This is a "jikiro" (food container) made by the wood artist Kakuzan Hayashi. It appears to be unused and in beautiful condition. Born in Oimatsu, Kurashiki-cho, Tsukubo-gun (present-day Kurashiki City), his real name is Fumio. In 1942, he became a disciple of the wood artist Seisen Masuda. In his younger days, he produced woodworks for Sekisen Hiraga and Showasai Ono. In 1972, he was first selected for the 19th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Since then, he has been active mainly in the same exhibition, repeatedly being selected. He specializes in carved objects made from high-quality keyaki (Japanese zelkova) wood, and produces items such as lacquered "teiban" (serving trays), "jikiro" (food containers), and "kobon" (incense trays). In 1985, he received the Minister of Labour Award (Contemporary Master Craftsman), and in 1993, he received the Kurashiki City Culture Federation Award. In 1995, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. In 1999, he received the Kurashiki City Culture Award. #KakuzanHayashi #TeaUtensils #Woodwork #Jikiro #TeaCeremonyUtensils #Antique