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Why is it that only in Japan chopsticks are used horizontally?
The food in front of you is a life that was alive earlier. It is a ritual to break the "HA" (boundary) between them by picking up the "HA+SHI"(chopsticks), and eat it for one's own life.
The word HASHI (chopsticks) comes from two words HA +SHI, “HA” meaning boundary and SHI meaning to fix. A bridge (Hashi) is to connect this side to the other side, and a pillar / soul in heaven (Hashira) is to connect this world to the other world.
The word “Itadakimasu" which we say upon eating, shows the spiritual culture of the Japanese people with respect and gratitude for the life they are about to receive. Lacquerware such as chopsticks and bowls play an important role in this culture.
The Jomon sites in the northern Tohoku region and Hokkaido have been registered as a World Heritage site. Lacquer ware has been excavated from the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori Prefecture.
Wooden objects usually rot and are unlikely to remain, but lacquer ware is thought to have remained because of its protective properties. Only the Japanese have always applied bowls (Mari) directly to the lips/mouth. Wooden Mari (bowls) are easy to hold in the hand and gentle on the mouth, even if the food inside is hot. The smoothness and antibacterial properties of lacquer are useful when it is placed directly on the mouth. I am sure that our ancestors understood these characteristics of lacquer.
The food culture has been handed down from ancient times, and the lacquer culture has supported it. We hope this culture will continue to be cherished for many years or generations to come.
It is said that Nara and Heian periods are one of the periods where Japan's national culture has developed.
It is said that “Maki-e”, a lacquer decoration, was born around this time.
From there, Maki-e craftsmen have refined their skills and made efforts to expand their expressive capability.
The Mitamura family has inherited the Akatsuka school of maki-e and has created many intricate works based on Japanese-style paintings. Arisumi, the 10th generation of the Akatsuka school of Edo maki-e, has also created a new technique called "gold and silver urushi tenmoku maki-e" and devotes himself to expressing his unique world view.
What we want our customers to feel through our work is a connection with nature and the universe, as we are also a part of it.
*Please note that they may be sold out.
Only a limited number of items are available.