Suikaen Tanimura Yasuburo: Shiratake Shin Chasen

Suikaen is led by Yasaburo Tanimura (谷村弥三郎), a 25th-generation chasen maker who has continued his family's 500-year tradition. He is one of only 18 remaining chasen masters. These whisks are crafted from locally grown bamboo in the small village of Takayama (高山) in northwest Nara Prefecture, which is renowned as the only village in Japan dedicated to chasen making.

Unlike mass-produced matcha whisks, these chasen are entirely handmade without the use of machines or chemicals to accelerate the bamboo growing, drying, or shaping processes. This craftsmanship requires immense time and skill. As a result, Takayama chasen feature finer, more flexible tines and greater attention to detail, making them not only more beautiful but also easier and more enjoyable to use, as well as more durable in the long run. l as more durable in the long run.

The shin (真) shape is one of the most popular due to its elegant curves, and is prefered by students of both Urasenke and Omotesenke schools of tea ceremony (though the dark bamboo is more popular with Omotesenke). Having roughly 64 tines, the shin chasen sits in between dedicated usucha chasen which have lots of thin tines, and dedicated koicha chasen, which have fewer but thicker tines. This makes shin-type chasen suitable both for whipping up a fine, foamy usucha and kneading a thick, rich koicha.

Before you use:

The Chasen is attached to its paper box with a rice-based adhesive. To remove the Chasen, gently grasp the handle and carefully peel it away from the box. After that, use a damp cloth to clean the underside of the handle.

Important: Before using the Chasen, it’s advisable to briefly soak it in hot water to help prevent the delicate prongs from breaking.

Please be aware that during transportation, the base may detach from the box due to movement.

Care Instructions & Precautions:
The tips of the Chasen are delicate and may break if pressed too hard against the bottom of the tea bowl. To preserve its quality, avoid using dishwashers or dryers, as sudden changes in temperature and humidity can cause cracks.

After use, rinse the Chasen with water and ensure it is thoroughly dried before storing. Store the Chasen in a location that avoids extreme temperatures, high humidity, dry conditions, and direct sunlight. The ideal humidity for storage is between 45% and 60%. 

Be aware that natural drying can lead to vertical cracks in the handle, which can be seen as a unique feature of the bamboo's natural character.

The lifespan of a chasen depends on how it is handled and how frequently it is used. As soon as the tips of the tines start to break off, we recommend purchasing a new one.

Dimensions: H: 11 cm, diameter of handle: 2 cm

New: Made in Japan - Takayama, Nara