Karamono-utsushi Chaki with Koma Chinkoku – Black Kataji Lacquer

Karamono-utsushi Chaki with Koma Chinkoku by Juho Kobayashi

A refined Japanese Chaki (茶器) by lacquer artist Juho Kobayashi (小林寿峰), created in the Karamono-utsushi (唐物写) tradition and crafted from mizume wood (水目) with a deep black kataji (堅地) lacquer finish.

Karamono (唐物) traditionally refers to objects and aesthetics introduced to Japan from China and highly valued within the history of Chanoyu. The term utsushi (写) describes a work created in reference to an established historical form or design, carrying its aesthetic tradition forward through contemporary craftsmanship.

Koma Chinkoku – Carved Lacquer Decoration

A distinctive feature of this chaki is its Koma Chinkoku (独楽沈刻) decoration.

Koma refers to the visual rhythm of concentric bands associated with a spinning top, while chinkoku (沈刻) is an incised decorative technique in which patterns are carved into the finished surface.

The combination creates a restrained geometric design that reveals its detail through the carved lines rather than through elaborate pictorial decoration. Against the deep black lacquer, the subtle pattern gives the piece a quiet, sophisticated character.

Mizume Wood & Kataji Lacquer

The body is crafted from mizume wood (水目) and prepared with kataji (堅地), a carefully built, durable foundation used in traditional lacquerwork.

Rather than relying on a seasonal floral motif, this chaki draws its beauty from its form, deep black surface, precise carved decoration, and traditional craftsmanship. Its understated character makes it highly versatile for use throughout the year and easy to coordinate with a wide variety of chawan and other tea utensils.

Created by Juho Kobayashi, this piece is a refined choice for Chakai and Chanoyu, as well as for collectors who appreciate traditional Japanese lacquer craftsmanship and classical tea utensil forms.

Details

• Artist: Juho Kobayashi (小林寿峰)
• Type: Chaki (茶器)
• Style: Karamono-utsushi (唐物写)
• Material: Mizume Wood (水目)
• Finish: Black Lacquer
• Foundation: Kataji (堅地)
• Decoration: Koma Chinkoku (独楽沈刻)
• For Usucha
• Season: All Season
• 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 beautifully balanced, lightweight forms while preserving the natural character and grain of the wood. The surface is then finished with carefully applied layers of lacquer, and some pieces are further embellished with traditional decorative techniques such as maki-e, using gold or silver powders.

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 (茶器), or matcha 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 role, a natsume is an important part of the aesthetic composition of a tea gathering. Its form, lacquer finish, decorative technique, and seasonal motif are thoughtfully selected in harmony with the chawan, chashaku, and other utensils.

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