{"title":"Gato Mikio Shoten","description":"\u003cp\u003eGato Mikio is a fourth-generation woodcraft studio from Yamanaka Onsen, a region long known for its lacquerware and refined woodworking traditions. The studio is especially recognized for its precision-turned wooden tea canisters, trays, and tableware, each shaped with meticulous care and finished with natural lacquer to highlight the beauty of the wood grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese minimalist containers balance form and function. Designed for storing loose tea, coffee, spices, and other dry goods, they bring quiet craftsmanship and everyday practicality into the kitchen or tea space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObjects made to be used daily—and appreciated for years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"karmi-tawara-tea-canister","title":"Karmi Tawara Chazutsu — Cherry Birch Tea Canister","description":"\u003cp\u003eKarmi takes its name from karumi (軽み), a haiku concept meaning \"lightness.\" A chazutsu is a Japanese tea canister, and Tawara is the bale-shaped one in this series, low and rounded, made by Gato Mikio in Yamanaka, Ishikawa. The workshop has been turning wood there since 1908.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMizume, Japanese cherry birch.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense and hard, so it holds a fine cut without tearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e千筋, a thousand lines.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut freehand on the lathe, spaced by eye.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e縦木取り construction.\u003c\/strong\u003e Wood cut along the tree's growth direction, harder and more stable than the usual method.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFitted inner lid.\u003c\/strong\u003e Slows air and moisture, keeps tea fresh.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds up to 50g\u003c\/strong\u003e of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eφ7.8 cm × H 11.0 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e (3.1″ × 4.3″).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree finishes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface is covered in 千筋, a thousand lines, cut by hand while the wood turns on a lathe. The spacing is judged by eye. If one groove went deeper than the rest, the finish would pool there and show it, so an even surface is the whole test of the work. It's one of around forty patterns in the Yamanaka repertoire, and the turners forge their own blades to cut them. 加飾挽き, the decorative turning behind these patterns, is a specialization few makers still hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blank is cut from the log the same way the tree grew, standing upright. That's Yamanaka's method, and it leaves the wood harder than it would otherwise be. Hard wood is slow to carve and it's the only kind that holds a line this fine. It's also why the lid will still fit years from now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside is a fitted inner lid that sits against the walls of the canister, slowing the air and moisture that stale tea. The wood is dried and conditioned over several months before that lid is fitted, which is why it closes smoothly instead of sticking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll those ridges have a second job. The canister doesn't slip out of a wet hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoji (naked).\u003c\/strong\u003e The wood as-is, showing the grain and warm tone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFuki (butterbur).\u003c\/strong\u003e A soft brown named for the wild plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSumi (black).\u003c\/strong\u003e A deep matte black, from the color of sumi ink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade for tea, matcha, or coffee beans, in a form the maker has been refining for over a hundred years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gato Mikio Shoten","offers":[{"title":"Soji (Naked)","offer_id":33138716672086,"sku":"G1243-18074","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fuki (Butterbur)","offer_id":33138716704854,"sku":"G1243-18075","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sumi (Black)","offer_id":42060886573142,"sku":"G1243-18076","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2330\/8397\/files\/karmi-tawara-tea-canister-273561.png?v=1737382875"},{"product_id":"karmi-moto-tea-canister","title":"Karmi Moto Chazutsu — Cherry Birch Tea Canister","description":"\u003cp\u003eKarmi takes its name from karumi (軽み), a haiku concept meaning \"lightness.\" A chazutsu is a Japanese tea canister, and Moto is the tall cylindrical one in this series. Its name means \"origin,\" and the form is straight and upright. Made by Gato Mikio in Yamanaka, Ishikawa. The workshop has been turning wood there since 1908.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMizume, Japanese cherry birch.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense and hard, so it holds a fine cut without tearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e千筋, a thousand lines.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut freehand on the lathe, spaced by eye.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e縦木取り construction.\u003c\/strong\u003e Wood cut along the tree's growth direction, harder and more stable than the usual method.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds up to 50g\u003c\/strong\u003e of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eφ6.2 cm × H 19.3 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e (2.4″ × 7.6″).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree finishes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tall surface is worked with 千筋, a thousand lines cut by hand as the wood spins on the lathe. Each line is spaced by eye. A single deeper groove would trap lacquer and show the error, so an even surface is what the technique tests. 千筋 is one of about forty patterns named and cut in the Yamanaka tradition, and the turners forge their own blades to work them. 加飾挽き, the decorative turning behind these patterns, is a specialization few workshops still hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood is blanked from the log along the direction the tree grew, standing upright. That's Yamanaka's 縦木取り, and it leaves the wood harder and more stable than the usual crosscut. The hardness is what allows this many fine lines to be cut into a single surface without tearing. The stability keeps the shape true over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lid is fitted to the canister after the wood has been dried and conditioned over several months. That patient step is what lets the closure sit snugly against the wood rather than sticking or rattling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tall, narrow form could slip in a wet hand, but the 千筋 keeps it steady. All those hand-cut lines are earning their keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoji (naked).\u003c\/strong\u003e The wood as-is, showing the grain and warm tone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFuki (butterbur).\u003c\/strong\u003e A soft brown named for the wild plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSumi (black).\u003c\/strong\u003e A deep matte black, from the color of sumi ink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn upright form for the tea shelf, made in Yamanaka by a workshop over a hundred years old.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gato Mikio Shoten","offers":[{"title":"Soji (Naked)","offer_id":42060937003094,"sku":"G1242-18050","price":298.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fuki (Butterbur)","offer_id":42060937035862,"sku":"G1242-18051","price":298.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sumi (Black)","offer_id":42060937068630,"sku":"G1242-18052","price":298.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2330\/8397\/files\/karmi-moto-tea-canister-101676.png?v=1737382874"},{"product_id":"karmi-kama-tea-canister","title":"Karmi Kama Chazutsu — Cherry Birch Tea Canister","description":"\u003cp\u003eKarmi takes its name from karumi (軽み), a haiku concept meaning \"lightness.\" A chazutsu is a Japanese tea canister, and Kama is the rounded, pot-shaped one in this series, named for the iron kettle it echoes in form. Made by Gato Mikio in Yamanaka, Ishikawa. The workshop has been turning wood there since 1908.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMizume, Japanese cherry birch.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense and hard, so it holds a fine cut without tearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e千筋, a thousand lines.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut freehand on the lathe, spaced by eye.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e縦木取り construction.\u003c\/strong\u003e Wood cut along the tree's growth direction, harder and more stable than the usual method.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFitted inner lid.\u003c\/strong\u003e Slows air and moisture, keeps tea fresh.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds up to 50g\u003c\/strong\u003e of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eφ9.0 cm × H 11.0 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e (3.5″ × 4.3″).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree finishes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery one of those horizontal ridges is 千筋, a thousand lines cut by hand as the wood spins on the lathe. Nothing measures the spacing. It's judged by eye. A single deeper groove would trap lacquer and show the error, so the evenness of the whole surface is the proof of the cutting. 千筋 is one of about forty named patterns in the Yamanaka repertoire, and the turners forge their own blades to cut each one. 加飾挽き, the decorative turning behind these patterns, is a specialization few workshops still hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood blank is cut along the direction of growth, standing upright. That's 縦木取り, Yamanaka's method. It leaves the wood harder and more stable than blanks cut across the log. The hardness is what lets the surface hold this many hand-cut lines without tearing, and the stability is what keeps the lid fitting cleanly year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside, a fitted inner lid sits against the walls of the canister, slowing the air and moisture that stale tea. The wood is dried and conditioned over several months before that lid is fitted, which is why the closure is smooth rather than sticking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rounded belly could slip in a wet hand, but the 千筋 keeps it steady. All those hand-cut lines are doing two jobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoji (naked).\u003c\/strong\u003e The wood as-is, showing the grain and warm tone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFuki (butterbur).\u003c\/strong\u003e A soft brown named for the wild plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSumi (black).\u003c\/strong\u003e A deep matte black, from the color of sumi ink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade for tea, matcha, or coffee beans, in a form that echoes the iron kettle it's named after.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gato Mikio Shoten","offers":[{"title":"Soji (Naked)","offer_id":42981715673174,"sku":"G1243-18080","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Fuki (Butterbur)","offer_id":42981715705942,"sku":"G1243-18081","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Sumi (Black)","offer_id":42981715738710,"sku":"G1243-18082","price":284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2330\/8397\/files\/karmi-kama-tea-canister-2407870.png?v=1758713985"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2330\/8397\/collections\/gato-mikio-3985626.png?v=1752475664","url":"https:\/\/wabisabi-jp.com\/collections\/gato-mikio-shoten.oembed","provider":"The Wabi Sabi Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}