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Once temperatures start getting lower and it starts feeling a bit more like winter, one tradition that Japanese people like to enjoy during this season revolves around the mikan, or mandarin orange.
In Japan, when people gather around a kotatsu, it’s customary to munch on some mandarin oranges while trying to stay warm. However, as relaxing as that might sound, author Isamu Sasagawa found a way to add a little bit of fun to Japan’s age-old custom: by encouraging people to make art out of orange peels.
In his book titled, “Mikan Art”, Sasagawa teaches us how to make a variety of carvings just by using an orange. In addition to publishing children’s books, he also runs an arts & crafts channel on Youtube where he teaches kids how to make things out of different materials. So, while orange peels might fall under the more unusual side of his chosen materials, he’s not new to teaching people how to be more creative.
The book provides step-by-step instructions on how to make things like a snowflake, a panda, of course, a kotatsu — all from a single orange.
If you’re interested in making some orange art of your own this winter, "Mikan Art” is currently available on Amazon for 1,100 yen.
Read more stories from grape Japan.
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-- Enjoy Drive-Through Strawberry Picking at Tokyo Tower
- External Link
- https://grapee.jp/en/
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asiafriend
Never thought of that even though I exported tons of mikans to the USA out of Shikoku and S Korea. Very sweet and juicy, even dogs ate them. Never thought dogs ate citrus. Fruit carving is even a better art, especially from Thailand.