Urasenke Ennosai Konomi-utsushi Kamezo Natsume – Lacquer Matcha Tea Caddy

Ennosai Konomi-utsushi Kamezo Natsume by Soin

A refined Kamezo Natsume (亀蔵棗) by Japanese lacquer artist Soin (宗尹), created as an Ennosai Konomi-utsushi (円能斎好写), based on a design associated with Ennosai (円能斎), the 13th-generation Grand Master of Urasenke.

In Chanoyu, konomi (好) refers to a form or design favored or established by a tea master, while utsushi (写) indicates a faithful interpretation or reproduction of that established design. This gives the piece a meaningful connection to the aesthetic lineage of the Urasenke tea tradition.

The name Kamezo (亀蔵) incorporates kame (亀), or turtle, one of Japan’s traditional symbols of longevity and good fortune. The turtle has long been associated with a long and auspicious life, reflected in the familiar Japanese expression, “The crane lives for a thousand years, the turtle for ten thousand.”

Beyond its auspicious meaning, the piece is distinguished by its connection to an established Ennosai Konomi form, making it particularly appealing to practitioners of Urasenke and collectors of traditional Chanoyu utensils.

Created by Soin, this natsume combines Japanese lacquer craftsmanship with a design rooted in the history and aesthetic traditions of Urasenke.

A meaningful choice for a chakai, New Year or celebratory tea gathering, as well as for a collection of traditional Japanese lacquer tea utensils.

Details

• Artist: Soin (宗尹)

• Name: Kamezo Natsume (亀蔵棗)

• Design: Ennosai Konomi-utsushi (円能斎好写)

• Tradition: Urasenke

• Chaki / Matcha Tea Caddy

• For Usucha

• Made in Japan
  

  About Yamanaka Lacquerware

  Yamanaka Lacquerware (Yamanaka Shikki) is a traditional Japanese craft produced in Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history spanning approximately 450 years.

  It is especially renowned for its exceptional woodturning techniques. Skilled artisans carefully turn each piece to create thin, beautifully balanced forms while preserving the natural character and grain of the wood. The wooden surface is then carefully finished with layers of urushi lacquer, and some pieces are further embellished with traditional decorative techniques such as maki-e.

  Yamanaka lacquerware is highly regarded for its combination of precision, lightness, durability, and understated elegance. Its natsume and other utensils for Chanoyu reflect generations of specialized craftsmanship, bringing together practical function and refined Japanese aesthetics.

  About Natsume

  A natsume (棗) is a traditional Japanese chaki, or tea caddy, used to hold matcha during the preparation of usucha (thin tea) in Chanoyu.

  Its name comes from its resemblance to the fruit of the natsume, or jujube tree. Over the centuries, the natsume has become one of the most recognizable and important lacquer utensils in the Japanese tea tradition.

  Beyond its practical function, a natsume plays an important aesthetic role in the tea setting. Its form, lacquer finish, decorative technique, and seasonal motifs are thoughtfully selected in harmony with the other utensils, the season, and the theme of the tea gathering.

  A finely crafted natsume is therefore more than simply a container for matcha—it is an integral part of the artistic expression and seasonal experience of Chanoyu.