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  • Capybara Chopstick Rest from Japan — Kitagawa Misen Kiln, Arita Ware

    capybara chopstick rest relaxing

    A small capybara-shaped chopstick rest,
    holding a pair of chopsticks.

    This capybara-shaped chopstick rest is made by Kitagawa Misen Kiln, a workshop producing Arita ware in Saga Prefecture.

    Design and Details

    Its calm expression brings to mind a capybara soaking in a hot spring — which makes it especially charming.
    The color is soft and subdued, allowing it to pair naturally with both Japanese and Western tableware.

    It is slightly taller than many chopstick rests, but holds chopsticks securely along its back.

    On the Table

    It works well alongside other pieces from the same kiln — placed on a skateboard-shaped rest, or displayed next to bird-shaped ones.It also works nicely as a small decorative object on its own.

    Small pieces like this bring a quiet sense of charm to the table.

    Who These Are For

    A good fit for anyone who enjoys capybaras, anyone looking for a unique Japanese ceramic gift, or anyone who wants to add a small, cheerful presence to the table.

    Where to Buy

    → Rakuten

    I use the gray one.
    The same design is available in beige here:
    →Amazon US

    Key Details

    • Made by Kitagawa Misen Kiln, Saga Prefecture
    • Arita ware
    • Slightly taller than standard chopstick rests
    • Dishwasher safe

    Closing

    Calm, unhurried, and a little bit irresistible.

    → Back to: A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • Japanese Kitchen Tools I Actually Use

    I didn’t build my kitchen all at once.

    Over time, I started choosing tools that felt simple, reliable, and easy to use.

    These are the ones I use most often in my everyday cooking.

    HARIO Glass Food Storage Containers

    I use these for everyday food storage.

    Because they’re made of heat-resistant glass,
    they can go from the refrigerator to the microwave and even be placed directly on the table.

    → Read my full review
    → See the HARIO glass containers

    Cast Iron Frying Pan

    Among the pans I’ve used, this is the one I reach for most often.

    It takes a little getting used to, but over time it becomes easier to handle.

    → Read my full review
    → See the pan I use

    Kamenoko Tawashi

    A traditional Japanese scrubbing brush used for cleaning cookware and vegetables.

    It’s simple, durable, and dries quickly after use.

    It can also be used beyond the kitchen, for cleaning sinks, shoes, or even outdoor surfaces.

    → Read my full review

    → See the Kamenoko tawashi

    → See the donut-shaped tawashi

    Karukaya Tawashi

    I mainly use this for my cast iron pan.

    It doesn’t absorb oil easily, making it suitable for cleaning oily surfaces.

    → Read my full review

    → See the karukaya tawashi

  • Little Bird Chopstick Rests from Japan — Kyosen Kiln, Hasami Ware

    These bird-shaped chopstick rests are made by Kyosen Kiln, a workshop producing Hasami ware in Nagasaki Prefecture.

    Design and Details

    Small and simple, yet they bring a quiet warmth to the table.
    Each piece is handmade, so the colors, expressions, and shapes vary slightly — no two are exactly alike.

    The softly rounded form and the slightly lifted tail give each bird a light, cheerful presence.

    How to Use

    Chopsticks rest along the bird’s back, supported at the base of the tail.
    They also work nicely with a small fork at teatime — something about a little bird holding a fork feels unexpectedly heartwarming.

    Lovely on their own, but placing a few together creates a small, quiet scene at the table.

    Who These Are For

    A good fit for anyone who loves birds, anyone who enjoys handmade ceramics with subtle variation, or anyone looking for a gentle, cheerful gift from Japan.

    little bird chopstick rest ceramic

    Where to Buy

    Hasami Ware Bird Chopstick Rest
    → Amazon Japan: Blue / Pink / Brown
    → Rakuten (Blue / Pink / White)

    Key Details

    • Made by Kyocen Kiln, Nagasaki Prefecture
    • Hasami ware
    • Colors: light blue, white, pink, brown, yellow
    • Each piece varies slightly in color, expression, and shape

    Closing

    A small thing, but it softens the table somehow.

  • Coffee Bean Chopstick Rests from Japan (Mino Ware)

    These chopstick rests are shaped like coffee beans.
    They are made of Mino ware, a type of pottery produced in Gifu Prefecture.

    Design and Details

    Two beans sit side by side as one piece, with a small groove between them where chopsticks or a fork can rest.
    They come in three colors — brown, light brown, and cream — each evoking a different stage of the roasting process.
    Simple in form, yet they carry a small moment of humor and warmth.

    How I Use Them

    I often reach for these during a small afternoon coffee break. Placing them beside a coffee cup adds a small, playful touch to the table.

    Who These Are For

    A good fit for anyone who loves coffee, anyone looking for a small and playful Japanese ceramic gift, or anyone who enjoys adding a little personality to the table.

    Where to Buy

    Available on Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Mino ware, Gifu Prefecture
    • Size: approx. 2 × 3.8 × 1.5 cm (H)
    • Single piece: two beans joined together
    • Colors: brown, light brown, and cream
    • Chopsticks or fork rest in the groove between the beans

    Closing

    A coffee bean beside a cup of coffee. Small, but it fits.

    → Back to: A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • Glass Chopstick Rests from Japan

    transparent glass chopstick rest

    Glass chopstick rests have a different kind of charm compared to ceramic pieces.
    Their transparency adds a light, refreshing feeling to the table. Depending on the angle and the way light passes through, their appearance shifts subtly.
    They are also easy to wash, which makes them practical for everyday use.

    I often use them from spring through summer, choosing designs inspired by seasonal flowers and scenery.

    Seasonal Flowers — Ishizuka Glass

    transparent glass chopstick rest

    Green: kikyo (bellflower) Pink: sakura (cherry blossom) Blue: Yunagi no Sora — a calm evening sky

    From Ishizuka Glass’s Seasonal Flowers series.

    Each piece is inspired by plants across all four seasons — plum and cherry blossoms in spring, morning glory and kikyo in summer, maple leaves and osmanthus in autumn, camellia and nandina in winter.
    When light touches the glass, small flowers and colored specks appear softly within it.

    Where to Buy

    → Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Made by Ishizuka Glass, Gifu Prefecture
    • Glass
    • Designs inspired by seasonal plants across all four seasons

    Yunagi no Sora (Evening Calm Sky) — Aderia / Tsugaru Vidro

    This piece is from Aderia’s Tsugaru Vidro series called Nihon no Iro Fukei (Colors of Japanese Scenery).
    The series expresses seasonal landscapes using small pieces of colored glass embedded within each piece.

    Some of the designs include Spring Hill, Dancing Cherry Blossoms, Summer Fields, Sunflowers, Hydrangea, Evening Calm Sky, Fireflies at Dusk, and Winter Lights.

    Yunagi refers to a quiet moment in the evening when the wind settles and the sea becomes calm.
    The soft blend of pale blue, pink, and a touch of orange reminds me of the sky at summer dusk.

    Though small, it feels like placing a piece of scenery on the table.

    Where to Buy

    → Amazon Japan

    → Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Made by Aderia / Tsugaru Vidro
    • Hand-blown glass with colored glass pieces
    • Series: Nihon no Iro Fukei (Colors of Japanese Scenery)
    • Multiple seasonal designs available

    Closing

    Glass chopstick rests reflect light beautifully — and quietly change with the season.

    → Back to:A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • Aji (Grilled Horse Mackerel) Chopstick Rest from Japan — Ihoshiro Kiln, Mino Ware

    fish chopstick rest japanese style

    A chopstick rest shaped like aji no hiraki — a butterflied, dried horse mackerel commonly eaten in Japan.

    Design and Details

    The golden tones and subtle texture of a grilled fish are carefully recreated in ceramic — realistic enough to add a slightly surreal, playful touch to the table.

    Each piece is shaped and painted by hand without the use of machinery, so the color and details vary slightly from one to another, giving each one a warmth that only handmade work can carry.

    On the Table

    It pairs naturally with Japanese tableware.
    When placed on the table, it almost feels like a small side dish has been added — which is part of what makes it charming.

    Who This Is For

    A good fit for anyone who loves Japanese food culture, anyone looking for a unique and conversation-worthy gift, or anyone who enjoys a quiet sense of humor on the table.

    Where to Buy

    Available on Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Made by Ihoshiro Kiln, Mizunami, Gifu
    • Mino ware, handmade
    • Each piece varies slightly in color and detail

    Ume dashi chazuke — rice with warm broth and pickled plum.

    → Back to:A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • Chicken Wing Chopstick Rest from Japan — Ihoshiro Kiln, Mino Ware

    chicken wing chopstick rest ceramic

    A chopstick rest shaped like a chicken wing, made by Ihoshiro Kiln in Gifu Prefecture.

    Design and Details

    The color and texture resemble grilled chicken skin, recreated in ceramic with surprising detail.
    Each piece is shaped and finished by hand without the use of machinery, so the color and form vary slightly from one to another, giving each one a warmth that only handmade work can carry.

    chicken wing chopstick rest ceramic

    On the Table

    Familiar in form, but slightly unexpected as a chopstick rest — it adds a subtle, playful touch to the table.
    When placed out, it often becomes a small conversation piece.
    It’s the kind of object that brings a quiet smile each time you reach for it.

    Who This Is For

    A good fit for anyone who enjoys unexpected details on the table, anyone looking for a unique and conversation-worthy gift, or anyone who already owns the grilled fish rest and wants to add to it.

    Where to Buy

    Available on Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Made by Ihoshiro Kiln, Mizunami, Gifu
    • Mino ware, handmade
    • Each piece varies slightly in color and form

    Closing

    It looks like it belongs on the plate.
    It ends up beside the chopsticks.

    → Back to:A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • Mayonnaise Chopstick Rest from Japan — Kitagawa Misen Kiln, Arita Ware

    mayonnaise bottle chopstick rest arita ware

    A chopstick rest shaped like a mayonnaise bottle, made by Kitagawa Misen Kiln in Saga Prefecture.

    Design and Details

    Its red cap and soft cream-colored body closely resemble the familiar Kewpie mayonnaise bottle — a staple in Japanese kitchens.
    The shape looks like mayonnaise just squeezed from a bottle, with a gentle curve in the middle.That small indentation makes it easy to rest chopsticks securely.

    Each piece is part of a series that also includes ketchup, okonomiyaki sauce, and tartar sauce designs.

    On the Table

    With its playful appearance, it adds a light and unexpected touch to the table. Though slightly humorous in design, it feels thoughtfully made when used — both practical and playful.

    Who This Is For

    A good fit for anyone who loves Japanese food culture, anyone looking for a humorous and conversation-worthy gift, or anyone who wants to collect the full condiment series.

    Where to Buy

    Available on Amazon US
    → See: Arita Ware Mayonnaise Chopstick Rest

    Key Details

    • Made by Kitagawa Misen Kiln, Saga Prefecture
    • Arita ware
    • Part of a series: ketchup, okonomiyaki sauce, and tartar sauce also available

    Closing

    It looks like it belongs in the fridge.
    It ends up beside the chopsticks.


  • Cat Chopstick Rests from Japan — Kyosen Kiln, Hasami Ware

    cat shaped chopstick rest ceramic

    Small cats resting quietly on the table.

    These cat-shaped chopstick rests are made by Kyosen Kiln, a pottery workshop in Nagasaki.
    They are part of the sen product line, which focuses on everyday objects designed to spark imagination and quiet delight.

    Design and Details

    The series includes two colors — white and a bicolor pattern — each available in five poses.
    The names come from Japanese onomatopoeic words that describe small, cat-like movements.

    The three I have are Mukuri, a cat gently lifting its head, and Poteri, a cat lying on its back with its belly exposed, and Kururi, a cat curled up.
    Other poses include Jirori (quietly staring), and Gorori (rolling over).

    Each piece is handmade, so the color and expression vary slightly — especially the bicolor version, where the glaze tends to bleed softly, giving each cat its own face.

    cat shaped chopstick rest ceramic

    Poteri,” a small cat-shaped chopstick rest with a softly rounded form.

    On the Table

    Slightly larger and heavier than most chopstick rests, which gives them a pleasant, settled presence. They also work nicely as small decorative objects when not in use.

    Who These Are For

    A good fit for anyone who loves cats, anyone looking for a handmade ceramic gift with quiet charm, or anyone who enjoys collecting pieces that bring a soft, playful presence to the table.

    Where to Buy

    Available at sen no STORE → kyosen-nagasaki.stores.jp

    Key Details

    • Made by Kyocen Kiln, Nagasaki Prefecture
    • Hasami ware, handmade
    • Colors: white and bicolor
    • Poses: Mukuri, Kururi, Gorori, Jirori, Poteri
    • Not dishwasher safe

    Closing

    Five poses, two colors. It’s hard to stop at one.

    → Back to:A Guide to Japanese Chopstick Rests

  • A Japanese Light Soy Sauce (Usukuchi) I Use Every Day

    Light soy sauce bottle dispensing one drop at a time

    Dark soy sauce (left) and light soy sauce (right).

    About

    In many Japanese households, koikuchi soy sauce is the standard.
    But in my kitchen, I mostly use usukuchi soy sauce.
    Its lighter color helps keep the ingredients and broth clear, while still adding depth of flavor.

    The one I use is Higashimaru’s Ginshun Hojun Tokusen Marudaizu Usukuchi Soy Sauce, made in western Japan from soybeans, wheat, salt, and rice — all sourced in Japan.

    Flavor

    It has a faint sweetness and a very clean taste.
    Almost like an extension of salt, it enhances the flavor of ingredients without overpowering them.

    Design

    Light soy sauce bottle dispensing one drop at a time

    The bottle dispenses one drop at a time and helps keep air out,
    so the flavor stays fresh until the last drop.

    How I Use It

    One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is with sashimi.
    I mix a little soy sauce with yuzu kosho, dip the fish lightly, and place it on warm rice.
    Wrapped in nori, it becomes a simple meal I never get tired of.

    Where to Buy

    → Amazon Japan

    → Rakuten

    Key Details

    • Made by Higashimaru, western Japan
    • Soybeans, wheat, salt, and rice — all sourced in Japan
    • Drop-dispensing bottle that keeps air out

    Closing

    Nothing fancy.
    Just something I feel comfortable keeping in my kitchen every day.