Uruwashiya

　

　

　

The antique shop Uruwashiya (うるわし屋) is located directly south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Upon entering, one is not greeted by the drowsy, stagnant air typical of antique shops, but by a surprisingly somehow refreshing space. When walking through the store, where items are densely yet orderly displayed, there are so many pieces that one cannot help but stop to admire, making it difficult to move forward. It is truly like searching for treasure.

Founded in Nara Prefecture in 1988 by the couple HORIUCHI Akemi (堀内 明美) and HORIUCHI Shōgo (堀内 正吾), Uruwashiya moved to its current location in 1994. The shop’s name is derived from uruwashi (麗し: beautiful), the etymological root of urushi lacquer. The inventory features lifestyle antiques curated by Akemi – centred on lacquerware alongside chabako boxes, chakago baskets, glass and ceramics – as well as Buddhist art selected by Shōgo.

The vessels chosen by Akemi are primarily works by deceased artists who exhibited at the “Imperial Fine Arts Academy Exhibition” (帝国美術院展覧会: a government-sponsored open exhibition held from 1907 to 1944) during the Taishō era (1912–1926) and early Shōwa era (1926–ca. 1947). Having been fond of table coordination since her youth, Akemi often hosted friends, treating them to home-cooked meals served on her favourite lacquerware and Imari porcelain. Therefore, every piece in the shop is selected by her personal desire to use, or to keep it nearby. Reflecting how deeply they have been cherished, all items are in excellent condition.

Vessels that truly come to life with daily use – this philosophy also applies to the antique urushi lacquerware Akemi selects. While lacquerware in Japan is often associated with ‘haré’ (ハレ: extraordinary occasions such as a festive, ritual event), she proposes items for use in ‘ké’ (ケ: ordinary, everyday life). The more lacquerware is used, the more the urushi particles are polished down, increasing its gloss. This unique character is something that cannot be experienced with new products.

Furthermore, the chabako (茶箱: storage box for tea ceremony utensils) is the symbol of their shop’s individuality. After becoming fascinated by a betel box she encountered during a trip to Thailand, Akemi awakened to the depth of meaning, beauty and craftsmanship of tea boxes. Today, as a specialist in the field, she continues to share the rich world of chabako.

The chabako is said to have been started by tea master Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591), who perfected the concept of wabi-sabi in the world of tea ceremony. Its charm lies in the fact that, unlike formal tea ceremonies, there are no strict rules regarding tools or etiquette. As long as the tools are ready, anyone can easily enjoy tea anywhere. Moreover, it allows for mitate (見立て) – the practice of using objects for purposes other than their original intent – which offers a high degree of freedom.

Most chabako tea boxes are made of wood, but designs vary widely: from simple natural wood finishes and parquetry to painted, lacquered, or intricately decorated pieces with maki-é* or chinkin**. There are also chakago (茶籠: storage baskets for tea ceremony utensils) woven from bamboo, rattan or willow.
*maki-ė (蒔絵): a technique by which lacquered surfaces are decorated with sprinkled gold or silver powder over wet patterns.
**chinkin (沈金): a technique of engraving fine designs on lacquered surfaces and filling them with gold leaf.

Tea utensils differ between those for matcha (抹茶: whisked powdered green tea) and sencha (煎茶: steeped green tea leaves). For example, for matcha, a basic set consists of six items: a chawan (茶碗) tea bowl, a cha-zutsu (茶筒) tea caddy, a chashaku (茶杓) tea spoon, a chasen-zutsu (茶筌筒) holder with bamboo tea whisk, a chakin-zutsu (茶巾筒) holder with a hemp towel, and a furidasi (振り出し) small confectionery container. Made from various materials, all are miniature, come in varying designs, and are coordinated to fit the size of the chabako tea box or chakago basket. Akemi says that this free matching and combining of chabako tool sets is the true quintessence of the pleasure of “chabako play”.

In the “Chabako Exhibition”, which has been held since 2009, dozens of tea boxes produced by Akemi are on show. A unique aspect is that every item can be purchased individually. Items that do not find a purchaser are reassembled into different tea boxes. As a result of repeating this “chabako playfulness”, exhibitions are now held irregularly. Even outside exhibition periods, if you have a specific item in mind, Akemi is able to offer advice. She might also show you objects that are not currently on display in the store.

“Don’t worry if you don’t have any knowledge of the tea ceremony (the Way of Tea),” she says. Just as her words suggest, anyone can casually enjoy the world of chabako at Uruwashiya.
We hope you can find your own personal favourite there.

　

　

A MESSAGE FROM THE STORE OWNER:

For those who are unsure which chabako tea box or chakago tea basket to choose, I always offer this advice: “Imagine the scene where you intend to use it.”
For a long-distance journey, I recommend a compact basket.
On the other hand, if you plan to enjoy tea on your dining table at home, a larger tea box adorned with elegant maki-é would be perfect.

When asked, “Where should I begin?” my answer is always the same: start with the box or the basket.
If you already have a favourite item you would like to use, please bring it with you.
We can then work together to find the perfect pieces to complete your set.

There is no greater joy for me than seeing the community of chabako and chakago enthusiasts grow in this way.

　　 　

DETAILS:

STORE CATEGORY & BUSINESS DESCRIPTION:
Antique shop

SNS:
INSTAGRAM: @uruwashiya1988

 

PAST EXHIBITIONS:

Chabako Exhibition (since 2009, held once a year)

　

　

　

　

　

　

Courtesy of Uruwashiya

　

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