The traditional tea crafted of Takayama are an excellent example of simplicity and superb attention to detail. Beyond the goosebumps that are due when you hold an item crafted by a family with a 530 year history devoted to a single art, you will find that these chashaku are excellent tools for your tea practice.
BUKU BUKU whisks are used in Okinawa's stunning yet little known SaDo (Tea Practice).
A Brief History
Takayama has been the most important origin for chasen since the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The legend reports that Juko Murata, known as the first 'wabi-cha' tea practitioner, commissioned a batch of whisks from a local bamboo artisan: Minbunojo Nyudo Sosetsu Takayama. Murata gifted the whisks made by Takayama to Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, who was fascinated. The whisks that you hold today are made in a very similar way!
The Tanimura Family
Yasaburo Tanimura (25th generation) is the current head of a family enterprise that was created half a millennium ago. He is one of fewer than 20 master 'shokunin' recognized by the Japanese government to preserve this ancient art.