After our first retirement from 30 years in post secondary education, we both returned to the Monterey Peninsula in 1998 to open a Japanese import business and retail sales gallery in operation for twelve years. We both went into semi-retirement in 2010 and established our e-commerce site located in downtown Portland, Oregon. We continue our yearly trips to Japan to find the unique and unusual.

Our story collage

"The pure land is the world in which we who are different can truly live together as one" - Shigeshi Wada, shinshoku 神職

Robert

Is Emeritus Professor/ Director of the School of Design within the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Arizona State University, where he directed the Professional programs of Interior Architechture, Industrial Design and Graphic Design. His professional practice is based on Human-Centered Design and its relationship to crafts, interior environments and product design.

Michael

retired from Arizona State University where he was Director of Student Services within the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Mr. Evans’ extensive knowledge and love for “things Japanese” fostered his desire to collect unusual arts and crafts from the islands of Japan. Mr. Evans is the principal researcher and co-author of Kokeshi: Wooden Treasures of Japan.

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