Chasen No. 109 · Dark Bamboo, 56 Tines · Usucha

Reserved — held for exhibition, not currently for sale. Email us and we'll let you know if it's released.

Naturally dark bamboo · black thread · fine, dense head · one of a kind

A striking contrast of a dark bamboo handle against pale golden tines, bound in black thread. Around 56 fine outer tines, straight-drawn with a soft curl at the tips — an elegant all-rounder chasen (matcha whisk) that foams a smooth usucha (thin matcha).

Hand-cut from a single piece of bamboo in Takayama, Nara — the district that has made Japan's tea whisks for five centuries. We spent three days there going workshop to workshop; four artisans agreed to sell to us, several met through the town's chasen museum where the makers gather. One of a kind — we have only this piece.

Five years from standing bamboo to the first cut, then split by hand tine by tine with a single blade. Why a Takayama chasen costs what it does →

Care: rest on a whisk holder (kusenaoki), rinse in warm water only, air-dry. Never soak or machine-wash.