Chasen Red No. 10 · Mint Green Thread, 58 Tines · Koicha

Naturally dark bamboo · pale mint-green thread · around 58 sturdy tines · one of a kind

An unusual and quietly beautiful pairing: a deep, dark bamboo handle bound not in the customary black but in a soft mint-green thread, its tassel falling loose at the collar. Around 58 outer tines, thicker and more widely spaced than most, arch into a strong open head — the build of a whisk made to knead a thick koicha rather than froth a thin one. Presented in its red brocade box carrying the Takayama traditional-craft designation.

Hand-cut and tied from a single piece of bamboo in Takayama, Nara — the district that makes more than 90% of Japan's chasen, where fewer than twenty artisans still practise the craft. From one of four independent makers we work with; out of respect for them, we don't share names or workshops. One of a kind — we have only this piece.

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