Mingei Kasane Pair Chopsticks Gift Set with Rests, Paulownia Box | Ogishi Tadashi Shoten

A pair gift for a lifetime of shared meals

Two pairs of Mingei Kasane chopsticks with chopstick rests in matching colors, presented in an elegant paulownia (kiri) wood box. Two of the most popular color combinations are available: sky blue × pink, and tin gray × red. Used every day and warm to the touch, it is a gift that says “for many years to come”.

• For a wedding: a practical gift for a couple starting a new life together, with the warmth of handwork.
• For parents: for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or an anniversary; refined enough for anyone you respect.
• As a thank-you: for a retirement or to someone who has helped you; the paulownia box makes it feel properly special.
• For a new home: an everyday gift for a fresh start.

Layers of color, layers of care

Mingei Kasane chopsticks are made in Obama, Fukui, Japan’s great center of lacquered chopsticks, using lacquering techniques passed down in the region for generations. Local craftspeople finish each pair carefully by hand. The slim handle is gently carved, so it settles into your hand the moment you pick it up, as if you had been using it for years. The fine tips make it easy to pick up food.

The colors are lovely yet calm: a layer of brown is deliberately applied over a bright color, giving each pair depth and soft shading, finished with a touch of gold. They suit Japanese food and Western tableware alike. Five colors make it easy for each family member to have their own, and the chopsticks are dishwasher safe, so they are easy to care for every day. Kasane means “layering” in Japanese.

About Ogishi Tadashi Shoten

Obama in Fukui Prefecture makes about 80% of Japan’s lacquered chopsticks. There, Ogishi Tadashi Shoten has made chopsticks for three generations since 1969. Believing that “there are as many chopsticks as there are people and as many dining scenes,” they make everything from traditional Wakasa-nuri chopsticks with 400 years of history to dishwasher-safe chopsticks for everyday use and gift sets, so that every meal feels a little richer. Japanese wood is shaped by hand by craftspeople, with ease of use and long life always in mind.

Specifications

• Contents: 2 pairs of chopsticks and 2 chopstick rests
• Colors: sky blue × pink, or tin gray × red
• Length: 23 cm (9 in)
• Material: natural wood (malas); coating: polyester urethane
• Dishwasher safe
• Made in Obama, Fukui, Japan
• Packaging: paulownia wood gift box
• Lead time: this set is prepared by the maker after your order; please allow about one to two extra weeks before dispatch.