Shidarezakura Maki-e Nakanatsume – Weeping Cherry Blossom Lacquer Matcha Caddy

Shidarezakura Maki-e Nakanatsume by Kosai

An elegant Nakanatsume (中棗) by Japanese lacquer artist Kosai (湖彩), featuring a graceful Shidarezakura (枝垂れ桜), or weeping cherry blossom, motif.

Shidarezakura is one of Japan’s most admired varieties of cherry blossom, known for its long, cascading branches covered with delicate flowers. The gently descending blossoms create a sense of movement and elegance, making shidarezakura a particularly beautiful motif in Japanese decorative arts and Chanoyu.

The design captures the fleeting beauty of sakura at the height of spring. In Japanese aesthetics, cherry blossoms have long been appreciated not only for their beauty, but also for their brief season of bloom—a reminder of the precious and transient nature of each moment.

The Nakanatsume (中棗) is a classic, well-balanced form of chaki used to hold matcha for the preparation of usucha (thin tea). Its proportions provide an elegant surface for the flowing branches of the shidarezakura design.

Especially recommended for the sakura season, from late March through April, this natsume is a beautiful choice for a spring chakai, a sakura-themed tea gathering, or for pairing with other seasonal utensils celebrating the arrival of spring.

Created by Kosai, this piece brings together traditional Japanese lacquer craftsmanship and one of the most beloved seasonal motifs of the tea room.

Details

• Artist: Kosai (湖彩)

• Type: Nakanatsume (中棗)

• Motif: Shidarezakura (枝垂れ桜) – Weeping Cherry Blossoms

• Decoration: Maki-e

• Chaki / Matcha Tea Caddy

• For Usucha

• Recommended Season: Spring / Sakura 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 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.