How Arranging Small Plates Made Our Table More Fun

I saw a segment on the news about “mamezara teishoku” — a meal set where lots of small plates are arranged together — and decided to try it at home.

Just putting condiments and small side dishes into individual little plates and lining them up on the table. That simple act instantly made the whole spread feel lively and fun. The kind of table you’d want to photograph.

Here’s a roundup of our favourite mamezara (small plates) from yamani.

Mini Aquarium Series

Crabs, sardines, penguins, and octopuses peeking out from the rim of each plate. Absolutely charming when arranged together. Mix different designs for a playful, eclectic look.

41190957 Mini aquarium plate - crab Wholesale Retail store

41190956 Mini aquarium plate - sardines Wholesale Retail store

41190953 Mini aquarium plate - penguin Wholesale Retail store

41190954 Mini aquarium plate - octopus Wholesale Retail store

Hanafuda Mini Dish Series

A playful take on traditional Japanese hanafuda card designs — pampas grass with a UFO, plum blossoms with a cat. Slightly surreal combinations that somehow look great when mixed together on the table.

34193462 Hanafuda mini dish - UFO Wholesale Retail store

34193458 Hanafuda mini dish - amur silvergrass & dog Wholesale Retail store

34193463 Hanafuda mini dish - chinese plum & cat Wholesale Retail store

Organic Garden Series

Birds, berries, and dahlias in gentle, natural tones. Works beautifully with both Japanese and Western table settings — a versatile choice for your first small plate.

4118207 Organic Garden 13.8cm plate - bird Wholesale Retail store

4118210 Organic Garden 10cm mini plate - bird Wholesale Retail store

Wagokoro (Japanese Tradition) Series

Classic Japanese patterns — seigaiha waves, tortoiseshell — that elevate even the simplest meal. Great as a soy sauce dish, and a grounding presence when mixed into a mamezara spread.

3416756 Japanese pattern wave 11.5cm plate Wholesale Retail store

3416757 Japanese pattern hexagonal 11.5cm plate Wholesale Retail store

Small plates really come alive when you use several at once. Mix series, mix designs — that’s the fun of building your own mamezara collection.