Golden Larch Tree Chu-Natsume Matcha Container

This natsume, known as a chu-natsume, is slightly smaller than a large natsume. It is crafted from mizume (Japanese cherry birch), a fine natural wood, and because the wooden base is entirely handmade, several years are required to complete each piece. The golden-colored areas of the design are created using tin, whose subtle shimmer lends a quiet brilliance to the surface.

The decoration features the karamatsu (Japanese larch) motif, one of Japan’s classic auspicious designs. The Japanese larch is unique among pines: it turns red in autumn, sheds its needles in winter, and bursts forth with fresh green shoots each spring. For this reason, it has long symbolized renewal, prosperity, and longevity—an emblem perfectly suited to the spirit of the tea ceremony.

Radiating across the surface, the larch motifs resemble delicate blossoms, lending an air of brightness from every angle. At their centers, the slightly raised forms catch the light and reveal subtle variations in sheen. The balance of open space against the glossy black lacquer further heightens the elegance of the design, giving the deep black ground a commanding presence of its own.

Compact and light in the hand, this natsume offers a smooth, natural fit. Adorned with a motif of good fortune, it is equally appropriate for everyday tea practice or celebratory gatherings, making it a vessel that blends refinement with auspicious meaning.

Nishimoto

Nishimoto, deeply rooted in the tradition of Yamanaka lacquerware, specializes in the manufacture and sale of lacquerware, tea ceremony utensils, and related accessories. Holding a significant market share in tea ceremony items, particularly matcha bowls, Nishimoto is committed to sharing the taste and atmosphere of matcha in a way that is easy to enjoy, a sentiment reflected in every piece they create.

Yamanaka Lacquerware

Yamanaka lacquerware, also known as Yamanaka Shikki, is a kind of lacquerware produced in the Yamanaka Onsen district of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture. This lacquerware is unique in that it blends wood grain's natural elegance with the elegant maki-e technique of sprinkling gold, silver, or other colored powder onto a lacquer painting.

With its beautiful wood texture, delicate and robust Yamanaka lacquerware incorporates a modern sense of design while inheriting a tradition that has lasted for 400 years.