Blog

We love compiling our favorite products in the shop for the holidays, every year. If you've been to Umami Mart in Oakland, you'll recognize our fab crew and know that we're always brimming with suggestions – from sakes and whiskies, to finding the perfect gift. Happy Holidays...

We have festive gifts for everyone! JAPANIFY SETFor the Top ChefFor those who love to cook Japanese food at home, or wants to get started. Japanify All Day cookbook zine  Umami Salt No-MSG Dashi Medium Mortar + Pestle Suncraft White Point Paring...

Our best-sellers of the year make perfect stocking stuffers! +++ #10 Penato KnifeThe brass body encases the carbon steel blade, looking sleek in the office or at home #9 Japanify All Day ZineOur self-published...

  Start stuffing those booties on the mantle with our unique, bite-sized gifts. We have something for everyone's stockings!

Melting Mugs and Matcha Bowls by Studio Arhoj are BACK, in new, festive glazes! MELTING MUGSThese playful porcelain mugs look like they're about to melt right onto your table! Hand-cast by Studio Arhoj in...

Yoko and Kayoko fell in love with these Kin Hari glasses when they first saw them in Tokyo over a year ago – and have been dying to import them since. These hand-blown crystal glasses incorporate kin hari (gold leaves). Modern in design, each precious leaf is...

The idea to pop up in Chicago stemmed from a shower thought Kayoko had in early 2018. I got a text message from Kayoko that said "Let's do something in Chicago!" This is how things come into fruition at Umami Mart...

Welcome to the Umami Mart Kids Corner! There are so many hand-made children's toys and nostalgic motifs we come across during our travels in Japan, we couldn't resist making a little spot for them at our store. We've brought in some fun new accessories for children...

Our annual Holiday Gift Guide is here with ideas for everyone – from your hard to please in-laws to your silly office mates. Explore all of gift categories! Under $25 Under $50 Under...

Raw oysters are ranked among my top five favorite foods of all time, and we have pages of blog posts on this subject throughout the years, from around the world. They are packed with nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, potassium, and more....

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! I like a good challenge. I also really like desserts – so when I came up with the theme, "The Great Dessert Challenge," for this...

In November, my donabe (Japanese ceramic pot) gets dusted off and starts working in full gear through April. I use it nearly every week during the cold nights, to bring warm food to the table and get my fill of vegetables, tofu, and meat. I rely on...

As a follow-up to our Sakqueso! event over the summer, we partnered with Ramen Shop yet again for Shochu Happy Hour, a few weeks ago. We had a nice crowd of shochu novices and enthusiasts come out and had a great time talking to folks about shochu, Japan's distilled beverage!...

Last year, my husband Johnny and I took his mom on her first trip to Japan. We had been talking about it for years and we were finally able to make it happen! When planning for the trip, we thought about going on the usual tour of Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto, but I wanted...

Both sencha and hojicha are common teas that you will come across everywhere in Japan. Unlike matcha or gyokuro (shaded green tea), sencha and hojicha are every day teas, poured into cups all day in homes and offices. Sencha vs. Hojicha Sencha, is often simply...

We are lucky to go to Japan every year to visit makers, artisans, breweries, and factories to see where our products are made. On our last trip in April, Yoko and I visited one of Kimura Glass Company's factories, right in the middle of Tokyo. Here's what we saw! Kimura Glass...

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! The current sake trend in Japan is everything fresh and fruity. It's all about the nama-namas, namachozo, namazume, and shiboritate. But we are never ones at Umami Mart...

Did you hear about our Pop-Up at Ace Hotel Chicago October 26-30? We are popping up at Ace Hotel Chicago with our greatest hits, including Japanese bar tools, glassware, ceramics and more. We'll also be having a few events during our stay in the Windy...

The Bricks Tabletop Collection combines modern design with time-tested durability to create a distinctive tabletop setting. Made with special Shigaraki red clay, blended exclusively for this series, the copper-toned trim provides an earthy accent against bold glazes. These versatile porcelain pieces are hand-glazed, and inspired by ancient Japanese wa textures and nostalgic Americana...

Come one, come all, to our upcoming Shochu Happy Hour! at Ramen Shop in Oakland on Saturday October 13th! Discover the wide range of flavors that shochu (Japan's distilled beverage) has to offer, alongside a special menu of crunchy and savory snacks. Try two...