Colorful Six Gourds Natsume Matcha Container Kitano-Tojudo Shaped like a half moon

Shaped like a half moon

Its depth helps retain the food's warmth while adding a touch of style and practicality

and bird-and-flower subjects

where Hasami ware is produced

or with a touch of detergent

Colorful Six Gourds Natsume Matcha Container Kitano-Tojudo Shaped like a half moonThis natsume is a large tea caddy traditionally used for serving usucha, or thin tea. Crafted from mizume (Japanese cherry birch)a fine grained natural woodit is meticulously finished with layers of urushi lacquer from the base coat to the final polish. Since the wooden foundation is shaped by hand from start to finish, completion requires years of meticulous work. The design depicted here is the mubyo, or "six gourds" motif. In Japan, six gourds have