Where two days are never the same. Each product at Dream of Japan is a tapestry of untold tales and their creations, of who, how, and where, and the threads that weave them together. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of your interests, we hope and believe that you will find information that is helpful, sparks curiosity, fosters discussions, and leaves you with plenty of food for thought. We firmly believe that every artisan product has stories that will unfold in the Receiver's hands. These narratives inspire us to create and share meaningful stories daily.
Let's create stories together.
Discover how Japanese coffee masters blend tradition and innovation—delicious recipes, rare roasts, and brewing secrets you won’t find anywhere else. Dive in!
We had an amazing time at LB Sake Day 2025—sake, history, and surprise tastings at our booth! 🍶🍵Catch the highlights and get ready for 2026 →
Relive Coffee Fest LA 2025! From Balmuda’s design brilliance to our jazz kissa booth vibe, tastings, and award-winning matcha—see what made it unforgettable.
Discover the story and design behind our new pink Benifūki Allergy Relief Tea Bag package—crafted by Miki Pon and inspired by the tea’s unique heritage.
Discover how Japanese coffee culture blends artistry, tradition, and precision—from vintage kissaten to cutting‑edge third‑wave cafes. Intrigued?
Beat the heat with easy, homemade Peppermint Green Tea Ice Cream Sandwiches! Featuring Tokyo Peppermint, this fun treat is cool, creamy, and bursting with flavor.
Meet Tokyo Peppermint & Yokohama Peach! Sweet teas meet bold design by our Chief Design Officer, Miki Pon—get the behind-the-scene story and interview of Miki
Uncover the legacy behind Japan and Thai`s finest blades—crafted with centuries‑old secrets and passion. Discover each unique journey... Read on to start your journey!
Watch a recap video from July 19 2025 MAUM Market at The Enclave in Torrance! Thank you to everyone who stopped by!
A Japanese-inspired campground on the Oregon coast redefines camping with forest spas, gourmet cafés, and soulful fireside moments. This is nature, elevated.
Discover how Kiriko Made, a Portland gem blending Japanese heritage and craft culture, now features our premium green teas in their shop & new kitchen shop, Kokoro!
We were back at MAUM Market at OCMA on June 29 2025! Thank you for everyone stopped by! Check out a short recap video of the event.
Learn about cutting, trimming, & pruning techniques at Japanese tea farms. These practices promote healthy growth & high-quality tea leaves. From shading to harvesting, discover the secrets behind delicious green...
Japanese Single Bevel vs. Chinese Cai Dao: Which blade reigns supreme? We compare sharpness, strength, and style to help you pick the right kitchen companion.
Immerse in Japan’s tea ceremonies! Discover how elegant flower arrangements entwine tradition and aesthetics, creating a serene harmony of beauty and ritual.
We were privileged to be invited by Balmuda's Private MoonKettle Launch Event. Here are videos of it and everything you need to know about the new MoonKettle!
We had fun time at Bread and Salt in San Diego for a summer market filled with vinyl, yakitori, green tea, and Japanese vibes!
Curious about Japanese tea? Watch my candid livestream with tea blogger Neldon as we dive into matcha, myths, and winning global tea awards.
Free U.S. shipping now on three of our best whole bean coffees—no minimum! Discover our decaf, light roast, and beloved Hokkaido Blend today.
We were back at MAUM Market—this time at ROW DTLA on May 3, 2025! It was a vibrant day filled with tea, culture, and delightful surprises. Thank you to everyone...
While most of Japan goes on holiday to enjoy spring festivals and travel during Golden Week, a different kind of energy buzzes across the country's tea fields. Find out more...
A guest post from Yoshiharu-san, founder of Japarcana—makers of ultra-soft, absorbent Imabari towels. See how he resets with tea, towels, and tradition.
Our tea & coffee are now in-store at TOIRO in West Hollywood! Discover the donabe lifestyle, explore pairing tips, and try our Genmaicha Chazuke donabe recipe.
We had a wonderful time at Spring Market on April 20 at Homage Brewing in LA! The day was filled with Japanese tea, vinyl records, artisan goods, and more. Entry...
We had an incredible time at OC Japan Fair 2025 at Booth A3! It was a beautiful celebration of Japanese culture with our newest tea releases, live music, and the...
We won all 5 matcha awards at the Global Tea Champion 2025! See behind-the-scenes moments from the World Tea Expo & shop our award-winning ceremonial matcha.
How did coffee become the world’s favorite drink? Discover its origins, legends, and waves of evolution—from ancient Ethiopia to today’s specialty coffee culture.
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Start ShoppingConfused? We made graphs to let you know where all the blade material lives in terms of all the materials used for most Japanese knives in the market today.
I hope the above graph helps you understand what you are picking. (Our product materials are in blue letters.)
Below is another graph showing differences and price and hardness of each material.
And here are the detail of each materials.
Popular options as they do not require heavy maintenance like non-stainless steel options.
CM Stainless (CM合金鋼製)The Most Popular Material
The material of choice for professional chefs. It’s rust-resistant, and in turn easy to maintain. It is made of high-carbon steel with chromium molybdenum. Which is equal in sharpness, sharpening properties, and hardness to carbon steel knives. This material is used for both CM options - the Japanese Style magnolia wood handle and the western style handle.
The More Economical Choice, That Is Still Equally Sharp.
Super French knives are made using carefully selected alloy steel that creates a more affordable price. Making it ideal for at-home cooking enthusiasts and beginners alike. It is equal in sharpness, sharpening properties, polishability, and hardness to carbon steel knives. Plus it is also rust-resistant. The notch in the lower part of the handle creates ease of use. While it isn’t super sharp or hard like the other types, it can do most jobs just as well.
These knives require high maintenance and will rust very easily. They are only used by limited chefs in Japan.
HM Carbon Steel (HM炭素鋼製)The Hardest & Sharpest Knife in Japan.
The knife of choice for top-tier chefs around the world. In fact, it’s the hardest and sharpest knife in Japan - perhaps even the world. However, it also requires the most upkeep as it easily rusts.
It’s handmade with the same technique as samurai swords. Using specially selected blade steel, of pure iron + carbon. The key advantage is that it holds its sharpness extremely well. Then it’s forged with traditional bladesmith techniques passed down for generations. It truly is a legacy knife!
Kasumi Superlative Knives are made by joining a piece of soft iron with a piece of carbon steel. The soft iron portion protects the hardened steel that tends to fracture. This reduces brittleness and makes sharpening easier.
Honyaki knives are made of steel strengthened by quenching. Since quenching the entire steel blade makes the blade brittle and makes aligning its curve difficult, the blade is quenched only from the cutting edge to about the blade's half-point. The high price of Honyaki products is because their production is extremely labor-intensive.
It's not an exact science, but it gives you a good idea of whether or not a knife will suit you.
Here is a chart of what sizes of knives are available based on the blade length.
There are many reasons that home cooks and chefs choose to use a magnolia handle. The foremost is that they're incredibly comfortable and feel perfect in hand. The importance of this can't be understated - a knife that's easier to hold is easier to cut with.
Magnolias are beautiful, large flowering trees that have sweet, floral fragrances. The wood of the Magnolia tree is beloved by Japanese artisans for a number of reasons. Such as its easy workability, strength, and lightness. It is also highly water-resistant, has a lovely bright color, and is reasonably priced. These qualities have made it a popular material choice for a variety of objects, including chopping boards, sheaths, furniture, and knife handles.
Magnolia handles are the most popular in Japan. The bright-colored wood adds a beautiful natural look and comfortable feel. The wood itself is lightweight and soft, yet tough. It provides a textured grip that helps prevent slipping while cutting. It’s a great choice for knives as it is water-resistant and doesn’t contain any resins that might cause corrosion in carbon steel.
Learn More about Magnolia Wooden Handle
For Left Handed knives, we will situate the D-shape in the opposite way than right-handed knives.
Vegan Friendly & Economical
For those concerned about using animal products - we offer a plastic alternative. It’s just as reliable, waterproof, and durable. It is also the standard, free option.
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For an additional $100
Buffalo horn is a waterproof, durable, and natural material pleasing to the eye. It feels especially nice when held. This material is a traditional choice and gives knife handles a classic Japanese look. It also makes the knife 100% natural origin.
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There are many reasons that home cooks and chefs choose to use a magnolia handle. The foremost is that they're incredibly comfortable and feel perfect in hand. The importance of this can't be understated - a knife that's easier to hold is easier to cut with.
Magnolias are beautiful, large flowering trees that have sweet, floral fragrances. The wood of the Magnolia tree is beloved by Japanese artisans for a number of reasons. Such as its easy workability, strength, and lightness. It is also highly water-resistant, has a lovely bright color, and is reasonably priced. These qualities have made it a popular material choice for a variety of objects, including chopping boards, sheaths, furniture, and knife handles.
Magnolia handles are the most popular in Japan. The bright-colored wood adds a beautiful natural look and comfortable feel. The wood itself is lightweight and soft, yet tough. It provides a textured grip that helps prevent slipping while cutting. It’s a great choice for knives as it is water-resistant and doesn’t contain any resins that might cause corrosion in carbon steel.
Learn More about Magnolia Wooden Handle
For Left Handed knives, we will situate the D-shape in the opposite way than right-handed knives.