05/29/2026
On May 27, Consul General Todoriki attended a lecture and demonstration in Portland by Mr. Tango Tanimura, the 20th-generation master craftsman of the traditional Takayama chasen (tea whisk). A chasen is a bamboo tool used to whisk matcha, and its production is an important traditional craft that supports Japan’s tea ceremony culture. It is said that there are only about sixteen officially recognized chasen artisans in Japan, and Mr. Tanimura is one of the few who carry on this precious skill and tradition. Attendees watched with great interest as, through Mr. Tanimura’s expert technique, bamboo was transformed into a tea whisk.