KARMI Tea Box

The tea box handcrafted by expert artisans 

It will last a lifetime and is designed to preserve the taste of your tea leaves.

A material coming from the vertical cutting of wood

By using the wood cut horizontally against the trunk, it is possible to work in the direction of the tree's growth, making it stronger and more resistant to warping and shrinking. It is a unique and delicate process of high precision. 

The skill of craftsmen acquired over many years of experience.

Kijibiki木地挽き (tournage sur bois)

A technique for carving round-shaped vessels by turning blocks of wood on a lathe using chisel-like turning tools. A craftsman who specializes in this process is called a Kijishi or wood turner. He uses special, custom turning tools that allow him to make the highest quality wooden containers.

The precise fit of the container lid, which slides smoothly, testifies to the high seal achieved.

The smooth and precise opening and closing of the lid is made possible by the careful preparation of the wood, which takes several months to adjust its humidity level to the right level, and by the skill and intuition of the craftsmen, acquired over over years of experience.

Kashokubiki Decorative cutting

This is a turning technique for decorating wood and which allows us to obtain these very precise and aesthetic streaks, the famous Sen-suji pattern. It is a traditional technique from Yamanaka in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Fuki-urushi 拭漆 (lacquer technique to highlight the grain of the wood)

The process of applying and wiping off the lacquer is repeated several times, resulting in a clear luster and beautiful wood grain appearance.

Material: Japanese cherry birch

Size: φ7.8cm x H11cm

Capacity: 100g

There are 3 colors: Soji, Fuki, Sumi

Soji is a natural wood with no staining, Fuki is a calming brown, and Sumi is a matte black with a hint of wood grain. Each of these colors has its own atmosphere. 

Protective finish:

Soji: polyurethane finish
Fuki: Urushi lacquer + polyurethane finish
Sumi: black Urushi lacquer + polyurethane finish

This product comes with its beautiful original box, making it very suitable for a gift.

Important : 

• These are handmade products, each piece will look slightly different.
• Never leave lacquerware items in water for a long time. After use, wash them as soon as possible and wipe them with a dry cloth.
• Never leave lacquer objects in direct sunlight or high humidity, to avoid the risk of transformation, discoloration and mold.
• Never use scrubbing brushes or scouring powders.
• Not suitable for the dishwasher.

KARMI Light is a quote from one of the concepts of Haikai poetry, karumi. Literally meaning "lightness", it is an ideal in the style of Haikai founded by Basho Matsuo (a Japanese Haiku poet who lived in the 17th century). We applied his Haikai concept of karumi to the KARMI product line and hoped to express minimalism in everyday life rather than emphasizing technique, no matter how exceptional. We believe that haiku and design have common concepts in terms of beauty produced by depth.

Made in Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture

GATO MIKIO Wado Mikio Store

Founded in 1908, Gato Mikio is a house specializing in wood lacquer in Yamanaka in Ishikawa Prefecture. They produce and sell exquisitely designed lacquerware that highlights the characteristics of their production region, such as traditional woodturning methods and decorations using "kashokubiki" (a special woodturning technique).