Shirasagi is a woodturning workshop established in 1989 in Yamanaka Onsen (山中温泉), Ishikawa Prefecture — deep within the mountain forests that have supplied lacquerware turners since the sixteenth century. Yamanaka shikki (山中漆器) is designated by METI as a traditional craft of Japan, renowned for its precise lathe work and the beauty of exposed wood grain. For three generations, Shirasagi has committed to using only domestic timber, handling the entire process from forest harvesting to final oiling — a rarity in modern Japanese woodcraft.

Logs are hand-sawn into blanks, rough-turned, then kiln-dried at low temperature over weeks to prevent cracking. The final turning brings walls down to just 1–2mm — featherweight vessels that reveal the tree's growth rings in extraordinary detail. Each piece takes up to three months from raw timber to completion. The finish is walnut oil, rubbed by hand until the surface feels silky and warm. The Enuma (江沼) cup series, turned from cherry, zelkova, and sibo cedar, showcases each wood's distinct character — colour, scent, and the way it warms in your hands.

At iromizu, Shirasagi's wooden cups and bowls belong to Brew Time — vessels that make morning tea feel gentler, lighter, and closer to the natural world. Wood holds warmth differently from ceramic or glass, and these pieces let you feel the difference with every sip. See them below.