Digital Collections

- Tea caddy for thin tea with koma design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- The distinctive koma design used for this natsume is of Southeast Asian origin. The design has a long history of use in Japan. The Japanese name for the pattern likens it to a spinning top.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Lid rest with tsubo-tsubo design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
- This bamboo futaoki bears a configuration of the tsubo-tsubo design, an element of the Sen (Urasenke) family crest. Futaoki of painted bamboo are considered more formal than those made from fresh green bamboo, but are less formal than those made...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Teabowl with phoenix design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
- Bearing a painted design depicting a phoenix, this chawan is designed for thin tea and is appropriate for use in any season.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Teabowl for summer with open fan design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
- This summer bowl for thin tea bears painted motifs typical of the Kyoto pottery kilns laid over a soft white body glaze. The design, with its colorful floral motifs, suggests the movement of seasons.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with autumnal design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- This natsume features a design of bush clover (hagi) and pampas grass (suzuki) that suggests the autumn season. They are two of the seven autumn grasses. Maki-e.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with cherry and maple design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- This natsume is decorated in the clouds and brocade (unkin or kumonishiki) pattern, depicting cherry blossoms and maple leaves. The design suggests the passing of time, or the ephemeral nature of existence - a quality that takes the motif beyond...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with wild orchid design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- This small-sized (ko-hira) natsume was often used by its owner for chabako temae and is decorated with a wild orchid motif. It is very skillfully made, representing many hours of work on the part of the craftsperson. The natsume is accompanied here...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Kazari fire chopsticks
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Implements, utensils, etc. [lcsh]; chopsticks [lcsh]
- Decorative fire tongs (kazaribashi), with a finial design in the shape of chrysanthenum flowers, a design that was favored by the 14th generation Head Master of the Urasenke tradition of tea, Tantansai Mugensai Soshitsu (1893-1964). The kazaribashi...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Sweet dishes with plum blossom design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh];
- Individual serving dishes used to serve moist sweets, or "omogashi." The plum blossom design may designate that they are intended to be used in January or February. However, the plum motif also has auspicious connotations so they could be used on...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Kimekomi doll (gold and orange kimono).
- Japanese -- Social life and customs [lcsh]; Dolls [lcsh];
- The doll is performing the sun hat dance. Kimekomi means to "tuck in 1" in Japanese. Cloth, usually made of silk brocade with traditional Japanese design, is glued and tucked into grooves of the doll body. The origin of kimekomi dolls dates back...
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Golden brocade obi with floral design.
- Kimonos [lcsh]; Wedding costume -- Japan [lcsh]; Nakano, Yaeko Mildred Uyemura [aacr2];
- Worn by Mildred Uyemura Nakano at her wedding. An obi (belt or sash) is used to tie a kimono.
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Black plastic tray with design.
- Japanese Americans -- Religion [lcsh]; Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 [lcsh]; Tule Lake Relocation Center [lcna]; Concentration camps -- California [lcsh]; Buddhism -- Customs and practices [lcsh]; Household shrines,...
- Tray used to hold a bowl (which was used as a gong) and small white incense holder. The Butsudan (Buddhist family altar) was handmade by the Kato family while interned at Tule Lake Relocation Center. Butsudans are dedicated to the Dai-Mandala (the...
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Drum with crane design for Boy's Day set.
- Japanese Americans -- Social life and customs [lcsh]; Tango no sekku [aacr2];
- Boys' Day Festival (Tango-no-Sekku) is observed annually on May 5th to celebrate the healthy growth and development of young boys. On this day, the Japanese take iris-scented baths, sip iris wine, and stick iris leaves on the roof. The iris is...
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Walnut jewelry box.
- Concentration camps -- Colorado [lcsh]; Granada Relocation Center [lcna]; Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 [lcsh]; Woodwork [lcsh];
- Jewelry box most likely made during internment at Granada Relocation Center. Bottom of box is inscribed with "4B" and an "S" design.
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Wooden rice bowl with floral design inside.
- Japan -- History -- Allied occupation, 1945-1952 -- Collectibles [lcsh];
- Made in occupied Japan.
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Leather folding wallet.
- Tule Lake Relocation Center [lcna]; Concentration camps -- California [lcsh]; Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 [lcsh]; Tule Lake Relocation Center -- Pictorial works [lcsh]; Prisoners as artists [lcsh]; Leatherwork [lcsh];...
- Leather folding wallet made at Tule Lake by Eizuchi Tsujikawa. Wallet has design of Tule Lake watchtower and barracks.
- Japanese American Archival Collection ImageBase
- Teabowl with tenmoku glaze
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
- This chawan bears a typical black tenmoku glaze on the outside, while on the inside of the bowl a plum design emerges from the ""tortoise shell"" glaze that is typical of Taihizan style tenmoku bowls. The term "tenmoku" refers to historical...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Teabowl for winter
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
- The cylindrical design of this black raku-style chawan suggests warmth, making it appropriate for serving thin tea in the winter months.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Serving dish with blue design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]
- Used for serving a single fresh moist sweet (namagashi) to a guest, this plate employs a colorful blue motif depicting flower-viewing dumplings (hanami-dango). These skewered, steamed rice dumplings are common during Kyoto's Miyako-odori, a dance...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Serving dish with green design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]
- Used for serving a single fresh moist sweet (namagashi) to a guest, this plate employs a colorful green motif depicting flower-viewing dumplings (hanami-dango). These skewered, steamed rice dumplings are common during Kyoto's Miyako-odori, a dance...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection