This shiratake (白竹) white bamboo Kazuho Chasen (matcha whisk) was made in Takayama, Nara by Kubo Tatehiro (久保健裕) of Kubo Komakichi (久保駒吉).

The kazuho (数穂) shape is the most basic style of chasen. Compared to the shin/shin kazuho (真・真数穂) it has straighter tines that are tightly curled at the tip. Like the shin, the kazuho has roughly 64 tines, and sits in between dedicated usucha chasen which have lots of thin tines, and dedicated koicha chasen, which have fewer but thicker tines. This makes kazuho-type chasen suitable both for whipping up a fine, foamy usucha and kneading a thick, rich koicha.

At the age of 40, Kubo Tatehiro (久保健裕) is the youngest of the only 16 or so remaining chasen masters. He makes chasen along with his wife Kubo Sachiko. These whisks are made from locally grown bamboo in the small village of Takayama (高山) in northwest Nara prefecture, famed as the only chasen making village in Japan. You can see Tatehiro-san in action here.

Unlike mass-produced matcha whisks, these chasen are entirely handmade, without the use of machines or chemicals to expedite the bamboo growing, drying, or shaping processes, requiring immense time and skill to craft. As such, Takayama chasen have finer, more flexible tines and a greater attention to detail, which not only makes them more beautiful, but also easier and more enjoyable to use and more durable in the long run.

After use, be sure to clean your chasen by whisking it in a bowl of water or running it under the tap, using your fingers or a cloth to remove any matcha that has stuck to the tines. Avoid soaps as these can damage the porous bamboo. Stand the whisk up and let it air dry thoroughly. This will ensure that the tines keep their shape longer and prevents mold growth. To further reshape the tines, you can use a kusenaoshi, or matcha whisk shaper.

Due to the organic nature of bamboo and handmade teaware, there may be slight variations in size, capacity, and appearance.

Dimensions:

6.1cm (2.4in) - width
10.6cm (4.2in) - height

Condition: New

This Japanese item ships from the United States.