◆"菓子切kashikiri/楊枝yoji" is a toothpick used for cutting sweets in tea ceremony.

Kashikiri is made from various material such as wood, bamboo, stainless steel, silver or ivory.

But the one made from the wood of spicebush is traditional and significant in tea ceremony. It is specially called "黒文字kuromoji" (the spicebush in Japanese).

There are some reasons kuromoji tree is used for kashikiri.

When kiromoji is in your mouth, you can sense the fresh flavor of the tree as it has the bactericidal effect. It's said that long time ago people use kuromoji for cleaning their mouth. Koromoj tree is also elastic therefore suitable for Kuromoji.

In the formal tea gathering called "茶事chaji" in "茶の湯chanoyu", kuromoji is served with sweets. Some people bring the used kuromoji back for the manner or for the memory writing the date on. But on the other gathering or usual tea class, you should bring your own Kashikiri.

2016.12

First tea ceremony belongings 初めての持ち物