Made in Japan

MISE 店, Little Tokyo

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop

Situated inside Little Tokyo’s Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, MISE stocks the finest handcrafted kitchen tools and tablewares from Japan. Currently, metalworks from Tsubame-Sanjo — a city 200 miles north of Tokyo — are on display, but eventually, they’ll be rotated out to make room for crafts from other prefectures. 

Among the things you never knew you needed are kitchen knives of all sizes made by third- or fourth-generation craftsmen, a curved grater that fits perfectly over the edge of your hand, and a bendable metal spatula for seamless burger-flipping. Metals aside, the shop also carries chopstick holders made from old Suntory whisky barrels and gorgeous, lacquered sake cups. 

The space is minimalist and subdued, the items are meticulously organized and displayed, and the shopkeepers are ready to guide you through each item — much like shopping in Japan. –Fiona Chandra

→ MISE 店 (Little Tokyo) • 244 San Pedro St • Fri-Sat 11a-6p.