A set of food and drink containers

Abstract

This item is a tea box set for the Japanese tea ceremony. It consists of the tools necessary for the tea ceremony and a box for storing them. It includes the box, tea bowl, chasen tube (a tube that holds the chasen used to stir the matcha powder), hira-natsume (a container for holding the matcha powder), kōgo (an incense container), furidashi (a container for konpeito sugar), chakintsutsu (a cloth container for wiping the tea bowl), and shifuku (a cloth cover to protect the tea bowl from being broken). The lid of the box also serves as a tray when preparing the matcha according to the Japanese tea ceremony. A tea ceremony is usually performed by a pair of two people: the host (hereafter referred to as the host) and the guest. The box is opened and the lid is placed on top. The removed tools are arranged on the lid. The incense is taken from the kōgo and placed on the fire. The host invites the guest to furidashi. The guest takes konpeito sugar from the furidashi. The host takes a tea towel from the tea towel case and wipes the tea bowl, then scoops matcha powder from the tea caddy and puts it into the bowl. He then takes the tea whisk from the tea whisk case and stirs the matcha powder into the hot water. He then serves the tea bowl to the guest. Once the guest has finished drinking the matcha, he puts the utensils away in the box in reverse order. The box, tea whisk case and tea caddy are made of wood and colored with natural indigo. The tea bowl is made of ceramic and colored with indigo. The tea cup and tea whisk case are made of glass and colored with natural indigo. The wrapping is made of cotton thread dyed with natural indigo. The incense container is decorated with clams and silver leaf. The natural indigo is from Tokushima Prefecture, which is also known for its clams. The entire collection of items represents Tokushima Prefecture.

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