I'm trying to reduce the number of items I buy that are made in China, and lately I've been looking more at Japanese craftsmanship as an alternative.
During a trip there, I stayed in a couple of ryokan, and it was actually the first time I noticed how many everyday items are still locally made — ceramics, handmade fabrics, wooden trays, even small tools.
Has anyone here bought Japanese-made household items or accessories they’d recommend? I'm curious about brands or objects that really show the “not mass-produced” side of Japan.
Any tips appreciated!
Japanese-made items as alternatives to China-made products?
Re: Japanese-made items as alternatives to China-made products?
Great question!
A few years ago, I posted this about Amazon's Made in Japan store.
https://notochina.org/made-in-japan-products-at-amazon/
I was afraid that this would be one of those things that Amazon launched and then abandoned, but almost three years later it looks like it's still going strong. I think the "secret" is that it's not maintained by some low-level Amazon employee in Seattle, but rather it's maintained directly by an official Japanese trade organization whose function is to promote American purchases of Japanese products.
Sadly, Amazon doesn't seem to be giving it a lot of marketing exposure, but at least it's there. Hopefully everyone reading this can spread the word. I've used it to find a ton of authentic Japanese items, from teapots to Japanese snacks to kitchen utensils to stationery, all of which are much, much higher quality than their made in China counterparts. What a lot of people don't realize is that Japan still has a vibrant manufacturing base; it's just that they reserve made in Japan products for domestic customers, while they outsource exports because sadly, too many consumers in America are too clueless to realize the difference.
Take a look, and to everyone reading this, feel free to share some of the 'treasures' you find on this thread!
A few years ago, I posted this about Amazon's Made in Japan store.
https://notochina.org/made-in-japan-products-at-amazon/
I was afraid that this would be one of those things that Amazon launched and then abandoned, but almost three years later it looks like it's still going strong. I think the "secret" is that it's not maintained by some low-level Amazon employee in Seattle, but rather it's maintained directly by an official Japanese trade organization whose function is to promote American purchases of Japanese products.
Sadly, Amazon doesn't seem to be giving it a lot of marketing exposure, but at least it's there. Hopefully everyone reading this can spread the word. I've used it to find a ton of authentic Japanese items, from teapots to Japanese snacks to kitchen utensils to stationery, all of which are much, much higher quality than their made in China counterparts. What a lot of people don't realize is that Japan still has a vibrant manufacturing base; it's just that they reserve made in Japan products for domestic customers, while they outsource exports because sadly, too many consumers in America are too clueless to realize the difference.
Take a look, and to everyone reading this, feel free to share some of the 'treasures' you find on this thread!