May 28, 2025

Blossom-Kissed Table with a Taste of Plum

Written by Team MUSUBI

Set upon pristine white linen, the table evokes a serene plum orchard in bloom. Sublime plum blossom motifs on lacquer and ceramic echo the delicate petals, while tangy pickled plums and fragrant rice steamed in a chrysanthemum-topped donabe delight the palate. Each element—visual poetry and umami-rich taste—invites you to savor the timeless grace and vibrant nuance of Japan’s beloved ume “plums.”

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Ume Flavors Grace the Table Petal-Crowned Lacquer Serving Tray Featured Collection

Ume Flavors Grace the Table

This is the season when Japan’s ume reach their perfect ripeness, and there’s nothing more delightful than pairing crisp, tangy umeboshi, or pickled plums, with the stunning lacquerware of a plum–shaped tray. Each bite offers a refreshing burst of flavor, while the accompanying porcelain Red Plum Blossom Small Box—so exquisitely crafted and charming—invites you to savor not only the taste but the beauty of this moment.

The sharp, lively tang of these Japanese plums effortlessly cuts through the sultry humidity of the season, offering a crisp respite. Complementing this sensory refreshment is the Water Plant Japanese Teacup from Musashi Kiln—its richly textured stoneware body paired with a hand-woven bamboo coaster brings a serene, organic poise.

Adding to this serene table setting is a Japanese rice bowl adorned with a bold arabesque pattern rendered in a rich indigo hue. The crisp blue-and-white palette feels refreshing and harmonizes beautifully with the acidity of the umeboshi served on it.

Inside the charming Plum Blossom Small Box lies an assortment of tsukemono—traditional Japanese pickles. Though petite, this treasure holds a medley of flavors and textures; lifting the lid always brings a little moment of joyful surprise as you discover each vibrant variety.

Petal-Crowned Lacquer Serving Tray

The lustrous, lacquered Red Plum–Shaped Serving Tray 11.6 in from Fukunishi Sobe Shoten provides ample room to showcase a variety of delicacies, its gentle curves and traditional red sheen framing every dish it holds. Pair it with sauce plates in different styles, you’ll find how each combination sets its unique tone.

Just like its red counterpart, the Black Plum–Shaped Serving Tray 11.6 in commands attention on the table. Its deep, inky surface enhances the lacquer’s glossy, liquid sheen, lending an even more refined and sophisticated atmosphere to the spread.

Whether you’re hosting friends or adding a touch of elegance to a quiet dinner, these artisanal pieces paired with the bright flavors of Japan’s plums turn your table into a homage to seasonality, craftsmanship, and shared joy. Let the tart lift of ume and the glossy sheen of lacquer carry you to a place where simplicity and artistry converge, transforming every bite into a moment of mindful pleasure.

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Featured Collection

Fukunishi Sobe Shoten

Fukunishi Sobe Shoten is a long-established Aizu lacquerware company founded in 1919 by Fukunishi Sobe, who branched off from the main family business, Fukunishi Ihee Shoten—a lacquerware maker that had been in operation for thirteen generations since the early Edo period (1603–1868 CE).

Alongside traditional lacquering techniques that create the soft, lustrous finish characteristic of Aizu lacquerware, the company continues to pass down distinctive local decorative methods, including Aizu-e painting with motifs like pine, bamboo, plum, and ceremonial arrows, as well as dynamic spinning wheel patterns.

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