Osara began after its founders, Kelly and Gimo, took a family trip to Japan in 2019 that turned into something more than a holiday. Kelly, who grew up in Japan, found herself explaining the culture and history behind everyday objects, while Gimo became fascinated by the homeware shops they visited and the level of care Japanese retailers put into something as simple as wrapping a purchase. That trip led to Osara Australia, founded in 2020. At the South Melbourne Market stall, tucked into the SO:ME Space, the shelves are filled with tableware and homeware crafted by Japanese artisans, sake sets and cups, matcha bowls and whisks, chopsticks, teacups and tea sets, along with incense and incense holders. Everything is chosen through direct relationships the Osara team has built with makers in Japan, rather than sourced through a middleman, and the range is refreshed regularly, with new arrivals added most weeks. Because the stall sits alongside Osara's online shop, what you see on the shelves can change from one market day to the next, so it's worth a look even if you've visited recently. Staff can talk through where a piece comes from and how it's made, which suits both people building a considered collection of Japanese ceramics and those after a thoughtful, ready-wrapped gift. Osara also runs a flagship shop in Collingwood, but the South Melbourne Market stall is a convenient way to browse the range in person while you're doing the rest of your market shopping.