At first glance, they are simply a pair of chopsticks.

Look a little closer, however, and countless fragments of colour begin to emerge from the deep, dark surface.

Green. Blue. Violet. Red.

The appearance changes subtly with the light and with every movement of the hand.

These exceptional chopsticks were crafted by an artisan from Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

From beginning to completion, they took approximately three months to create.

Raden: Iridescent Shell Beneath the Light

The handles are decorated using raden, a traditional Japanese decorative technique that incorporates pieces of iridescent shell.

Rather than forming a bold or uniform pattern, the shell fragments are scattered across the dark surface.

From a distance, the chopsticks appear quiet and understated. Viewed more closely, flashes of green, blue, violet and other colours emerge as the light catches the shell.

This changing expression is one of the distinctive beauties of raden.

It is not decoration that reveals everything at once.

The more closely you look, the more there is to discover.

Red and Green Opal

Another remarkable feature is the use of opal in two different colours: red and green.

Against the dark surface and the iridescence of the raden, the opal adds another layer of colour and depth to the design.

Shell and opal respond differently to light, creating subtle variations that cannot be fully appreciated from a single photograph.

These are chopsticks designed to be seen not only from across the table, but also from the distance of the hand.

Three Months for One Pair of Chopsticks

Perhaps the most extraordinary detail is not something that can be seen at all.

It is time.

Approximately three months were required to complete these chopsticks.

For an object used in the hand at the dining table, three months may sound extraordinary.

But Japanese craftsmanship has long valued processes that cannot simply be hurried.

The finished object contains not only its materials, but also the judgement, experience and repeated work of the artisan who created it.

That time becomes part of the object itself.

A Small Object with Extraordinary Detail

Chopsticks are among the simplest objects on the Japanese dining table.

Two slender sticks, held in one hand.

Precisely because their form is so simple, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship becomes remarkably visible.

In this pair, raden, red and green opal, and three months of craftsmanship come together within that minimal form.

There is no need for a large canvas.

Sometimes Japanese craftsmanship can be expressed within something small enough to rest between your fingers.

At Ginza Natsuno, we have spent many years introducing chopsticks in an extraordinary variety of materials, forms and techniques.

This pair is another reminder of what chopsticks can become when an artisan is given the time and freedom to create something exceptional.

Three months.
Raden.
Red and green opal.
Crafted by an artisan from Wajima, Japan.

A pair of chopsticks — and a remarkable amount of craftsmanship held within them.

View the Chopsticks