Our story
A Japanese-inspired studio, curating one honest object at a time.
Kuro & Rin is a two-person studio that writes about — and hand-picks — Japanese homeware worth living with.
We started Kuro & Rin because we were tired of homeware built to be replaced. Instead of releasing a catalogue of our own, we chose to build our storefront around pieces we already trust — starting with the J-Life Shikifuton, an authentic Japanese floor mattress made to traditional specifications in pure cotton.
Everything we feature is bought and used by us first. When you buy through a Kuro & Rin link, you purchase directly from the maker (currently J-Life International, based in the USA and shipping worldwide). We may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you — which is what keeps the journal running.
If a product doesn't feel right when it arrives, the maker's own return policy applies: for the J-Life Shikifuton, please refer to J-Life International's returns policy on their site.
What we believe
- One thing at a time, chosen properly.
- Natural fibres that age instead of wear out.
- Honest recommendations — we say when we haven't tried something.
- Small enough to answer every email personally.