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1. The History of Japanese Pajamas The history of Japanese pajamas is a story that is as complex and nuanced as the culture that created it. The garment was originally worn by noblemen for their lounging and sleeping needs, but over the centuries, pajamas have evolved in design and purpose. Today, people wear them to sleep, lounge around, or attend to their children’s bedtime rituals. In Japan, pajamas are called yukata or jinbei. Yukaya are always one-piece garments with wide sleeves and are traditionally made from cotton or silk fabrics in bright colors. Yukata are popular for both formal wear...

Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Seeds Germination A prior treatment with Scarification (weakening the hard outer shell) and Stratification (mimicking winter to encourage germination for certain types of seeds)  is recommended for most Sakura (Cherry Blossom) seeds to achieve high germination rate. *Orders will arrive from our greenhouse supplier in protected envelopes. Inside will be a sealed grey package containing your seed packs. The image below is an example of what a delivered order will look like*   Here are the steps for scarification: In the following sections of our guide we refer to hydrogen peroxide to help weaken the outer shell as...

1. What Maneki Neko Means Say "Hello" to Maneki Neko or Lucky Cat or Fortune Cat. This little kitty goes by many names.  Fortune Cat is known as Maneki Neko in Japanese, which means “beckoning cat.” The cat has its paw raised as if it’s waving in good fortune for its owners. In Japan the beckoning motion is different than most Western countries, almost the opposite. Other common monikers include Lucky Cat, Money Cat, Waving Cat and Welcoming Cat. 2. The Legends Behind the Maneki Neko There hasn't been much agreement on exactly how Maneki Neko came into existence. However, most will agree that Lucky Cats first...