



[Cherry Bark Tea Canister]
Many Japanese tea drinkers would like to have a tea canister made of cherry tree bark. Fujiki Denshiro Shoten has been making high-quality birch work in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, since its establishment in 1851 in the Edo period.
The word "kaba-zaiku" is said to have originated in a long poem in the Manyoshu (collection of ancient Japanese poetry), in which mountain cherry blossoms were described as "kaniha", which was later transformed into "kaba."
The texture of cherry bark is used as it is in "shimofurikawa," and you can enjoy the natural texture of the mountain cherry bark itself. Shimofurikawa is a more precious material as only those with a good expression are used. Then, when the surface of the rawhide is scraped, a reddish-brown layer is revealed. It is called "mujikawa" if it has been polished to make it shiny, and you can enjoy the unique color and luster of cherry bark.
"Kaba-hagi (birch-stripping)" is done during August and September. At this time of year, the mountain cherry trees are so moist that when the mountaineers cut into the bark, the bark peels cleanly away from the trunk. Only about one-third of the total bark is stripped from standing trees. In this way, the cherry trees do not die, and the bark regrows on the peeled areas, which are then used as "second bark." Kaba-zaiku is a craft that is friendly to both wood and the environment.
The amount of cherry bark collected is decreasing overall due to the decrease in the number of mountaineers and the unsettled climate, and its scarcity is increasing more and more.
The cherry bark tea canister gains luster and shine from daily contact with the hand, and the more it is used, the more it changes to a calm color. Not only the outer casing, but also the inside and the back of the lid are covered with precious cherry bark, making it a gem of quality. You can also use it to store coffee beans, so please consider it as a gift for tea and coffee lovers.
Fujiki Denshiro Shoten's Sokawa Tea Canister
https://www.shokunin.com/en/denshiro/
Reference
http://denshiro.jp/