The 2023 JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide
We are back with our annual Japan Culture NYC’s holiday gift guide and this year we are focusing on some of our favorite women-owned businesses!
Nico Neco Zakkaya
263 E. 10th Street, New York 10009
Monday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.; Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
First established as an Etsy shop in 2015, Nico Neco Zakkaya New York’s brick-and-mortar store opened in 2019. Siming, the owner, had previously lived in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kagoshima before moving to New York. She missed aspects of Japanese life, specifically its stationery and zakka, a Japanese word that means “encompassing all things that enhance your home, lifestyle, and appearance.” The word zakkaya in the shop’s name is derived from that because Siming believes that “these small, yet meaningful details can truly elevate your life, create memories, and even spark inspiration.”
This shop carries a range of options for the perfect gifts that are carefully curated and sourced from Japan. They offer everything from stationery to crafting tools to household items such as incense burners and other ceramics. Their selection of stamps, seals, stickers, and washi tape make great stocking stuffers. Nico Neco Zakkaya sells planners and planner supplies, but please act fast as they are quickly selling out for 2024! While there, you can also pick up your gift-wrapping supplies and thank you cards to send after the holiday season.
If you are unable to get to the shop, you can also order online. Be sure to get those orders in as soon as possible to ensure delivery for the holidays.
Images from Nico Neco Zakkaya’s website
M.M. LaFleur
Bryant Park Showroom – 130 W 42nd Street, Floor 13, New York, NY 10036
Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.Upper West Side location – 182A Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023
Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.Upper East Side location – 1225 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10128
Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.
M.M. LaFleur’s founder and CEO Sarah LaFleur teamed up with Miyako Nakamura, former head designer at Zac Posen, to launch the brand in 2013. Their clothing is created around three design principles: functional details, comfort, and style with today’s woman in mind. Known for their high-quality basics, they create polished pieces made for real life by offering features like machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
M.M. Lafleur sells everything from clothing, outerwear, footwear and accessories like jewelry, belts, and cold weather knitwear. Please check out their 2024 gift guide for ideas. Also, check out their calendar of events because there are some upcoming holiday events in stores for the month of December. There’s nothing like breakfast with Mrs. Claus, complimentary hot cocoa, and live music to enhance your shopping experience.
If placing online orders, please see their holiday shipping cut-off dates here.
Images from M.M. LaFleur’s website
Seicho
Online only:
Seicho is a New York-based Japanese calligraphy artist whose name translates to “Quiet Butterfly.” She first picked up a calligraphy brush around the age of six, but her talent grew in college. Studying under Seifu Makino, a well-known master calligrapher in Kyoto, enhanced her skill even further, which led to winning many prizes and having her work exhibited all over Japan. In 1996, she became a master calligrapher herself, and two years later she moved to New York and has shared her talents here ever since.
You can purchase beautiful calligraphy and unique gifts through Seicho’s online shop. She offers five different custom-order calligraphy gifts with names written in both kanji and katakana, including our personal favorite: a custom kanji sake masu! All items come wrapped in beautiful Japanese paper (except decorative envelopes and stickers).
Like all online shopping, we recommend placing your order at your earliest convenience.
Images from Seicho’s Etsy shop
MaKaRi Japanese Antiques and Fine Art
97 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Since 2009 MaKaRi Japanese Antiques and Fine Art has had a shop on Third Avenue that specializes in quality antiques, contemporary art, and housewares from Japan. Owner Yuko Nose, who is originally from Tokyo, has lived and had other businesses in New York for decades. With MaKaRi, she loves mixing contemporary pieces with antiques in her inventory.
The shop offers pottery from various Japanese artists to other housewares such as tea pots, glassware, tenugui, and antique furniture. The website also offers a gift guide as well as digital gift cards, which are always a great gift for the person who is hard to shop for or someone you need to send a gift to outside the NYC area.
Photo from MaKaRi’s website
Atlantic Grace
115 W. 29th Street, Suite 902, New York, NY 10001
Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
One of JapanCulture•NYC’s sponsors is Atlantic Grace, a Japanese esthetic salon, which they call a Japanese relaxation and beauty house. This woman-owned business specializes in Japanese beauty treatments such as painless hair removal, facials, teeth whitening, and face tightening, using state-of-the-art technology from Japan. Their experienced Japanese technicians and estheticians provide safe, gentle, and effective treatments for both women and men.
Book a service or gift a bundled package to your loved one. You deserve a gift this busy holiday season, too, so consider treating yourself to a treatment to help relieve the holiday stress. Check out their holiday special, which offers a bundle of two facial-treatment sessions and one teeth-whitening session.
Photo and graphic courtesy Atlantic Grace
Riverside Wrapping Co.
December pop-up schedule:
Saturday 12/9 - Sunday 12/10 at the Brooklyn Museum from 11:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 12/16 - Sunday 12/17 at the Museum of the City of New York from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 12/16 - Sunday 12/24 at Japan Village for the Niji Holiday Makers Market (Times listed in link)
What started as gift wrapping business in 2022, certified gift wrap coordinator Emi Tachibana’s business has evolved to include handmade jewelry using mizuhiki, the ancient Japanese artform of decorative knots. Born in China and raised in Tokyo, Emi has lived in New York since 2016, perfecting her skills at traditional Japanese crafts. She’s a familiar face who can always be found at various artist pop-up markets in the city throughout the year. Be sure to find her at one of the holiday markets listed above.
Riverside Wrapping Co. is best known for her intricate mizuhiki earrings hand-crafted with modern touches like pearls and delicate chains. From simple knots to cat-shaped mizuhiki and mini flowers hanging from gold chains, check out her selection of earrings that work for many occasions. Emi will be featuring new styles for this holiday season.
During the Riverside Wrapping Co.’s pop-up at the Niji Holiday Makers Market, Emi will have New Year Shimenawa Kazari for sale in collaboration with Heartfish Press. Another local woman-owned business, Heartfish Press is run by artist/graphic designer Hijiri K. Shepherd. Her letterpress studio offers prints and cards along with her recent dried floral designs. These one-of-a-kind Shimenawa Kazari are limited quantity; be sure to pick yours up before they sell out.
If placing orders online from Riverside Wrapping Co., please do so by December 17 for shipping or December 22 for pick up at Japan Village.
Images courtesy Riverside Wrapping Co.
MEINFINITY Kimono Bags
Also available at the Niji Holiday Makers Market, MEINFINITY kimono bags by founder/creator Akiko. What started as a hobby in 2021 developed to an official business this past January. Akiko was first inspired by the way non-Japanese people worldwide wore haori or kimono as jackets styled in a fashionable way instead of the traditional, proper way kimono is worn in Japan. All the bags are made from upcycling vintage kimono and silk obi with straps made from vintage obijime that Akiko carefully sources in Japan. Sourcing vintage kimono fabrics and repurposing them into bags gives the kimono a second life. Often selling at pop-ups in Japan, MEINFINITY made its NYC debut last summer at a previous Nijii Makers Market and is thrilled to return with new designs and silhouettes this holiday season.
At this pop-up, MEINFINITY will be featuring their classic styles like the original silhouette, Square Bag, the Crossbody style, and Phone Bag while debuting the newest silhouette, The Baguette! Each bag is from a different cut from vintage kimono or obi, which means no two bags are exactly alike, making this an exclusive, one-of-a-kind gift. The bags come in a variety of looks from pastels, metallics, and bold large graphics. These bags are the ultimate accessory that combine traditional Japanese kimono with modern fashion, the perfect gift for that accessories lover in your life.
Images courtesy of MEINFINITY
Angel’s Share
45 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until Midnight
The legacy of Angel’s Share continues in a new location and under new ownership. Erina Yoshida, the daughter of Tony Yoshida, who opened the original Angel’s Share in 1993, is at the helm. In 2012 Erina started working with her father and served as COO of Japan Village when it opened in 2018. After the iconic Stuyvesant Street location of Angel’s Share closed in March 2022 due to a rent hike, it had an eight-month pop-up at Midtown’s Hotel Eventi. It was Erina’s idea to reopen Angel’s Share in a new location and to keep the same staff. Determined to do this on her own, she pulled from her own savings and received loans from friends. Searching for the perfect location, she finally found it in a landmark building on Grove Street in Greenwich Village and created this new 65-seat location with some familiar elements. The iconic cherub mural and antique chandeliers recreate Angel Share’s recognizable look.
Well known for its craft cocktails, this incarnation of the acclaimed bar features three of the old favorites from the East Village location along with 24 new cocktails as well as a food menu with small plates. A visit here would make a perfect holiday date. Just in time for the holidays, Angel’s Share is also launching new merchandise such as totes, baseball caps and t-shirts. This merchandise will be available for purchase at the new location, and it’s possible to buy it in the waiting room area without visiting the actual bar. If you have someone in your life who was devastated when Angel’s Share closed in 2022, something from this new merchandise line would be a memorable gift.
Photos courtesy of Erina Yoshida
Bessou
Market 57, Kiosk 9 at 25 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The loose translation of “Bessou” means “home away from home.” Founder Maiko Kyogoku created a menu that allows her to share her family’s Japanese comfort food traditions in reimagined ways. Having grown up in New York in a restaurant-owning family, Maiko has always been familiar with food and hospitality. After spending 15 years running operations for Daniel Boulud, the Bromberg Brothers, and the Thompson Hotel group, she opened Bessou in 2016. Currently Bessou is part of Market 57, a food hall and market curated under the guidance and mentorship of The James Beard Foundation.
Along with the kiosk at Market 57, Bessou has an online shop with a selection of great gift ideas. There’s a Holiday Feast at Home for four people which not only makes an amazing gift, but if you are hosting friends or family over the holidays but don’t want to cook, this would be perfect! There is a Holiday Popcorn Gift Box just launched for this holiday season. It features innovative flavors such as nori crunch, miso caramel corn, shiso sour cream, and soy butter. Other pantry items including furikake, miso marinade, chili oil, and black garlic are sold individually or bundled. For the home chef in your life, the bundled set would be useful. They also sell baseball caps, t-shirts, and totes.
Images from Bessou’s website
Different Roads to Learning
Our final business is not Japanese-related, but it is run by one of the most important women leaders in New York’s Japanese American community. Different Roads to Learning is a company that provides educational resources for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is one of JapanCulture•NYC’s sponsors. Its founder and President, Julie Azuma, is a tour de force who brings people in the Japanese and Japanese American community together.
Julie grew up in Chicago to Issei parents who were incarcerated during World War II. After moving to New York City, Julie worked with Yuri Kochiyama, Michi Weglyn, among others in the Redress Movement in the 1980s. She serves on the boards of multiple nonprofits and organizes many fundraising and networking events, in addition to running her business.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 children in the US has autism. Chances are you may know someone who will benefit from the products that Julie’s company provides.
One of Different Roads to Learning’s newest educational products is the Photorealistic Visual Schedule. With its full-color, photorealistic communication cards, the visual schedule makes tasks and expectations easier to process and is a great tool to help children with autism plan for the New Year. Another educational game is Mighty Mind, which develops creativity and helps children understand visual and spatial relationships. With the purchase of one of these products, Different Roads to Learning will offer free shipping in the Tri-State area.
Images from Different Roads to Learning
We hope our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide has not only given you great ideas for everyone on your holiday gift list but introduced you to a few amazing women-owned local businesses as well. Happy Holidays!
The 2023 JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide was researched and compiled by JCNYC Fashion Editor Jen Green with an assist from Susan McCormac. Follow Jen on Instagram to get year-round inspo.
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Join the Kaede Scavenger Hunt and Search for the One Piece
Kaede Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, November 4 at 9:00 a.m.
Venue given upon registration
Admission: Free
Kaede Kimonos is hosting a special and exciting scavenger hunt throughout the city. They’re calling on all pirates to join, so read their message below and register today!
Message from Kaede Kimonos
Ahoy, New York City! On November 4th, gather your courage and join us for an epic adventure of a lifetime. This ain't your ordinary scavenger hunt – it's a treasure hunt fit for a true pirate!
Whether you're a solo pirate, a captain in search of a loyal crew, or a ready-made crew of three, this is your chance to experience the thrill of the Grand Line right here in the Big Apple.
As a solo pirate, conquer the challenges ahead, unravel mysteries, and claim your victory on your own terms. Embrace the spirit of freedom and cut through the waves of excitement!
Want to be a captain and build your very own crew along the way? Well, fear not, fellow explorer! Gather your “nakama” (that means “friends” in pirate-speak) and choose the captain option. Build your crew as you navigate uncharted territories, bond through teamwork, and unleash your pirate awesomeness!
And for those who are already a powerhouse team of three, set sail together and let your synergy shine! The dynamics of trust, camaraderie, and synchronized attacks will be your key to triumph on this unforgettable treasure hunt.
Expect mind-bending puzzles, cunning riddles, and challenges that will test your mettle. Immerse yourself in the world of One Piece as you uncover clues hidden across the city. This is your chance to step into the shoes of a real pirate and make memories that will last a lifetime!
So, mateys, don your pirate hats, grab your maps, and sign up for the pirate themed scavenger hunt on November 4th. Swords will clash, bounties will be claimed, and legends shall be written!
Head over to our website to secure your spot and choose your pirate path—solo, captain looking for his crew, or three-member crew. Get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime!
Remember, it's not just about the treasure, it's about the journey itself. Mark your calendars, assemble your crew, and prepare for the One Piece scavenger hunt in the heart of New York City. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
But just as a tease the One Piece treasure includes and XBOX S Series bundle and more.
So, are you ready to conquer The Grand Line? Join us on November 4th and let's set sail, New York!
P.S. – Don't let the Marines catch you.
Special Thanks to Senpai Project and Anubis House Productions.
NOTE: We are not affiliated with Toei Animations or Netflix, and this is not an official event put on by them.
Official Rules
All teams (Except Individual Captains), must have a minimum of 2 team members and a maximum of 3 members.
All teams/individuals must complete a waiver form to participate in the Scavenger Hunt.
If you are a minor, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent for you to participate.
Team members must remain together throughout the race and must check in at every checkpoint before and/or after each challenge (unless specified otherwise). You may not split up to “divide” Scavenger Hunt tasks or enlist others to help complete your tasks.
Individuals can add/recruit a team member along the way. Max team is 3. All recruiting must be done before the 5th Challenge.
All teams/individuals must be courteous and respectful to all participants and volunteers.
Each team/individual will be provided with a "Passport." The goal of the scavenger hunt is to complete all challenges and find the final location.
Scavenger Hunt clues are NOT required to be completed in order. However, teams or individuals must have all challenges completed before going to the final location
All teams have 8 hours to complete the race.
All teams must stop and get to the finish area by 6:00 p.m. and turn in team’s passport (full) to a volunteer at the Scavenger Hunt end.
There will be Marines searching for you. If you or a team member is caught. That person or crew will be "locked up" for 30 minutes. You will be able to continue after your release. The Marines will also get all the info you gathered to use to beat you to the end.
To register, please fill out this Google Form or visit Virtual Nippon’s Eventbrite page.
This listing is a paid advertisement on JapanCulture-NYC.com by Kaede Kimonos. If you’re interested in sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please send an email to info@japanculture-nyc.com.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Tech Fluency
by Yvonne Burton, Business Editor
Technological Fluency
That is a mouthful. I call it Tech Fluency.
What is Tech Fluency?
Let me define it by looking at its components.
Technology: Techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives.
Fluency: The quality or condition of being fluent. In addition, it is also defined as the ability to express oneself easily and articulately. It is usually applied to languages.
In this article, I am taking creative license and applying fluency to the language of technology to describe the level of proficiency and/or comfort in using the technological tools and applications that are needed to perform work responsibilities.
Pain Points
Over the course of the past year, I have witnessed the major challenges facing some Japanese companies and their employees when they use existing tools such as MS Teams, WebEx, Slack, and the pandemic-created juggernaut that is Zoom.
The pandemic exposed the seriousness of many Japanese companies’ inadequate technological infrastructure. Not just from hardware and software perspectives, but also proficiency and usage. Part of infrastructure includes people skilled in relevant applications’ functionality and using them to perform job responsibilities and tasks.
Japan has dominated in consumer electronic goods and the auto industry, to name just two, and is “cutting edge in areas such as robotics, supercomputing, and artificial Intelligence. Where there is a need for more widespread growth is in areas that are driven by information technology.”*
A comment I hear from several Japanese managers is, “We need to train Japanese (business) people how to use modern IT tools.” The ability to use modern IT tools to perform at higher levels and efficiency in the course of your work was important pre-pandemic; now it is essential.
Lack of Tech Fluency in workers translates into lost time, ineffective use of resources, lost opportunities, bloated workflows, redundancies, and at the bottom line, loss of money. It can also lead to frustration with oneself (if you’re not “getting” it) or between employees who have varying skill levels.
Tech Fluency is a major part of global business skills.
Why should you pay attention to your Tech Fluency, or the lack thereof?
As the saying goes, technology drives business. Yes, and I think people effectively using technologies drives personal and business success.
In case anyone is wondering, remote/virtual work on a large scale is here to stay.
More and more applications are being created to address business needs. If you are not familiar (or at ease) with working with the current mainstream applications, it will only get more difficult.
Many companies are suffering with issues of security, implementation, training, and general know-how and usage of these tools. IT departments implement tools that are meant to service business needs and streamline workflows, but workers are either not using them at all or lack minimum levels of proficiency. This applies to offices in Japan and their overseas branches. Yes, it takes time to become proficient in these tools, and it should be regarded as an investment that is well worth the ROI. The only way to become proficient is through training and usage.
Companies must implement a strategy to build tech infrastructure that includes training and USAGE.
This is an issue for large Japanese companies as well as medium and small firms. Technology usage can lead to efficient and cost-effective ways of fulfilling workflows. Platforms such as MS Teams can help large companies eliminate redundancies in business operations as well as to communicate across and within branches, departments, and teams. That same technology can help smaller companies automate many functions so that resources’ time can be spent on tasks that are more critical to business success.
The excerpt below is from a blog article I wrote more than ten years ago in relation to Japanese companies and technology, and it still applies today:
Companies need to proactively identify opportunities for system and business process improvement by assessing current and emerging systems/applications for their ability to meet business requirements, saving themselves time and money.”
At the end of last year [2020], I collaborated on a team working with a major Japanese corporation that, at first, was unsure of how virtualized workshops could be as engaging and impactful as past in-person ones. With training and practice to gain familiarity with the applications to be used and redesigning activities using the features of the apps, the workshops were so successful that a large percentage of the feedback we received was “the virtual sessions surpassed the in-person sessions in many ways.”
Still, many Japanese companies are behind in harnessing the power of technology in daily work in comparison to companies in Europe and the United States. One of the contributing factors for this gap is the risk-avoidance policies practiced at many large companies, which impede access and usage of some mainstream applications.
At the employee level, in addition to the anxiety caused by using English (Global English) in business, the discomfort and lack of “articulation” with technological tools will continue to hinder professional development and productivity. This deficit causes many Japanese professionals to lag behind their foreign counterparts, business partners, and clients.
On a larger scale, Japan is facing issues in terms of an aging population, decreasing workforce, and the increasing reliance on revenue growth from outside the country. Effectively using technology is one of the best ways to manage these risks.
It is important to note that there can be issues with just having tech for tech’s sake. The market is flooded with applications, so part of building a good tech infrastructure is to make sure you are selecting the correct tools to address your business’s needs.
One of my workshop participants complained that he was trained in a new application, but he did not know why he should use it when his manual process worked fine. This “usage” component is often missed.
My software development lifecycle analysis experience has taught me the criticality of the define phase in everything. Without understanding of the problem to be solved, the solution reached will not wholly address the problem/need. It is the same when implementing tech tools in your business.
There are often overall best practices given for an application but not RIGHT practices to meet specific needs. There should be clarity around for what the application is needed and the desired impact of using it.
In summary, Tech Fluency is a critical component in doing business and doing business globally. Companies that do not develop proactive plans to improve Tech Fluency overall and within their employee ranks will continue to experience reductions in efficiency, productivity, competitive ability, and ultimately revenue.
Integration with and interaction within the global business community will only continue to rise. The need to increase Tech Fluency levels for both employees and companies is paramount for a company to maintain competitive advantage.
Contact Burton Consulting International to learn more about our Tech Fluency offerings.
* David “Chet” Chetwynd of JMNC Solutions zoominar on “How Japanese Companies Compete Globally.”
Yvonne Burton provides services to Japanese firms operating internationally and companies operating in the Japanese market.
To learn more, please visit burtonconsulting.biz.