Object Care

How to live with handmade Japanese pieces — categorized care knowledge for every material in your collection.

Start here

Pillar 1

First-Use Guide

What to do in the first 90 seconds to 90 minutes after a new piece arrives. Material-by-material first-use protocols.

Read → Pillar 2

Long-Term Storage Guide

Paulownia kiri-bako boxes, humidity controls, and archive protocols for every material.

Read →

By material

Arita · Hasami · Kutani

Porcelain

Decoration-type washing rules. Why gold pieces never go in the dishwasher. →

Nambu Tekki

Cast Iron

Seasoning, rust prevention with sencha tannin, and daily routine. →

Wajima · Kishū-shikki

Urushi Lacquerware

Heat-sensitive cured polymer. The counter-intuitive use-it-or-lose-it rule. →

Edo Kiriko

Cut Glass

Soda-lime vs lead crystal. Thermal-shock rules for hot and cold drinks. →

By form

Clay pots

Donabe

The 90-minute kanmasu rice-porridge seasoning protocol. →

Side-handle teapots

Kyusu

Three strainer types, the no-soap rule, the cha-shibu patina debate. →

Chawan · chasen · chashaku

Matcha Set

Bamboo whisk lifespan, kusenaoshi holder, no-water rule for the scoop. →

Wind chimes

Furin

Cast iron vs ceramic vs glass — three sets of seasonal rules. →

All Object Care articles