steam

Before the Lid Lifts: Unajū

Before the lid lifts, lacquer holds a hush. This piece follows the two-step opening of unajū—break the seal, then lift—through steam, tare, powdered sanshō, and the first bite, where balance is felt and words stay small.

The Steam That Listens: Chagama with Kokoro

In the quiet of a winter tea room, a chagama rests within the hearth, its iron surface calm beneath the hanging scroll for “snow.” This is where chagama and Kokoro are present together—beyond the sound of boiling, in the stillness that remains.