the Milky Way.

These smooth, chilled noodles are perfect for Japan’s humid summer and provide a refreshingly cool treat.

You can garnish the plate with star-shaped carrots or cucumber slices cut like bamboo leaves for a touch of summer flair.

At Miyake Ceramics, we offer tableware that complements the Tanabata season beautifully.

Our star-shaped small bowls are ideal for holding condiments like chopped myoga, ginger, or shiso leaves.

Leaf-shaped plates inspired by bamboo are perfect for serving small appetizers or traditional sweets.

The soba cups with bamboo designs are great for dipping sauce, and the bamboo-leaf chopstick rests subtly add a seasonal accent to the setting.

By reflecting the season in your choice of tableware, your everyday meals can feel a little more special.

Why not celebrate Tanabata night with elegant, refreshing dishes that embrace the spirit of the season?

Prefer to read in Japanese?

 日本語の記事はこちらからどうぞ。

Plate Arrangement Shooting at Kifune

Kifune –  Oroshi, Toki-City, Gifu-Pref., Japan.
The Chef Ito practiced at Tsukiji Sushiko in Tokyo, that is one of the most popular Sushi restaurants, and opened Kifune more than 20 years ago. In the “NO-SEA Prefecture”, GIFU, he carefully selects seafoods at fish markets in Nagoya area according to the customers’ preferences and requests. His cooks ingredients in season with simple and authentic decoration.
Even fishermen and fish dealers admire Chef Ito’s dish.

We have visited him for photo shooting of our new collections, and Mast Ito generously worked with us.
The tableware on the pictures;
C-3055: Mokume Plate Large (Black) with kudzu (Japanese arrowroot) cake and strawberry.
C-3117: Green Rock Face Plate with Nigiri Sushi / Flatfish Sashimi.
C-3020: Gold Kessho Leaf Bowl with Tatami Iwashi and Grilled Fish / Boiled King Crab.
C-3054: Green Leaf Plate Large with Sashimi Platter.
G-0064: Blue Ito Sake Bottle and Cup
C-1483: Gold Uzumaki Plate with Raw Oysters.
C-3050: Arita Cocoon Teapot and Cup

Other items on the pictures are also available at Miyake Ceramics.
We hope you got some idea of how to decorate Japanese plates.

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