Suwada Blog

Tea set with small white cups and a teapot on a wooden table

Japanese Tea Guide: Types, Brewing, Tools & Everyday Culture

A practical guide to Japanese tea: understand Sencha, Gyokuro, Matcha, Hojicha, Genmaicha and Fukamushi, plus brewing variables, Kyusu teapots, filtration and storage.

Kyoto Imperial Palace building and garden in Kyoto, Japan

Fragrance in Heian Japan: Takimono, Scented Clothing and The Tale of Genji

Heian Japan developed a sophisticated fragrance culture around takimono, scented clothing, rooms and correspondence. This guide explores personal blends, the six fragrance themes and the world reflected in The Tale of Genji.

Secateurs: The gardener's most important tool - Suwada1926

Secateurs: The Gardener’s Most Important Tool — A Gift Guide

Buying for a gardener but not sure what secateurs are? This simple guide explains what they do, why they make a thoughtful gift, and how to choose a pair without needing to know much about gardening.

Cutlery Rests: The Best Way to Keep Your Table Elegant and Organized

You’ve spent ages setting the perfect table—your best plates shining, the napkins folded just so, a meal that’s take...

Discovering the Old-School Art of Perfumes and Fragrances with D R Harris

Fragrance is more than just a pleasant aroma—it’s a timeless form of self-expression, a way to capture memories, and...

Japanese secateurs and pruning shears for garden pruning

How to Choose Japanese Secateurs: Size, Blade Shape and Cutting Capacity

A practical guide to choosing Japanese secateurs by pruning task, tool size, blade geometry, steel and model-specific cutting capacity.

Mastering the Art of Bonsai: Essential Japanese Tools Every Enthusiast Needs - Suwada1926

Japanese Bonsai Tools Explained: What Each Tool Does

A practical guide to the bonsai tools beginners actually need, plus what branch cutters, knob cutters, scissors, wire cutters, root cutters, jin pliers and tweezers are designed to do.