Kabazaiku Chazutsu - Wooden Cherry Bark Tea Canister
TomiokaThis wooden chazutsu (tea canister) is made using the traditional kabazaiku (樺細工) technique in which a thin veneer of hand-scraped and polished cherry bark is carefully applied to a wooden core.
Commonly applied to steel canisters, this fully wooden style is more traditional and more time- and labour-consuming to make, as the interior is also coated with a layer of cherry bark.
Made by Tomioka in Daisen, Akita Prefecture.
Featuring an airtight inner lid, this canister is perfect for keeping roughly 100 grams of tea fresh. Note: the canister's capacity is measured with sencha, meaning it may hold more or less of other teas.
The Kabazaiku (樺細工, also 桜皮細工) technique of hand-scraping, polishing, and pasting wild cherry bark is unique to Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, where the technique was brought to the town of Kakunodate (角館) in Akita by the Satake family of samurai in the 1700s.
To clean, wipe with a dry cloth. As the cherry bark is uncoated, it will absorb moisture, which is ideal for tea storage. However, this means that any water that gets on it should be wiped off immediately.
Made in Japan. Ships from the United States.
Width: 7.2 cm (2.8 in)
Height: 11.1 cm (4.4 in)
The Kabazaiku (樺細工, also 桜皮細工) technique of hand-scraping, polishing, and pasting wild cherry bark is unique to Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, where the technique was brought to the town of Kakunodate (角館) in Akita by the Satake family of samurai in the 1700s.
To clean, wipe with a dry cloth. As the cherry bark is uncoated, it will absorb moisture, which is ideal for tea storage. However, this means that any water that gets on it should be wiped off immediately.
For over 50 years, Tomioka has been producing and promoting the unique Akita culture of kabazaiku crafts. Founder Kazuya Tomioka took over defunct kabazaiku business in 1970 and has revitalised it into the flourishing company it is today. Not only does Tomioka preseve traditional craft techniques and items, they also innovate new styles, adapting the centuries old art of kabazaiku to modern tastes.
