Leave your phone behind.
Breathe, and find yourself.
Whisk matcha with proper tools,
just as you brew coffee.
With this all-in-one tool ‘Matcha-ki’,
all you need to do is pour hot water.
All in one. One of a kind.
Redefine culture by discovering
the meaning of craft & tools in daily life.
A new way to enjoy matcha,
beyond the ceremony.
Collaborated with : Hyogo Kobayashi
Matcha-ki / 抹茶器
Winner of Craft Competition in Takaoka 2025
WHY / context
The highly refined art form - tea ceremony known as ‘Sado’ - developed over the centuries. At the same time, the tools for making Matcha have been stylised and, are so deeply linked with this context.
Through this respectful cultural heritage, I tried to create something in a proper and thoughtful way that it can realize the essence of tools in daily life for those who are fascinated by Matcha.
Then researching the history and context of utensils for ‘Sado’ from a book “茶道具入門 (An introduction to Tea Tools)” by Sen-o Tanaka, I found that there are few products which feature a simple, minimal set of tools for just making and enjoying Matcha, even though there are the thoughtful compact tools for having a tea ceremony in an outdoor or temporary place, known as the ’Nodate’ style.
It means that graceful movements of ’Sado’ and evolving tools have been developed in a high-stylised communication environment, like a tea ceremony, through various historical backgrounds.
This is why nowadays we rarely have the opportunity to simply enjoy Matcha by just pouring hot water and whisking using proper tools that realise the essence of the craft.
So I aimed for like a similar experience; “Take a coffee break” with simple, clean ,thoughtful, and certainly respectful tools.
HOW / application
CUP
The label-like handle aims not only iconic shape but also practical use; set upside down makes well-ventilation prevent mold, as well as shows at a glance which side is up avoiding spread out Matcha powder in use.
CADDY (NATSUME)
The caddy with lid also features breathes well so that Matcha powder stays dry.
CASE for WHISK & FOLDABLE SCOOP
Milled to the shape of the bamboo whisk to fit it inside.
Japanese cedar features breathes well so that whisk stays dry.
WHAT / implementation
Matcha-ki composes the three layers into a single object turned from one log; a cup, case for a bamboo whisk and folding scoop, and a Matcha caddy with lid.
Put it on the shelf as an art piece not in use, then set it on your desk or kitchen counter pour hot water, and whisk.
Matcha becomes as easy and everyday as making coffee, yet made with tools shaped by a craftsman's hand.
By bringing proper, crafted tools back into daily life, it lets us rediscover what these tools mean.
As a Japanese designer, my hope is that this small, everyday ritual becomes one step in how Matcha culture keeps evolving, a quiet and contemporary chapter alongside the long tradition of 'Sado’.
