Kiriko, Portland Carries Our Tea – Inspiration from Our Hometown

We’re excited to announce that Kiriko Made, a one-of-a-kind boutique in Portland, Oregon, now offers a selection of our Japanese green teas in their beautiful store! 

As you may know, Portland is our hometown, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with such a thoughtful and inspiring team. This collaboration brings together two worlds of Japanese tradition and Pacific Northwest creativity under one roof. 

Below, we’d like to introduce Kiriko’s story – from its founding philosophy to its new kitchen dining shop Kokoro – and share why this partnership means so much to us.

Kiriko Made: Blending Japanese Tradition with Portland Creativity

Founded in 2013, Kiriko Made is a Portland-based lifestyle brand built on the Japanese principle of mottainai (もったいない), which means “waste nothing and recycle everything”. Walking into Kiriko’s downtown shop, you’ll immediately notice the rich tapestry of heritage textiles and upcycled creations.

The store specializes in artisanal fashion and home goods that merge Eastern and Western influences – think vintage Japanese kimono fabrics repurposed into modern jackets, bags, scarves, pillows, and more. 

Each item, whether a hand-dyed indigo scarf or a denim jacket patched with 50-year-old Japanese cloth, tells a story of tradition meeting the now.

“We want to show these beautiful fabrics… Instead of making purely Japanese products with Japanese fabrics, we’re making dopp kits and backpacks,” explains founder Katsu “Katsu-san” Tanaka.

By applying time-honored textiles and techniques to contemporary styles, Kiriko creates products that feel both authentically Japanese and distinctly Portland.

Kiriko’s design philosophy centers on quality, sustainability, and soul.
In an era of fast fashion, Kiriko was conceived as a response to disposable consumer culture.

The team scours Japan for vintage kasuri cloth, hand-dyed shibori fabrics, and even tattered boro textiles (traditional Japanese patchwork) that might otherwise be discarded.

These materials, some of which are decades old, are given new life by Kiriko’s artisans. A hole in an old fabric isn’t a flaw to them – it’s an opportunity.

They’ll patch over it with another beautiful scrap, turning it into a one-of-a-kind detail. 

“A lot of our vintage fabrics have flaws. We value that. We patch on top of that and make it a one-of-a-kind product,” Tanaka says.

In fact, Kiriko strives to be the first “no fabric waste” brand, making use of even the smallest remnants. 

The result is a collection of timeless, durable goods that carry the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship – pieces meant to be “worn, loved, and handed down” rather than quickly replaced.

Handcrafted details at Kiriko: The team works with traditional Japanese textiles, embracing the mottainai ethos of wasting nothing. Vintage fabrics are hand-dyed, woven, and patched to create one-of-a-kind pieces that merge history with modern design.

Stepping into Kiriko’s store is like entering a living gallery of Japanese folk art and Portland DIY culture.

On one rack you might find a 1950s indigo katazome (stencil-dyed) fabric transformed into a stylish shirt; on a table nearby, hand-thrown ceramic tea cups from a local Oregon potter sit alongside antique Japanese lacquerware.

Everything is carefully curated to reflect a “East meets West” aesthetic: Kiriko’s mission from the start was “to create something truly unique, merging Eastern and Western culture… the new with the vintage”. This means you’ll find modern apparel and accessories handcrafted in Oregon using centuries-old Japanese textiles.

Kiriko is not about trend-chasing; it’s about honoring the craftsmanship and “making memories with our belongings instead of replacing them”.

Every item has a story, bridging Japanese heritage with Portland’s creative spirit.

Meet the Founder: Katsu Tanaka’s Cultural Vision

At the heart of Kiriko Made is its founder and creative director, Katsu Tanaka (affectionately known as Katsu-san).

Tanaka is a Japanese-American who has called Portland home for over two decades, and he’s something of a legend in the local fashion scene. He is originally from Gunma, Japan. (群馬)

In fact, Tanaka was behind Portland’s renowned streetwear boutique, Compound Gallery, which he opened in 2002. After years in the fast-paced streetwear world, he grew disillusioned with how quickly trends came and went –

“there were three and a half fashion seasons [a year]. Now there are six or seven… within a month, everything is devalued,” Tanaka recalls of those days.

Yearning for something slower and more meaningful, he started Kiriko online in 2013 and opened the brick-and-mortar shop a few years later, just blocks from his old Compound store.

Tanaka’s vision for Kiriko was deeply influenced by his upbringing and the values of traditional Japanese culture.

He built Kiriko around the mottainai mindset his parents and grandparents instilled in him – the idea that nothing useful should go to waste, and that old things should be cherished, repaired, and reused.

This cultural approach sets Kiriko apart.

“All of my vintage clothes were so fragile… they were ripping and worn,” he says, describing how he started patching his own beloved garments with Japanese fabrics rather than throwing them out.

That personal practice grew into Kiriko’s signature style of visible mending and patchwork.

Tanaka often notes that many of the textiles Kiriko uses have already lived 50-100 years before finding their way into the shop – “We give them another life, so hopefully they last another 50 years,” he says.

In his eyes, Kiriko is just a halfway point in the journey of these fabrics. 

By passing on a jacket or blanket to a new owner, Kiriko ensures the story continues for generations.

Beyond repurposing fabrics, Katsu Tanaka is passionate about supporting craftsmanship and community.

He travels regularly to Japan to source materials, working with small, family-run fabric mills and workshops that have been practicing their craft for over a century.

“It is important to us that we make a positive impact… to help the artisans and craftsmen of Japan,” Tanaka explains, noting that many traditional crafts are struggling in modern times.

By buying from these makers and showcasing their work in Portland, Kiriko helps keep those traditions alive.

Tanaka also fosters collaboration at home in Oregon – he has partnered with local designers on limited collections (for example, Bridge & Burn and Stock Mfg Co. have worked with Kiriko, as one Reddit fan excitedly noted).

He even founded Uplift PDX, an organization to support Portland’s Japanese-American entrepreneurs  “Nationally, there’s a misconception that in order to succeed, you have to compete and win… They’re always competing and they’re getting tired. It’s not healthy,” Tanaka says.

Instead, he believes in lifting each other up for mutual success.

This collaborative, community-minded ethos is woven into Kiriko’s fabric – quite literally during the in-store boro workshops where customers can bring in worn clothes and learn to mend them with Kiriko’s fabrics, creating something fresh and sustainable.

Tanaka’s inspirations range from the folk crafts of rural Japan to the independent maker culture of Portland.

The result is a store that feels like a bridge between two worlds.

As one Portland journalist put it, Kiriko “takes Portland’s sustainability ethos, wraps it in a cozy layer of woven indigo, and ratchets it up to the extreme,” turning others’ leftovers into products with emotional value.

In Tanaka’s own words, “from the beginning, our mission has always been to create timelessly designed products that last, merging Western and Eastern culture, the new with the vintage”.

That mission continues to evolve – in a 2018 interview, Katsu mused about someday opening a café where people could enjoy Japanese tea and pastries in a space surrounded by Kiriko’s handmade goods.

While a full café hasn’t materialized yet, Kiriko has indeed expanded beyond fashion – right into the realm of food and tea with its newest venture, Kokoro.

From Fashion to Food: Introducing Kokoro (Kiriko’s Sister Shop)

If Kiriko Made is where you find that beautifully patched denim jacket or hand-stitched scarf, Kokoro is where you’ll find the perfect Japanese kitchen knife to slice your dinner, and the artisan donabe pot to cook it in. Kokoro is Kiriko’s brand-new sister store, which had its soft opening in downtown Portland in October 2023.

Located at 986 SW Morrison St, just across the street from Kiriko’s original shop, Kokoro is all about kitchen and dining goods.

The word kokoro means “heart” in Japanese, and you can feel the heart and soul in this warm, bustling space.

“People only need a new jacket every year or two, but we eat three times a day,” founder Katsu Tanaka says with a smile, explaining the idea behind Kokoro.

In other words, he wanted to encourage people to incorporate Japanese culture and craftsmanship into their daily life through food.

By offering tools and ingredients for everyday cooking, Kokoro makes Japanese tradition accessible at the most intimate level – our kitchen tables.

Don’t expect a sparse, minimalist vibe here. Kokoro’s shelves are filled to the ceiling with an exciting mix of Japanese and locally made goods.

You’ll find rows of gleaming chef’s knives, stacks of ceramic dishware and sake sets, cast-iron tea kettles, and of course, the iconic earthenware donabe pots for which Japanese home cooking is renowned.

There are cookbooks and elegant lacquered chopsticks, handwoven trivets for your hot pot, and modern appliances like Hario drip coffee kettles.

Kokoro also functions as a Japanese pantry – it’s stocked with authentic matcha green tea powder, premium soy sauces, artisanal miso, and even the latest limited-edition flavors of Japanese Pocky and Kit Kat snacks.

The atmosphere is cozy and vibrant, more like a neighborhood market than a hushed boutique. It’s easy to lose track of time browsing, whether you’re a seasoned chef or just love discovering new ingredients.

A peek inside Kokoro, Kiriko’s new kitchen & dining shop. Far from a minimalist space, Kokoro brims with Japanese pantry staples, handcrafted tableware, donabe clay pots, and cooking tools that invite customers to bring Japanese culture into their daily meals. Founder Katsu Tanaka sees food as the next step in living the Kiriko lifestyle, feeding both body and soul.

With Kiriko Made occupying one corner of SW 10th and Morrison and Kokoro on the opposite corner, this intersection has become a little hub of Japanese creativity in downtown Portland.

Locals and visitors can bounce between Japanese fashion and home goods at Kiriko, and Japanese cuisine essentials at Kokoro, getting a full taste of the culture.
For those who can’t visit in person, Kiriko’s website offers an online catalog of products from both stores, so anyone can explore these treasures from afar.

But if you do find yourself in Portland, stepping into Kiriko and Kokoro is truly an experience – part retail, part cultural immersion.

Now, with the addition of our Japanese Green Tea Co. teas to their offerings, that experience is even richer (and tastier!).

Kokoro’s focus on kitchen goods set the perfect stage for introducing our tea.
After all, what better way to incorporate Japanese culture into daily life than by sipping genuine Japanese green tea with your meals?

Tanaka’s expansion into food and drink reflects the same ethos Kiriko has always had: bringing people together around shared traditions. 

As Tanaka himself notes, “we eat three times a day,” and in Japan, tea often accompanies those meals or follows them as a calming ritual.

By offering high-quality Japanese tea in-store, Kiriko and Kokoro are inviting customers to slow down and savor those daily moments. It’s a natural extension of Kiriko’s lifestyle brand – from the clothes you wear to the tea in your cup, every aspect carries intention and heritage.

A Partnership Infused with Shared Philosophy

This partnership between Kiriko Made and Japanese Green Tea Co. feels especially meaningful because we share so many core values.

Kiriko’s entire philosophy resonates deeply with our own: a commitment to quality over quantity, an appreciation for craftsmanship, and a profound respect for Japanese tradition.

Just as Kiriko seeks out small family workshops and century-old techniques for its products, we collaborate with tea farmers in Shizuoka and beyond who have carried forward generations of tea-growing expertise. 

Both Kiriko and Japanese Green Tea Co. believe in the beauty of slow living – whether it’s taking the time to brew loose leaf tea properly or hand-stitching a piece of fabric instead of discarding it. There’s a thoughtful, soulful approach to what we both do.

In fact, tea culture and Kiriko’s craft culture share many similarities. 

In a way, a cup of Japanese green tea and a handcrafted Kiriko item are both invitations to slow down and reflect.

Consider the Japanese tea ceremony: it’s all about attention to detail, seasonal appreciation, and mindfulness, much like Kiriko’s approach to design.

“Just as donabe cooking encourages slow, thoughtful preparation and communal enjoyment, Japanese green tea offers a moment of quiet reflection and sensory richness,” we wrote when discussing how traditional cookware and tea go hand-in-hand.

Both experiences are steeped in centuries-old practices that honor nature and heritage. It feels only natural to pair a steaming cup of sencha with that experience, enhancing it with the aromas and flavors of Japan’s terroir.

When you pick up a package of our tea at Kiriko, you’re not just buying another product – you’re connecting to a larger story.

That tea was grown on Japanese soil, tended and harvested with care, and selected by us to represent the best of Japan’s green teas. 

By making it available at Kiriko, Katsu Tanaka is essentially saying: here is another piece of Japanese culture for you to enjoy and incorporate into your life.

It fits seamlessly with Kiriko’s goal of integrating Japanese craftsmanship into daily routines. We’re truly honored that Kiriko chose to include our tea on their shelves alongside their beautiful textiles, ceramics, and foods.

“Their attention to detail and love for Japanese culture is something we admire greatly. To have our tea featured among their offerings is both humbling and exciting,” says Japanese Green Tea Co. founder Kei Nishida.

We know Kiriko cares deeply about authenticity and quality – so this endorsement of our tea speaks volumes.

Brewing the Future Together

For customers, this collaboration opens up a new way to experience both brands.

If you’ve discovered Kiriko for their clothing and design, now you can also taste the culture they celebrate, by trying a cup of our green tea.

Perhaps you’ll pick up a tin of award-winning gyokuro or a bag of aromatic genmaicha during your next visit, and brew it in one of Kokoro’s elegant teapots.

Imagine enjoying that tea while wearing your favorite Kiriko scarf or while prepping dinner with a Kokoro knife – it’s a full sensory journey that spans continents and traditions.

We firmly believe that such small moments of connection – wrapping yourself in a story-filled garment, or sipping tea grown on distant hillsides – enrich our lives in profound ways. Kiriko and Japanese Green Tea Co. are both about fostering those moments.

As Kiriko continues to bridge Japan and Portland, we’re excited to be a part of that story going forward.

Tanaka has long dreamed of bringing Japanese tea into the Kiriko experience, and this partnership is a step in that direction. 

It’s also an opportunity for us to connect directly with the Portland community. 

Portland is known for its thriving maker culture and love of all things craft – from craft beer to artisan coffee – and we think craft Japanese tea will feel right at home.

Kiriko’s customers are exactly the kind of folks who appreciate the care that goes into a slow-grown, handpicked tea leaf, just as they appreciate the hand-stitched fabrics and heritage items in the store. We can’t wait for you to taste the difference that passion and tradition make.

So next time you’re in Portland, be sure to stop by Kiriko Made. Browse the indigo-dyed textiles, try on a vintage kimono jacket or two, and wander over to Kokoro to peruse the latest Japanese snacks and cookware.

And while you’re there, treat yourself to a packet of our tea – or even a cup brewed on the spot if they’re sampling (you might get lucky!).

We invite you to enjoy a moment of warmth and tranquility with our Japanese green tea, now available at Kiriko. It’s more than a product on a shelf; it’s our little contribution to the cultural conversation happening in that corner of Portland.

We’re thrilled to share it with you.

Visit Kiriko Made

Kiriko Made – Downtown Portland (10th & Morrison)

Address: 1001 SW Morrison St., Portland, OR 97205 (Google Map)
Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–6pm; Fri–Sat 11am–7pm
Contact: (503) 222-0335 | info@kirikomade.com

Kokoro (Kitchen & Dining) is located just across the street at 986 SW Morrison St., Portland, OR 97205 (phone (503) 796-2733) – be sure to visit both for the full Kiriko experience!

Website: kirikomade.com – Explore Kiriko’s story, online shop, and journal for more on their latest projects and products.

Instagram: @kirikomade – See behind-the-scenes looks at their textile projects and new arrivals.

Kiriko Made and Kokoro are located in the heart of Portland’s West End shopping district, easily accessible and surrounded by other great boutiques and cafes. We hope you’ll drop by, say hello to Katsu-san and the team, and enjoy this unique blend of Japanese tradition and Portland creativity – now with a delicious cup of green tea in hand. Cheers! 🍵