Unboxing Japan: Neko Box Subscription Box Review

What is Neko Box?

So I'm fully aware that the title of my blog is Snuggle Bunnies' Skincare, but being the devoted Japanophile I am, it would, quite frankly, be sacrilegious to not talk about my absolute favorite subscription box ever, Neko Box, skincare related or not.

Launched in September 2016, Neko Box (neko translates to cat in Japanese) is a Japanese lifestyle and culture subscription box service run by husband and wife team Carly and Rob.

According to their website, their hand-curated packages are "[u]niquely themed mystery boxes filled with carefully chosen Japanese-made ceramics, stationery, art prints and more. Neko Box is your Japanese friend who knows what you love and sends you gifts every month!" I should also note they ship worldwide.

As it turns out, they're originally from New Zealand, which is pretty neat. Since I don't have express permission to divulge details about their lives or speculate on their motivations, I'll direct you to an interview Rob gave...to his wife. That's just adorable. Maybe even 可愛い?

Yeah? Yeah? :D

Okay, fine. I apologize.

Now, even though they officially launched in September, their first box was the November edition. At this point, I hadn't yet discovered their service, so I totally missed out :( Determined not the make the same mistake again, however, I jumped at the chance to make a fool of myself and beg the team at Neko Box to let me review their December Holiday Box for the love of Totoro and Maneki-neko everywhere. Shockingly, instead of blocking me from their Instagram account, they agreed, and I received the Holiday Edition Box right before the holidays with the stipulation that I post a full and honest review of its contents before Christmas.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic. You can still see my original review of the Holiday Box on Instagram, along with some pictures of other items I've acquired from their online shop, but since then I bought a subscription and have received four more boxes (excluding January because I didn't have the funds at the time), and I think it high time I really do these reviews justice.

So here we go! では、始まりましょう!　

Presentation

Before I get into the specifics of the products included in each box, I want to give you general idea of the packaging presentation. Each box is made of sturdy brown cardboard and is emblazoned with their cute cat logo. Inside, you'll find the items layered on a bed of shredded paper that resembles straw, which I personally think has a charming rustic look to it, and then wrapped in tissue paper, again sealed with their cat logo sticker. As I'll show a bit further down, each box comes with a card containing information about each item found within, what it's called, used for, and even where it came from (unfortunately, I seemed to have misplaced one of the cards, but more on that later). They also include their Kawa Zine - a spiffy informative guide to certain regions and customs of Japan, gorgeously illustrated by artist Rob McMaster.

The Holiday Box

Above is, obviously, a picture of the Holiday Box. I think the simplest way to go about reviewing these boxes is to list the items included within, provide detailed pictures, and elaborate on why each piece is unique, useful, and special. So let's start!

Holiday Box Contents

Daruma (達磨/だるま):

"Daruma are traditional handmade papier-mâché dolls with a 300 year history. Make a holiday wish with your Daruma! Colour in one eye while making your wish. Once the wish has been fulfilled, you can colour in the other eye." - Neko Box

Like maneki-neko (lucky or beckoning cats), Shinto shrines, omamori (protective charms), and tanuki (those...obscene raccoon creatures with the big straw hats), Daruma are one of those iconic symbols of traditional, and mythical, Japanese culture that you've undoubtedly come to recognize, even if you don't understand the significance. The red Daruma included in the Holiday Box was hand-crafted by a group of renowned artisans in Shirakawa, a village in Gifu Prefecture. I deliberately mentioned that the Daruma was red, not just because it's considered auspicious in Eastern cultures, but because they can come in many different colors, and there are some who believe that red Daruma are traditionally used to bring good luck, though this is often disputed.

So what's the story behind the Daruma, and why is it so popular? Well, to answer that question we need to delve a little deeper into the history of the Japanese people and their mindset.

Daruma are often referred to as "wishing dolls," but this is a mischaracterization of the intent behind the figurines. Yes, when one has a wish or desire to be granted, a person will color in one of the eyes of the Daruma (some accounts say it has to be the left eye, while others don't think it really matters), and when the wish is granted, will fill in the remaining eye. But this process is not passive. The simple act of coloring in a Daruma's eye does not grant any wish; rather, it signifies the person's intent to work towards fulfilling his desired goal. In reality, Daruma are a metaphor for determination, perseverance, and the Japanese ganbaru (頑張る/がんばる) attitude: give it all you've got. It's said that's why Daruma have rounded bottoms: no matter how many times they tip over, they always get back up.

Ok, so now we understand what Daruma symbolize, but the question is why? Well, the answer is found in the legend of an Indian sage monk named Bodhidharma (known as Daruma-Daishi in Japan) who lived between the 5th and 6th centuries. Commonly considered the founder of Zen Buddhism, Daruma-Daishi, as the Japanese legend goes, was a bit odd by today's standards, and spent 9 years in meditation staring at a cave wall dressed in red robes. Whatever floats your boat, I guess. Apparently he was so concentrated on reaching enlightenment that his arms and legs eventually just shriveled up from disuse. I'm not an expert, but I'd guess this idea is also partially related to the doll's rounded design.

But wait! There's more. Aside from the symbolism mentioned above, the face of the Daruma is a deliberate design. According to artists, the Daruma's eyebrows are meant to represent cranes, and the mustache and whiskers are allusions to the tortoise because these animals represent longevity. Of course, if I were painting a Daruma face, it wouldn't look anything like a crane or tortoise, so I suggest you choose your Daruma carefully :D

Now, what do I think about the Daruma included in the Holiday Box? I love it! He's approximately 3.5 inches tall and around 3 inches across from the widest point of his midsection. Personally, I think it's a perfect gift to give someone around New Years, especially, since that's when most people tend to form goals and aspirations. It took me a long while to decide on a goal worthy of coloring in my Daruma-san's eye, but as of today, it has been done. Now for the hard work.

*Information pertaining to the design, history, and symbolism of Daruma was collected from outside sources. These are listed below.

- https://www.domodaruma.com/blog/daruma-doll-history-of-japanese-wishing-dolls

- http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/daruma.shtml

- Neko Box Kawa Zine Issue 2

Daruma Stickers:

"These traditonal-style stickers are printed on textured Japanese paper. Use them for decorating cards, gifts and stationay." - Neko Box

So this item is pretty self-explanatory. I will say I think they're lovely. As the pictures above and below hopefully convey, each Daruma has a slightly different appearance and size, some are red and some are gold, and each has a gold sheen that makes them feel quite festive. In all, there are 33 stickers included.

Daruma Print Tenugui (手ぬぐい/てぬぐい):

"This tenugui cloth has a charming Daruma print for extra good luck. Tenugui cloths can be used in a variety of ways including: dishcloth, cleaning cloth, wall hanging, hand towel, wrapping objects, decoration, or as a souvenir." - Neko Box

I love the vibrant red fabric sprinkled with white Daruma figures on this tenugui. It's a slightly course fabric, almost perfectly square, measuring approximately 12 inches by 11 inches. Trust me, I won't be using this to clean anything anytime soon.

Asakusa Christmas Card:

"Gift this traditional Holiday Card to someone special this season. The unique woodblock style will really set this card apart from all the rest!" - Neko Box

Story time! My maternal grandfather had an administrative position in the South Pacific during World War II, and after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he had to march through ground zero to survey the damage. Sadly, many years later, he died from cancer.

Interestingly enough, unlike most people of the time who were in similar situations, my grandfather never felt any contempt for the Japanese, and in fact loved their culture, history, and art. Most likely this adoration stems from his background in art curation for galleries. He would bring home all sorts of jewelry and trinkets from Japan to my grandmother, most of which I still treasure to this day. He also acquired a lovely collection of woodblock prints (which, to my devastation, have since been lost) and traditional art-inspired postcards of women dressed in kimonos against lovely natural backdrops. I never met my grandfather; he passed when my mother was in college, but, lame as it may sound, I've always felt a connection between us. He loved Japanese art; I majored in Japanese. He would bring my mother and her sisters home lovely Asian dolls; I myself now have a non insignificant collection of kokeshi dolls and traditional ornamental geisha dolls. I just think that's kind of cool.

Anyway, more to the point, when I first saw this Christmas card, in its lovely woodblock style, my breath escaped me. Dramatic, I know, but I still haven't unwrapped it and plan to have it framed. And there's a reason why.

Woodblock printing has been used throughout Asia for centuries, but Japanese woodblock printing (木版画, もくはんが) became exceedingly popular during the Edo Period (my favorite time period in history) between 1603–1868 when ukiyo-e (浮世絵) art became popular. There's an immense amount of literature on the subject, and I do not claim to be an expert, but the best explanation I can give is that the ukiyo-e (which means "floating world") style of art became popular among the merchant classes during the 17th to 18th centuries due to relative peace and prosperity the country enjoyed; the merchant class could now afford to visit courtesans, delight in kabuki theater, and enjoy the attention of geisha. In other words, the pleasures of life were within reach, and this is why ukiyo-e focuses on beautiful women, bustling landscapes, and the like.

What's really cool about the Asakusa Christmas Card included in the Holiday Box is that its design is based off a woodblock print by the great, and considered the last, ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重, 1797-1858). Again, there's a plethora of information about Utagawa and his works, which inspired the likes of Van Gogh, so I won't drag on any further, except to say this particular card is inspired by his work Kinryuzan Temple at Asakusa (Asakusa Kinryuzan), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)" from 1856.

That's remarkable, and I don't doubt for a second that Carly and Rob put an incredible amount of thought into choosing which card to include in the box. And I sincerely appreciate it.

*Information pertaining to the woodblock printing, ukiyo-e art, and Utagawa Hiroshige was collected from outside sources. These are listed below.

- http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/34153/print

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshige

Two Minoyaki Sake Cups:

"Get together with friends and family to drink some sake this holiday season! Made in Gifu prefecture, these sake cups are in the Minoyaki style. Pottery has been a special craft in Gifu for over 1300 years." - Neko Box

So, I know nothing about Japanese pottery, so I had to do some research. According to sources, Gifu Prefecture is ripe with clay and raw materials for pottery, and the region developed into one of the largest sites for pottery production. Mino ware (美濃焼/みのやき) refers to pottery produced in Mino Province, located in Gifu, and was officially designated a traditional craft in 1988.

It's believed during the late Kofun period in the 7th century, kilns were used to fire Sue ware, unglazed stoneware made from clay. Eventually, over the centuries, especially with the rise of the tea ceremony and new firing and glazing techniques, different types of Mino ware emerged, and with the advent of mass production in the Meiji era, Mino ware became widely available around the country.

Apparently now there are four primary types of Mino ware, all related to tea ceremonies (or in this case, sake cups). They are Shino, Oribe, Setoguro, and Ki-Seto.

I'll be honest: I have no idea what style the sake cups included in the Holiday Box are, but I do know they're gorgeous. They're black with white specks splattered on the fronts of the cups. The texture is coarse, but not uncomfortable to hold, and from the top-down the are perfectly round. In height they measure about 1.5 inches.

*Information pertaining to the Mino region, history of Japanese pottery, and Mino ware styles was collected from outside sources. These are listed below.

- http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/handcrft/minoware.html

- http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/mino.html

- http://www.icfmino.com/english/outline/minoyaki.php

KAWA Zine Issue 2:

"This month's KAWA (curated and designed by Neko Box) takes you through our favourite spots in Yokohama. Enjoy during the holiday season or any other time of year!" - Neko Box

As the description explains, this Zine is sort of a miniature travel guide, detailing fun spots throughout Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan. There's information about the German Christmas Market held at the Red Brick Warehouses, waterfront attractions, and even the Yamate Italian Garden, where visitors can visit restored Italian manor houses!

My favorite part about the KAWA Zine, aside from the lovely illustrations and unique information, is the texture of the paper. I know, it sounds weird, but there's a reason, and again it relates to my grandfather.

Like I mentioned, I never me him, but as a child I would rifle through his old things: yearbooks, art prints, coins from around the world. He also had a collection of post-war Japanese tourism pamphlets which I've kept safe with the postcards he brought back. Those pamphlets have the exact same feel as the paper the Neko Box Zines are made from. I don't know if it's possible to feel nostalgic for something one never personally experienced...but that's the only word I can think to describe it.

So? Why Haven't You Subscribed Yet?

If you've made it this far, I think it's safe to assume you're fully aware that I LOVE Neko Box. As far as curated subscription boxes go, this one is a cut above the rest. The effort, deliberation, and dedication the Neko Box team demonstrate to their customers, from the packaging to the high-quality items, really showcases their passion and love for what they do. And I love it, too.

As you could probably tell from the title of this post, there's more to come! So if you want to see what I received in the February, March, April, and May boxes, come back soon!

If you're interested in subscribing to Neko Box (you can choose to just get one box at a time!) visit their site, and support this unique, informative, cultural venture. They're also on Instagram at @nekobox.japan.

Snuggles out!