Sakura Wood Nakatsugi Chaki – Weeping Cherry Blossom Maki-e

Sakura Wood Nakatsugi Chaki – Weeping Cherry Blossom Maki-e by Reiho Sasaki

An elegant Japanese chaki (茶器) crafted from natural sakura wood (cherry wood) and decorated with a graceful shidarezakura (枝垂桜, weeping cherry blossom) maki-e design by Reiho Sasaki (佐々木麗峰).

The warm, natural character of the sakura wood provides a beautiful background for the delicate branches of cascading cherry blossoms. Rather than covering the entire surface with lacquer, the natural wood grain remains an important part of the aesthetic, giving the piece a light and refined appearance particularly suited to the spring tea season.

The form is nakatsugi (中次), a traditional type of chaki distinguished by the meeting line of the lid and body around the middle of the vessel. Used for holding matcha during the preparation of usucha, the nakatsugi is one of the classic forms of Japanese tea container.

The shidarezakura, with its long branches covered in softly cascading blossoms, is one of Japan’s most beloved expressions of spring. The delicate maki-e decoration captures the graceful movement of the flowering branches while maintaining the quiet elegance appropriate for the tea room.

This chaki is especially recommended for use during the sakura season, from late March through April, and makes a beautiful choice for a spring chakai or a tea gathering celebrating the arrival of cherry blossoms.

A refined combination of natural sakura wood, traditional form, and seasonal maki-e craftsmanship, this piece is equally appealing for use in the tea room or as part of a collection of Japanese tea utensils.

About the Artist – Reiho Sasaki

Reiho Sasaki (佐々木麗峰) is a Japanese maki-e artist based in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, an area with a long tradition of lacquer craftsmanship.

In 1968 (Showa 43), Sasaki began formal training as a maki-e artisan specializing in the decoration of traditional tea utensils, particularly natsume (棗) and kogo (香合, incense containers).

Sasaki’s work has received recognition including the Lacquer Art Association Award (漆芸協会賞) and selection for the Nichigeiten (日芸展).

Through traditional maki-e techniques and carefully composed seasonal motifs, Sasaki creates tea utensils that combine refined lacquer craftsmanship with the seasonal sensitivity central to the Japanese tea tradition.

Details

• Artist: Reiho Sasaki (佐々木麗峰)

• Type: Chaki (茶器) / Nakatsugi (中次)

• Material: Sakura wood (Cherry wood)

• Motif: Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry Blossoms)

• Decoration: Maki-e

• For Usucha

• Made in Japan
  
  

What Is a Nakatsugi?

A Nakatsugi is a traditional tea caddy used to store matcha during the Japanese tea ceremony.

Unlike a Natsume, whose lid joins near the top, a Nakatsugi has the lid divided at the center of the container. This classic shape has been used in tea ceremony for centuries and is one of the most common styles for serving matcha.