Square Low-Rimmed Japanese Soba Tray

This square tray with a removable bamboo strainer is designed for serving chilled soba noodles. The bamboo strainer rests within the lacquered wooden tray, bringing together two materials that complement one another in both beauty and function. 

The tray is crafted by Yamanaka lacquerware artisans using multiple layers of brown lacquer applied with a suri-urushi (wiped lacquer) finish, a technique that enhances the natural grain of the wood. Its soft matte surface reveals the warmth and character of the timber beneath.

Crafted by Nanpu Kougei, known for its bamboo craftsmanship, the removable strainer is made from domestically sourced moso bamboo, whose pale color and smooth texture give it a clean, simple appearance. The spacing of the bamboo slats allows excess water to drain away while helping the noodles maintain their texture. 

Each material serves a distinct purpose: the lacquer helps protect the wood from moisture, and the bamboo allows water to drain through. Over time, the lacquer gradually gains a richer luster, and the bamboo develops a warm amber tone with use. 

Their separable construction helps preserve each material for years to come, while the tray can also be used on its own to serve sake cups, teacups, or small dishes.

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.