KOBO

Friends Mayuri, Ayako, and Yasuko live in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan and met over 30 years ago at temple. Four years ago, a friend taught them how to weave baskets, which they still do today, at their own pace, mainly to keep their hands active and their minds sharp.

These basket bags are woven with coated recycled paper cord and flats. They are lightweight, durable, and quite beautiful, too.

https://koboseattle.com/collections/just-added

Slide 01 Handwoven Basket Bag 18
Slide 02 Jounzan Kyoganji Temple, in Wakayama, Japan, where Mayumi, Ayako and Yasuko attend.
Slide 03 Mayumi-san 👋

”History is delightful. It’s understanding. It’s actually the truth if you do it right, and the truth is progressive. It always is.” - Paul Dorpat

Read about Paul Dorpat, HistoryLink, and Higo Variety Store on our latest news post on our web site https://koboseattle.com/blogs/kobo-news/paul-dorpat-historylink-and-higo-variety-store
 
Photo of Aya and Masa Murakami in Higo Variety Store courtesy of the Wing Luke Museum.


Seattle’s Japantown
HistoryLink
Wing Luke Museum

KOBO Capitol Hill will be closed on Monday, Sept 7, for Labor Day Same for Japantown!

KOBO at Higo, our location in Japantown, will be closed on Sunday, Sept 6, and Monday, Sept 7 in observance of Labor Day!

“I was fortunate to have learned the fundamentals of working with clay from Dennis Staats, my teacher and mentor throughout my high school years. He taught me how to mix clay and glaze; how to construct and consider a pot —the foot, lip, and belly, the interior and exterior spaces; how does a cup feel when you bring it to your lip? Dennis taught me that clay can be an instrument and be formed to express ideas and emotions. Clay=poetry. Clay=life.” -Barb Campbell

Barb Campbell resides and works in Oaxaca, Mexico, and has been a studio potter for over 25 years. Her style is spontaneous, and spirited. KOBO is truly grateful for Barb’s friendship for over 20 years. Her work embodies so much of what we love about art and craft — the intangible made tangible. View her pieces on our web site or in-person at both locations.

Join us for the CID food walk on Saturday August 29th, we will have a pop up from Modern Japanese Cuisine Seattle and Setsuko Pastry and desserts with onigiri and mochi!

Spend a day eating the amazing food and spending time in the beautiful CID at the Seattle’s Chinatown-International District 2026 August CID food walk from 11-4!

One of our favorite things featured at KOBO Seattle is the signature line of Hasami Porcelain.� The Hasami Porcelain line first launched in 2012, showcasing a modern tableware design produced by traditional Japanese production techniques.

Made in Nagasaki in Kyushu, Japan, each piece passes through the hands of various craftspeople, refined to perfection. The texture and forms of each mug, plate and bowls were designed to be combined and stacked interchangeably.

Shop Hasami Porcelain pieces in store or on our website, koboseattle.com

Come hang out with us at KOBO at HIGO during HAI JAPANTOWN

KOBO at HIGO wants to platform our local artists and businesses!

We are proud to present pop-ups from KOTO JELLY COFFEE ™ , あんな ✽ Anna Tono | Seattle Muralist & Illustrator , and MITTEN SWEETS & COFFEE

See our PNW and Japan based artist show “Living with Glass”.

KOBO will also have children’s games, such as KINGYO/NEKO SUKUI (goldfish/cat scooping) and the Hai Japantown Bullseye Challenge! Win a game and a prize in Seattle’s International District.

Come on down to Japantown for good food, fun games, and summer matsuri fun.
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KOBO Seattle
[email protected]