Sokawa Tea Caddy, Marbled

Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture is a historic town that prospered as a castle town during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Kaba-zaiku, a woodcraft made from the bark of mountain cherry trees, took root as a regional specialty in Kakunodate at the end of the 18th century after it became popular as a household industry for samurai warriors, where it has continued to thrive to this day.

This tea caddy, which looks like a tree trunk, is made of thinly shaved cherry bark that retains a natural, knotty texture called shimofurikawa for the outer casing, and cherry bark that has been repeatedly polished to a glossy lustrous finish for the interior. This is a luxurious gem that allows you to appreciate the profound beauty of cherry trees every time you open the exquisitely crafted lid, which fits effortlessly into place.