Karate, considered to have originated in Okinawa, is a martial art for the purpose of self defense.
The practice involves using the entire body to perform techniques such as tsuki (punch), uchi (strike) and keri (kick).
The attractiveness of Karate is in the process of pursuing perfection through refining one’s skills and training.
It is not meant to hurt or kill people, but it is bushido (Japanese chivalry) that is the original style of Karate.
Karate, after having spread all over the world, keeps developing in various styles.
Mastery levels are ranked with different belt colors; the black belt is an icon signifying the upper level.
Defeat, does no exist, for a black belt, does it? No, SENSEI ~
　

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

With ecological goods becoming more and more popular around the world, organic cotton is getting a lot of attention these days.
Cotton that has been grown for more than 3 years on soil that is not exposed to any pesticides or chemical fertilizer is called “organic cotton”.
Organic cotton is extremely environmental-friendly and causes next to no irritation to the skin; it is what cotton originally used to be like.
You can probably understand how precious organic cotton is if we tell you that, while it’s currently produced in 20 different countries,organic cotton accounts for only 0.3% of total cotton output worldwide (2007).
At Aoi, we offer organic cotton products as bridges between our customers and ecology.
This is a great opportunity for you to experience ecology, based on your own understanding of what it should be.
It would also be fun for you if you could find additional charm in your daily outfits.
As we all know, little steps of individuals can change the world of tomorrow.

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

Kamon is family crest that has been used for representing own family, lineage, and status since long time ago in Japan.
Nearly two million crests are acknowledged today.
Kamon was also used onto flags, armers, and swords as ways of showing their great deed, distinguishing between allies and enemies by Samurai at battle.
However, as time goes by, Kamon has changed its use to custom, which to adopt it onto formal clothes for general people from practical use for Sarumai.
The custom has passed down to nowadays. There is at least one Kamon in each family, and it is essential to have on formal costumes.
The monogram design of Louis Vuitton is said that it is also inspired by Japanese Kamon.
The symbol of AOI got hint from Kamon too, since we want to cherish Japanese culture.
We provide products that to share Kamon, symbol of Japanese culture with you.

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

Have you ever tried Zazen?
Like Yoga, Zazen (literally “seated meditation”) is a method to boost mental concentration that practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind.
Zazen practice is said to enable insight into the nature of existence without any distraction in mind, thereby reaching a spiritual state of nothingness.
Try this 5-minute Zazen to experience the culture of Japan!
(How to sit)
Place your right foot on your left thigh and pull the heel toward your stomach. Next, place the left foot on the right thigh.
For beginners, you may place only your left foot on your right thigh and cross the right foot under the left thigh. For either way, make sure that both of the feet and hip are balanced out at three points.
Put your right hand palm up and place your left hand palm up on the right hand. The tips of the thumbs should touch with a light pressure.
This posture may be quite uncomfortable at first, but you should be able to get used to it soon.
And now, follow these steps to experience Zazen at anytime, anyplace.

1. Keep your eyes half-open and look slightly downward about 1 meter in front of you.

2. Pull your chin down and close your mouth lightly with your tongue touching the base of your front teeth.

3. Relax your shoulders and sit with a straight back. Keep your back straight with a natural curve in the lower back, with the stomach pushing out slightly forward. Align your nose with your navel.

4. Breath naturally.

5. Breathe slowly through the nose and exhale.

How do you feel?
AOI offers a few items to kick start your Zen life!

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

April is the season of hanami, a gathering to enjoy cherry blossoms or ’sakura’.
Around this time of year, sakura is in full bloom in Japan, turning much of the country ’sakura pink’.
People, enchanted by the beauty of sakura, hold hanami feasts under the trees in public parks and gardens.
Around this time, Japanese people feel great happiness,
and soak themselves in a sense of grace brought by the arrival of spring in Japan.
A petal blowing down into a cup of sake invokes in us Japan’s traditional aesthetics, wabi-sabi.
If you are planning to visit Japan, please be sure to choose this season!
In case you don’t have a chance to travel, we have prepared several sakura goods inspired by cherry blossoms for you.

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

The katana (sword) is a weapon for a warrior to defend his territory.
With its high artistic value, it was something special and only privileged people, like samurai, could own one.
It symbolized a man’s pride and strength.
Learning how to wield a sword and undergoing hard training were thought to be a way of disciplining ones mind.

The best swordsmanship was a base for Samurai spirit, so the idea that a sword is a soul of a Samurai was established.
We try to represent the Samurai spirit too with reminders in our collection.

I hope spirit of the Samurai will be within you.

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi
　
　

More than 500 years ago in Japan, during the Age of the Country at War, ninjas wore particular clothes, stayed under cover, hid from the enemies, and served under their lord.
They had special skills, used special tools, acted magically and deceived their enemies.
Serving under their lord was considered their fate. Because their lives involved not being seen by the public, they were often called SHINOBI (Hide) or KAGE (Shadow).
Their mysterious existence fascinates many people, even to this day.
Recently in Tokyo, a ninja restaurant opened, where waiters wear ninja costumes. Here, at AOI, promising ninja characters exist,
so let me introduce them.
AOKAGE is our most widely known character – you might know him as
FLOWER NINJYA. He loves peace and lives in the dark.
NINNIN and RANRAN, childhood friends and good competitors. They don’t know they are fated to fight against each other someday.
Anyway, what is the hero of your life?

30- 32 Red Cape Lane . QV . Melbourne . Victoria 3000
Japanese T-Shirts Aoi