#japanesecubscriptionbox

[manekiniki]

My Kizuna box has arrived! This is the first Kixzuna box that I ordered, and it’s actually a miracle I got it to begin with. By that I mean, I discovered kizuna box late, like a box or so behind this one. I wasn’t even sure that I was able to order it, I simply commented on their instagram post of the items inside and said that I was sorry to have missed out, but I was going to try for their next one. Their response shocked me. “Thank you for your interest in our products! We’re so glad you like it, we had so much fun curating the products for this box because everything with hydrangeas on it is just so beautiful! Fortunately we still have 1 left is stock, should you consider purchasing it.” From there, they gave me a link to where I could buy it without having to do an entire subscription (great for people like me who live paycheck to paycheck, and need to sort their money and budget a certain amount toward treating ourselves) and that I only needed to inbox them my order number and they’d make sure I got this box specifically rather than the one currently going out. To read more about this box, see images of what was inside it. Click below!

Kizuna box is a fairly new subscription box from re-discovery japan. They have 2 different boxes, the Lifestyle box (reviewed here) and their snack box. The lifestyle box contains 5-7 high-quality Japanese items that include ceramics, Cloths, stationary and snacks. The Snack box contains 13-16 artisanal traditional and limited edition Japanese snacks and Beverages, along with 1-2 cultural and lifestyle items. This is their Rainy season box, and to my understanding their first box. Since my order they have sent out their “Tanabata” Box and their “Japan’s summer” box (on the way for me!). 

Before I get to the pictures (I know, i know, I’ll be quick, promise.) I want to Commend Kizuna box employees for their amazing customer service. It’s honestly some of the best I’ve come across since I started ordering things online. I had some issues with my Address. The dropdown menu would only allow me to pick places in Japan, rather than states in the USA. I sent them a small message on Instagram, seeing if perhaps I was doing something wrong. They wrong back, in no exaggerating, five minutes later. They walked me through how to get my address correct (Heads up, check out with pay-pal, so much easier just an FYI) and even noted that they were apologetic to the point that they’d add a free item in my box for the trouble. WHAT?! Yeah. I’ve since contacted them on multiple occasions and its always a pleasant experience. Anxiety sufferers, rejoice. This is one experience that wont send you into heart palpitations. NOW! without further ado, Welcome to Kizuna box.

First thing you’ll see is a pamphlet that tells you all about the theme of this box, Which is nice especially if you aren’t from that area. Personally I didn’t know Japan had a rainy season, especially not one that Causes the hydrangeas to bloom like crazy, so I appreciated the history. Everything else n the pamphlet tells you about the items in your box, and where they came from.

Everything is carefully wrapped and secured in hopes that nothing arrives to you broken, and you can tell that its placed with care inside the box. Now for what’s inside!

Despite being a lifestyle box, Kizuna includes snack items in theirs, so show what Japanese people would be eating, or drinking at this specific time of the year. The rainy season box came with 2 Kamakura Ajisai Sandwich cookies, 2 Ito En instant green tea packets, and 1 Premium Mint, summer edition kit kat!

Other lifestyle boxes that I’ve had do not include this. When asked, they state that they aren’t a food box. I personally saw this as a nice touch since, there is more to a lifestyle than ceramic pieces. Yes I love the ceramic pieces but I know my life includes more than just places and bowls. So the Candy, cookies, and tea seemed fitting to me. I also liked that they listed any allergens the items given might include, and the expiration date. 

The next item in the box was an Ajisai Document Folder from Unsodo. Its a simple folder, slightly smaller than the pamphlet inside. I use mine for the invoices of my online purchases. In works well for that!

There was also an Ajisai furoshiki cloth from Yonagado. I don’t think my pictures do the colors justice. its a white/greyish cloth with dark blue images on it and a navy blue boarder. This is the 4th furoshiki cloth that I own, and I use them (this one included) to line the shelf that holds my Japanese ceramics. However, furoshiki cloths are traditionally used to wrap bento, gifts, and other items.

I found this post card to be an adorable addition to the box. I’ll be using it in my scrapbook, but you can hang it on your wall, or even send it in the mail to someone. It is “The cat Series” by Tsuyu Ukiyo-e.

I’m not going to lie that Mino yaki Ajisail Ceramic bowl is the thing that stole my attention when I first saw the kizuna box, and with this one I received two! One is the green that went with the plate (pictured below) and the other is pink, slightly smaller and is what I believe my free gift was for my difficulties with my address. You can feel the bumps in the ceramic of the Hydrangeas. The inside of the bowl is even beautiful with an outline of the flowers as well. 

The final Item of this box is the Mino-yaki Ajisai Ceramic plate. Can I just say that I love this plate! its different then the plates i received from my other Japanese lifestyle box, It isn’t just a plate with an image painted on it, it is the image in itself. It’s unique and beautiful and entirely its own.

I think all in all I’m very pleased with everything that I received in the kizuna box, and with Kizuna itself. You can tell by the items chosen that they care about the culture, about the items they’re curating and the theme that they’ve chosen for the box that month. They seem to put care into their work, and care into their customers. If you’re looking for a lifestyle box that teaches you, provides you with items that you’re sure to love, and people that won’t blow off your concerns; then Kizuna box is for you.