Japanese Americans -- Social life and customs [lcsh]; Clothing and dress [lcsh]
The kanreki celebrates the completion of five Chinese zodiac cycles and the beginning of an individual's second childhood. In the lunar calendar, the passage of each of the five elements -- wood, fire, earth, metal, and water -- with each of twelve...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
The use of bentwood (magemono) for this finely crafted mizusashi is understood to embody a "fading to nothing" - the notion that the container is effectively invisible. Magemono mizusashi are used with utensils of Chinese origin or Japanese wares...
Chopsticks such as these are typically offered with a serving dish, providing a means for guests to transfer the food to their bowls during the formal kaiseki meal. The chopsticks are usually soaked in water beforehand to prevent foods from...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Shigaraki pottery [lcsh]
The solid, sturdy form and rustic appearance of this mizusashi is typical of the work of the Shigaraki kilns. Its massive appearance provides a strong visual anchor in the tearoom and its subdued color and feeling are appropriate for a wide variety...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
The "ears" on this fine mizusashi are fashioned in the shape of shrimp, which suggest a congratulatory theme. The work exhibits pleasing ash marks from the firing and the rich, toffee-colored (amegusuri) glaze which is a special attribute of the...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
The classic, understated design and subdued color of this vessel complements its humble function. The shape of this kensui is called efugo, named after a similar container designed for feeding hawks. Though kensui are also crafted of ceramic or...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
This style of creating pattern thorough incising and impressing seals originated in Korea. When brought to Japan, the grid-like patterns reminded the Japanese of a famous calendar produced at a temple in Mishima.Tthe technique and the ware...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
Unkin literally means "clouds and brocade." This phrase likens cherry blossoms to clouds and colored maples leaves to brocade. Elements of another much loved motif, hana ikada or flowers drifting downstream on a raft, also appear. Both these motifs...
The idea for the design of this basket came from a very old practice of controlling the flow of water in the Kamo River that flows through Kyoto by wrapping large stones in bamboo and placing them strategically. The bamboo tube inside the original...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh];
Metal saki pourer used when the kaiseki meal is being served. May also be used for the chabako tea, as a kettle for hot water. Mount Fuji decorates the body while the knob on the lid is a pine cone.
Scroll reads "Shoufuu issetsu ni kusu" which translated into English means "With one sip I drink in the pine wind." The source of the quote is from the late Southern Sung priest Kaiseki Chihou's poem titled "Keizan sencha". Keizan refers to a...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
This hishaku is crafted in the traditional pattern for furo season, distinguished by a smaller cup appropriate to the furo kettle, and by an angled cut on the lower surface at the tip of the handle.
