Add a Little Spark to Your Life! A Time Capsule from the Taisho Era

Published: January 31, 2017

Excited whispers from the corners. Surreptitious glances from passersby. Admiring smiles from strangers on the street…

You tilt your head, slightly confused. Could they all be looking at…you?

 

 

While such a scene may not be realistic, most of us have daydreamed at least once about living the kind of lifestyle that would bring admiration from others. What if there was a store that could help bring the dream a little bit closer to reality?

 

 

Kanamori-ya, located in Monzen-nakacho, Koto City, has been around since Taisho Year 9 (1920). It was during the stormy 1920’s that a concept known as Taisho Romance was swirling through the Japanese culture, much as the Roaring Twenties was making its mark in the west.

What distinguishes the brief but impressive Taisho Era was the cultural upheaval that swept across the country. Western influences, sweeping in on the tails of the Meiji Era, collided with existing traditions, leaving people abuzz with the excitement of new possibilities.

 

 

In fact, “Western” was pretty much equivalent to “trendy”, and the avant-garde were starting to find new fun and exciting ways of incorporating modern, Western elements into their Eastern lifestyles.

Japanese people called them “high-collar”. I call them “1920’s hipsters”.

 

 

Kanamori-ya honors that creative and expressive aura, and continues to be a modern-day treasure chest for those cherishing the Tasiho Romance style and philosophy.

 

 

“I choose the products carefully, to make sure they fit the atmosphere of the store,” says the owner and shopkeeper, Ms. Kyoko Haga.

 

 

These adorable towelettes and handkerchiefs certainly give off a sense of east-meets-west, from the bold color palette to the Japonesque prints, and carefully embroidered details.

 

 

 

 

The illustrations and postcards which adorn the walls and shelves add a splash of modernity. They’re actually by a famous children’s books illustrator, who is friends with Ms. Kyoko.

 

 

Next to them are handmade, one-of-a-kind bags, courtesy of the illustrator’s mother, who works as a crafter. Look carefully at the pattern… They’re colorful daruma dolls, rolling around like candy! The sturdy fabric coupled with the lovely lace trimming is very endearing.

Imagine going shopping with an adorable eco-bag like this one?

 

 

Coming home to have calming sip of tea with these floral coasters…

 

 

Running a relaxing shower using special Turkish olive-oil infused soaps…

 

 

Even daily preening routines ought to be done with tools that make the process feel a little special!

 

 

Having a beautiful towel like this hanging in the bathroom would certainly be an uplifting sight while going about one’s day. (These towels use gauze fabric on the front to elicit the vivacity of the patterns, and towel-fiber on the reverse side to increase absorption. Brilliant.)

 

 

In other words, I think what Kanamori-ya and the Taisho Era was trying to teach us, is that daily life can become colorful and exciting with a few tweaks♪

So tuck your favorite handkerchief into your one-and-only handbag and let a secretive little smile dance on your lips as you stroll about town, thinking of the little joys that fill your life. There might not be any whispers or spotlights, but I think a “Hey, that’s really cute! Where did you get it?” from a friend is highly possible 😉

 

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One other unique feature of Kanamori-ya, which is a must-check when you swing by for a visit, is their food selection.

 

 

Um, soy milk cookies advertised by adorable hand-drawn bunnies? I’ll take two, please!

 

 

The rice balls (onigiri) pictured above uses only koshi-hikari rice from Niigata (basically the Chanel of the rice world). It comes in five different flavors:

Salt for those who like it simple (100 yen)
Salmon, everyone’s favorite (120 yen)
Pickled plum, sweetened with honey to take the sour edge off (120 yen)
Flavored konbu kelp, a nutritious and traditional filling (120 yen)
And tuna flakes, rich in both aroma and taste (120 yen).

 

 

Ochazuke is a simple and fast Japanese dish, in which a mix of ingredients such as plum, salmon, herbs, and seaweed are served on top of rice, and hot green tea is poured over the whole dish. It’s warm, delicious and easy on the stomach, making it a go-to at busy times, or as a finisher to a meal.

These ochazuke packages make a wonderful (and classy) gift, as the wrapping is actually reusable as a handkerchief/napkin (tenugui), and the little bookmark tied to it says “Thank you.”

 

 

For a guilt-free treat for yourself, look no further than the front showcase of the store. Ms. Kyoko is a certified nutritionist and food advisor, and she puts her knowledge to good use with these homemade chiffon cakes.

The cakes are made using rice flour instead of regular flour, so they’re gluten free! “People have been turning from rice in favor of bread lately, but I want everyone to enjoy Japan’s rice culture more” says Ms. Kyoko.

 

 

I had a slice at home and since I felt inspired by all the loveliness inside Kanamori-ya, I decided that a proper set-up would be best for enjoying this cake.

The texture is dreamily soft, but with a definitive consistency that comes from using rice flour. I can see this being a big hit with fans of both western-style sponge cakes, and eastern-style rice cakes (mochi)!

 

 

Soon, the store plans on selling homemade miso paste, courtesy of Ms. Kyoko’s brother. I’ll have to come back to check it out, though I think I’ll be coming back regardless 🙂

Cute lifestyle goods, lovely accessories, and delicious food perfect for oneself, or as a gift…

“Add a little spark to your life! Fill your days with the things you love, regardless of the times!” I feel like that’s what the Taisho Era—and Ms. Kyoko, through her store—is trying to tell us.

 

 

editor： Xianru Shen （Koto City Office Coordinator for International Relations）