Old and New, Japan-style

Today's story: old and new, traditional and modern, antique and contemporary.

Thanks to the Kyoto Art and Antique sale, Mr. Momo was able to acquire a number of lovely antique patinated Buddhas. As the photos demonstrate, the cast iron pieces are intricately detailed and beautifully crafted.

In contrast to the antiquity of the cast iron Buddhas, a new shipment of Tokyo Five tees has arrived - casual, contemporary style with a Japanese flair. The new shirts are dark grey or neutral brown, both of which are perfect for the (someday!) Fall weather.

Momo for Men

Lest we forget 50% of the population, today’s post will feature our newly-arrived men's clothing. Mr. Momo (aka Tom) has chosen some particularly fantastic pieces to herald in the new season.

Momo has received a terrific collection of merino wool and cashmere sweaters and cardigans by New Zealand clothier Rodd & Gunn. Luxuriously soft and built for both comfort and durability, these are a must-have in any winter wardrobe. Here we have a zippered cardigan paired with a shirt made by Montreal-based Report Collection.

Another new shirt by Report Collection is this dark blue plaid. It's versatile enough to be worn casually or with a tie. 

Report Collection is always a classic.

In addition to dapper shirts and sweaters, Momo men have a selection of coats!

First up: a warmup jacket by Bench (layered atop the ever classic Saint James), which features a thin hood rolled and zipped into the collar. Sporty, stylish and functional, all in one sleek package.









Our final Momo Man designer for the day is David Bitton (best known for Buffalo Jeans). Momo has a finely tailored button-up shirt as well as a fitted nylon jacket that has both buttons and a zipper. Notice the smart red detailing on both!

Handsome season-spanning jacket by David Bitton

Happy Monday, everyone!

Heaven-sent Scents

Greetings from Momo!

Today's guests are Fabulous Fragrances for both body and home.

First, from local girl Cory Smith: Sweet Petula soaps. Sumptuous lather and scents, elegantly packaged - these are great for a tiny self-indulgence or as a gift.

Next up is a personal favorite of Momo Girl Angela: Tokyo Milk. This brand features an impressive array of perfumes ranging from delicate florals to sensuous musk. Momo carries both the parfum and the hand creme.

Now on to treats for the Home.

Makana candles smell good enough to eat. These candles are hand-crafted from non-toxic sustainable materials. The scents don't fade over time and they are self-contained in pretty little tins.

If you're looking for a more immediate change in your environment, Momo carries Esteban room sprays and incense - Japanese-inspired and straight from France.
Happy Monday, everyone!

Fall Fashion Fresh From France

Momo has just received the Fall lines from Paris. Cop Copine, Sunlight and Deca - incredibly elegant, yet completely wearable (even for the casual Pacific Northwest).

Here are a few of our favorites, in no particular order:

 Two pieces from Sunlight: a sweet, versatile dress paired with a skirt laden with feminine flounces and ruffles.

Detail of adjustable ruche and skirt.

The dress has a zipper that zips both from the top -and- the bottom, allowing maximum adjustability. In addition, there are buttons on the bottom hem that enable the wearer to change the degree of the ruching.

A richly textured mod dress from Cop-Copine, this features a '60's vibe and playful oversized buttons on the back.

Another dress by Sunlight, this also features a zipper that zips from both top and bottom. Sweet-as-sugar ruffles adorn the chest.

Sunlight and Deca make a perfect couple.

Here is the same dress with a gauzy Deca hoodie layered overtop.

Seasons Change

The days are growing shorter, the nights cooler. Soon the sidewalks of Seattle will be littered with brilliant leaves as autumn encroaches.

Here at Momo we've begun to stock up on some of our favorite fall colors by such designers as Only Hearts, Tabisocks and Prairie Underground. Gold and russet, crimson and plum - all of the shades that evoke the crisp coolness of Fall and the pleasures of hot apple cider, corn mazes, the first crackling fires of the season.

Stop by to peruse saturated wine-red petticoats, dark amethyst tulle tops and chocolate brown leggings as well as new Prairie Underground Cloak Hoodies in mulberry and ink-pot (a deep, delicious purple). Stock up on essentials and stay stylish and cozy this Fall!

Lovely autumnal goodies!

Spam-O-Rama!

Mark your calendars:
Saturday, August 11th from 4pm - 9pm

Japantown will be hosting Nihonmachi Nite! And here at Momo, we will be hosting an extra special, super fun event: Spam-O-Rama! This is our Second Annual Musubi-making Contest.

You may wonder “What is this musubi?” Today is your lucky day, for it is the day of Musubi 101.

First, the ingredients: a typical musubi will consist of Spam, sushi rice, furikake (those tasty sweet/salty sprinkles you often see in Japanese restaurants) and nori. A slice of Spam is fried, often with a splash of teriyaki sauce, then laid atop a pile of sushi rice that has been dusted with furikake. A strip of nori (dried, roasted seaweed) encircles the whole thing, which is pressed into a Plexiglas cube. This is done to compress the musubi into a condensed, portable “sandwich.”

Here is a musubi press:

And this is musubi:

Here is a little history:  Musubi became wildly popular in Hawaii after WWII. Spam was a staple for the troops stationed there and it soon became commonplace in the local cuisine - although musubi is the form one will usually encounter it in. Indeed, many visitors to Hawaii don’t feel fully initiated until they've sought out a musubi (available virtually everywhere) and eaten it!

So. Now that you know more about musubi...won’t you come to Momo this Saturday evening and partake? Better yet, compete! Regardless, everyone is a winner on Nihonmachi Nite.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a Tower of Spam.

Attention All Musubi Makers

Call foa Entries!
Momo Second Annual Spam-O-Rama
Saturday, August 11

So, you tink you can make moa bettah Spam musubi den Uwajimaya?
Den, go entah our contest during Nihonmachi Nites! Here’s da scoop:
1. Gotta use Spam, rice and nori. Da rest is up to you. 
2. Make at least 3-4 foa judging, and moa for da hungry crowd.
3. Drop ’em by ready to eat by 4:00 pm on Saturday.
4. Let Lei Ann know you going entah: 206.329.4736
or lala@momoseattle.com.

We like you have fun, tink out-of-da-musubi-maker!

Oh, Obi

Obis (which literally translates into “sash”) are a quintessential component of traditional Japanese garb.

Prior to the Edo period, the obi was a simple cord or ribbon sash. But by the end of the 18th century the obi had evolved - quadrupling in width as well as having greatly increased in both complexity and formality.

Some fun factoids about the obi:
There are more than 15 types of obi for women, but only 2 for men.
There are over a dozen different ways to tie an obi.
The colored “belts” that one receives in martial arts are a type of informal obi.

And...you guessed it...we have obis here at Momo! They are truly works of art.

Eyebob Extravaganza!

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, June 23rd Momo will be hosting our second annual Eyebobs Trunk Show. Visit between 1-5 to check out the huge selection of fun, flirty, edgy readers and sunglasses. You will be able to buy a pair on the spot, special order different colors or magnification, or find the perfect frames for prescription lenses! We will have dozens of styles to choose from - what better way to update your look?

Kawaii Kokeshi

Kokeshi dolls originate from the Tohoku region of Northern Japan, an area well-known for its onsen. These handmade wooden dolls are thought to date back to the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867), when Kijiya (woodworkers) began using their woodworking skills to make simple dolls to sell as toys and souvenirs to the hot spring visitors.

There are two major styles of Kokeshi dolls: traditional (dento) and creative (shingata). Momo can supply you with both! Here are some examples of both Traditional and Creative Kokeshi for your viewing pleasure. 

Three Kappa Kokeshi and a Tanuki