Karmi Kama Chazutsu — Cherry Birch Tea Canister
Karmi 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.
- Mizume, Japanese cherry birch. Dense and hard, so it holds a fine cut without tearing.
- 千筋, a thousand lines. Cut freehand on the lathe, spaced by eye.
- 縦木取り construction. Wood cut along the tree's growth direction, harder and more stable than the usual method.
- Fitted inner lid. Slows air and moisture, keeps tea fresh.
- Holds up to 50g of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.
- φ9.0 cm × H 11.0 cm (3.5″ × 4.3″).
- Three finishes. Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).
Every 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.
The 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.
Inside, 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.
The rounded belly could slip in a wet hand, but the 千筋 keeps it steady. All those hand-cut lines are doing two jobs.
Finishes
- Soji (naked). The wood as-is, showing the grain and warm tone.
- Fuki (butterbur). A soft brown named for the wild plant.
- Sumi (black). A deep matte black, from the color of sumi ink.
Made for tea, matcha, or coffee beans, in a form that echoes the iron kettle it's named after.
- Dimensions
- Materials
- Care Guide
