Ōtagaki Rengetsu

Chanoyu, a practice focused on the artful preparation and consumption of tea, developed in Japan in the 1500s. It employs a carefully curated array of tea utensils. Tea bowls are central to chanoyu and highly valued by tea practitioners. Tomobako, special wooden or lacquer boxes made for storing tea bowls, play a vital role in protecting the utensils and recording their history. Tomobako can feature the potter’s signature and the practitioner’s appraisals and appreciations, enriching the experience of chanoyu.