The History of Noh

Noh is a classical Japanese performance that originated in the 14th century as a form of entertainment at certain religious festivals.  It combines the elements of dance, drama, music and poetry into one stage art.

Certain masks depict certain expressions:

Tengu: depicted by their long nose, expresses their hatred of arrogance and prejudice.

Hanaya:  a woman, turned into a demon through jealousy and anger.

Okina:  an older male depicted by a long white beard expresses wisdom.

Hyottoko:  depicted by the shape of his puckered lips, blows fire from a bamboo tube and expresses comedy.

Ko-Omote:  a very young woman representing cuteness, youth, and beauty.

To purchase mini Noh Masks please click here!

Our Company

As many may or may not know-our company Tajimi USA Inc., was started in Los Angeles, CA back in Oct 1981.  Now, over 25 years later-we have expanded to our retail stores Utsuwa-No-Yakata and our web site www.tokiusa.com.  Utsuwa-No-Yakata locations have been successful in many different parts of the USA, and Canada, and we even had 2 in London, but sadly our UK location had to close due to area re-development issues.

The mail order department started at www.utsuwa.com back in Oct. 1999, but due to popularity and wanting to expand the site even more, such as with this blog and other features-we have changed to www.tokiusa.com.   The mail order department has wanted to give the opportunity for those not living near any of our retail stores-a chance to also own beautiful Japanese tableware at a great price.  Thanks to our loyal mail order customers, our department has grown and grown and we hope to bring even more to our new site!

So if you are a new customer, or just browsing, you might be shocked at the prices.  Many of our visitors at the stores and web site are surprised, and at first not even believing that the products could not have come all the way from Japan, and being sold at such incredible low prices.  How do we do it?  The major part of it is, is that we purchase in a huge abundance directly from the factories in Japan, AND we have our own import / export company in Japan-so with all of these savings, we pass that right to our customers!  People who come from Japan are even surprised about the prices-how can we sell at almost the same price as they sell in Japan?!  That part is the quantity that we purchase!  Not many retailers in Japan even purchase the quantity that we purchase!  Our company president’s goal was to always get good quality Japanese tableware into the hands of those outside of Japan at a great price.

Now over 25 years later-have we changed?  A little bit perhaps.  We have found many other places to purchase similar quality products, or products not necessarily from Japan but compliment our products as well that we wanted to share.

Mostly everything in our locations are still directly from Japan, aside from a few home decor items and such that we might purchase locally within the USA as well.  Many people are concerned about lead content etc., in tableware, but no one is more concerned about it than us!  After all, we not only sell the product, but we ourselves use them also!  The FDA and Customs are very strict and nothing is released from our containers without their OK.  In actuality, the FDA in Japan is even more strict, so the items that are released with an OK in the USA, are actually quite safe being that they are tested both in Japan as well as in the USA.

So we hope that you enjoy browsing at our stores, or on our web site.  And if you ever have any questions, or requests, please feel free to email customerservice@tokiusa.com anytime!  Thank you and please enjoy our web site and stores!

Printed Catalog?

A Common question we receive is if we have a printed catalog that we can mail out?

Sadly, we do not.  Our product line changes so much, and we get new items so often, we cannot keep up with printing a catalog-usually we get a container from Japan almost every month-so by the time a catalog does get printed-there’s new stuff already!

We do usually have some type of printed seasonal gift items catalog at the end of the year-but it is only to give people an idea of the types of items that we carry.  If there is anything that you are seeking that you cannot find online-

please feel free to send us an email customerservice@tokiusa.com with the following:

Type of item
Color / Design Preference
Quantity
Maximum Price
Date needed by
State shipping to

With the above information-we can narrow down a selection for you-since we are unable to upload every item to our web site, and sometimes we can find other things that are not even in stock at our retail stores-so please feel free to ask anytime, and we would be happy to assist you!

My-Hashi Portable Chopsticks

My - Hashi is the big thing in Japan currently, and increasingly popular here in the USA too!

In today’s world, many people are concerned about lead content, and with items that go directly to the mouth-it is of highest concern.  So people started to bring their own chopsticks with them.

If you have ever been to an “Izakaya” (it is a Japanese “restaurant” but more for drinking and socializing with more of “finger foods and snacks” rather than meals)-you may have noticed that some places have bottles of sake with customer’s names on them.

These are there because the customer purchases the bottle, but keeps the bottle at the Izakaya.  In that sense, there have been restaurants in Japan, that have started the MY-HASHI, where the restaurant keeps the customers’ chopsticks, instead of the sake for the customer!

Of course these are not your every day chopsticks, but more very beautiful, ornate, but most importantly, safe chopsticks AND you’re also helping the environment too by re-using your chopsticks!

So be safe, help the environment, and look stylish all at the same time!

We are pleased to be able to bring you a selection of these right here on our web site!

These are great in that they break down for easy traveling!  These are crafted with such care directly from Japan.  BYOC!  (Bring your own Chopsticks!)

Portable Chopsticks

My-Hashi

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Northern New Jersey

These are some of the places that are products are being used in Northern New Jersey Area!
(sorted by city)

FLIRT SUSHI

140 West Allendale Ave
Allendale, NJ  07401
Tel: 1-866-WE-FLIRT
Web: www.flirtsushi.com

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BATTEN RAMEN

2024 Center Ave.
Ste. J & K
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Tel: 201-461-5465

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Lotus Cafe

450 Hackensack Ave.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Tel: 201-488-7070
Web: www.lotuscafenj.com

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FALLIER INTERNATIONAL FOOD DESIGN

Catering Company

6040 Blvd East Ste 25C
North Bergen, NJ 07093
Tel: 201-854-8616
Web: www.fallierfood.com

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Bamboo House

28 South Broad St.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Tel: 201-447-3111

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Customer Testimonials

Thank you to all of our customers for your testimonials!  We appreciate the kind words very much and make our work more enjoyable to read such comments!  Thank you!

“My experience shopping with Tajimi has been nothing but exceptional.  All of the products that I’ve ordered have always been up to my standards in quality and very reasonably priced.  Ordering Japanese made products, cookware, pottery, etc. with Tajimi is such a pleasure and ease and there is always a Japanese and English speaking customer service representative available for any questions or concerns.  I recommend Tajimi to anyone who is interested in purchasing authentic Japanese made products at a great value.”
-Kinuyo J from Virginia Beach, VA

“I appreciate Toki-usa (Utsuwa-No-Yakata) exisiting in the United States!!!  Especially Mail Order Department.  They are so kind and try to help me in anyway possible.  Of course, Toki-USA’s products are excellent quality.  Thank you for being there for us!!”
-Yumi I. from Charleston, WV

“Several years ago we lived in the East Bay of San Francisco, and often visited the Sunnyvale store to purchase Utsuwa-No-Yakata pieces which we always appreciated.  After we moved to Oklahoma we kept in contact through your web site and sometimes catalogues mailed to us but usually we finalized a purchase by telephone.  We not only enjoyed the unique yet reasonably priced products but I so enjoyed dealing with your people on the telephone.  One lady in particular, I remember her first name is Miuiki (spelling?), was always very helpful making purcahsing most enjoyable.  We look foward to keeping up to date via your new web site.”
-Margie S. from Broken Arrow, OK

“I just received my order, noodle bowl 244-598. This is a present for my 16 year old son, who loves all things manga and ramen. He has complained jokingly a few times about not having a proper “Japanese noodle bowl” to eat his ramen from. So I searched a few sites and found what seemed to be an attractive bowl in his favorite color. I am not in the habit of writing thank-you notes for my purchases, but this bowl is BEAUTIFUL! Honestly, what started out as an inexpensive father-son joke, will probably become a family heirloom. I know he will love it. Thank you.”
-Tony H from New Castle, DE

“Hello.  I am an American woman who lived in Tokyo from 1975-80.  I loved shopping the streets in my neighborhood, going in and out of the various basket, porcelain and pottery shops, and the mingei stores etc.   I collected Mingei and Japanese dishes then and now.  My old collections of dishes made for daily use, in seasonal motifs, are such good reminders of my happy days in Japan.  We use them every day.  I have been a customer of Utsuwa.com for many years.  When I am lonely and “homesick” for Japan, just a visit to utsuwa for “window shopping” makes me feel like I have had a visit to my old Japanese neighborhood in Yoyogi-Uehara in Shibuya.
Utsuwa is where I can find items that are genuinely Japanese, not copies or reproductions.  The inventory is chosen with care and good taste reflecting the charcter of the people I come to love and admire so much.  Utsuwa’s items are based on traditional Japanese shapes, materials and motifs.  They represent quality, honest pricing, and superior craftsmanship.
Welcome to Tokiusa.com and I am sure you will continue the tradition of bringin the beauty of Japanese dinnerware to us all!!”
-Sara B from Knoxville, TN

Photo’s from our Japan Trip

We wanted to share with everyone some photos from Japan.  Most of these are from the factories that make the beautiful creations, and as you can see, alot of handwork and artistry goes into many of the tableware we bring from them to the USA!