Minimal From Japan

Japan’s Smaller Bath Towels: Sizes, Prices, and the Choice I Didn’t Know I Had

A Japanese phrase for switching to smaller bath towels — what it means, the sizes in cm and inches, what a matched set costs to replace, and why I’m still deciding.

2026.09.21

Around the House

Why I Switched from an Electric Takoyaki Maker to a Gas One (After 10 Years)

After close to ten years with a butane takoyaki maker: why I switched from a cheap electric one, how I store it, and what you can buy in the US.

2026.09.20

Tools That Last

Dry Goods Storage in a Japanese Kitchen: Glass Jars or the Fridge

How dry goods are split between a jar shelf and the fridge in a Japanese kitchen — what goes where, why rice lives in the fridge, and one thing about Le Parfait jars I didn’t know when I bought them.

2026.09.19

Tools That Last

A No-Drill Kitchen Shelf for Renters: 2×4 Tension Posts and a Wall of Glass Jars

A no-drill jar shelf in a rented Japanese kitchen: two 2x4 tension posts, real measurements, how the shelf heights were set, and what to check first.

2026.09.18

Around the House

Hi, I’m Nao.

I live in Yokohama and write about what we eat, the tools I've used for years, and the parts of Japanese traditions that fit into my days.

2026.09.18

About

Slim Trash Cans for Narrow Kitchens: What Japanese Kitchens Actually Use

Four 20L pedal cans in 80cm (31.5in) of floor space. Real measurements from a kitchen in Japan, how to choose by width, and what to do when only one can fits.

2026.09.17

Around the House

Where to Put Wet Towels When There’s Nowhere to Put Them

Used towels need somewhere to wait before laundry day. A four-bar freestanding towel stand in a Japanese washroom — real measurements, and two things the listing doesn’t mention.

2026.09.16

Around the House

Japanese Bathroom and Kitchen Storage: Wet Rooms, Magnets, and What Transfers

Why Japanese bathroom storage relies on magnets and tension rods: you can’t drill a hole in a rental wall here. What transfers to your home, and what doesn’t.

2026.08.31

Around the House

Japanese Closet Storage for Small Homes — and What Doesn’t Travel

Japanese closet storage that works in a 60cm-deep closet — and the pieces that don’t translate to a Western home. Measured in my own apartment, not a showroom.

2026.08.31

Around the House

How to Order From Japan: Buyee vs ZenMarket, and What It Actually Costs

Buyee vs ZenMarket, compared by someone who uses both from inside Japan. Real fees, real timelines, and what each service actually costs you at checkout.

2026.08.31

Where to Buy