AEKA Round-shaped Miso Soup Bowl

The name AEKA is an archaic word meaning "delicate and ephemeral." As its name suggests, this bowl is elegantly sculpted, combining beauty with practicality for daily use.

It is large enough to serve a generous portion of rice or miso soup.

Crafted from zelkova wood, known for its moderate hardness and beautiful grain, this material is a staple in Japanese daily life.

All GATOMIKIO products are made using the traditional woodturning technique called kijibiki, where logs are expertly carved into products while rotating on a lathe.

GATOMIKIO

GATOMIKIO is a brand name of company GATO MIKIO SHOUTEN, a specialist in Japanese woodworking techniques. They are especially skilled in bringing out the beauty that only natural wood grain can have. Their concentric-circle carving results in striking silhouettes.

Never compromising on quality of materials, precision of wood turning, or clarity of lacquer, GATOMIKIO creates pieces that are at once elegant, long-lasting, and functional.

GATO MIKIO SHOUTEN was originally founded as Gato Sawmill in 1908 in Yamanaka Onsen, a town famous for wood turning. Following the spirit of the original wood turners, they continue to aspire to woodworking perfection, with pieces completed individually by craftspeople.

Yamanaka Lacquerware

Yamanaka lacquerware, produced in the Yamanaka Onsen district of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, has a proud history of more than 450 years. It is characterized by the harmony of natural wood grain and the refined maki-e technique, where gold, silver, or colored powders are delicately sprinkled to create elegant patterns.

Yamanaka lacquerware is crafted into a wide variety of items including chopsticks, bowls, plates, trays, spoons, ladles, and natsume tea caddies. It is known for being lightweight, durable, and beautifully refined. Traditional black and vermilion lacquer finishes are often used.

Yamanaka lacquerware continues to evolve, blending timeless tradition with modern aesthetics to suit contemporary lifestyles.