In Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture, there is a narrow road that leads to a workshop surrounded by mountains and traditional houses. It is here that Hyogo Kobayashi crafted this Matcha-ki. Eight years ago, he was on a very different path—working as a pâtissier, creating delicate confections. Yet, as his family’s woodworking business grew busier, he began to train under his father. This moment marked the beginning of his journey into the world of woodcraft.

The material he works with is Yoshino cedar, a wood that has supported people’s lives for centuries. In the early Edo period, cedar harvested in Kawakami was bound to rafts and floated down the Kinokawa River to Kada in Wakayama, destined to be used as staves for sake barrels. Refined across generations, Yoshino cedar stands as a timeless foundation of Japanese craftsmanship.

Kobayashi’s artistry is distinguished by an extraordinary balance of precision, beauty, and delicate thinness. His pursuit of the art of thinness may be traced back to his pâtissier days, where he had learned that the spoons and forks used to enjoy cakes must be thin enough in order to create a pleasant sensation on the palate. That same philosophy now finds form in his woodworking. Thinness, however, does not equate to fragility. His pieces are both strong and resistant to heat, embodying a unique balance of delicacy and durability. This Matcha-ki, carved from a cylindrical block of cedar, aligns its wood grain perfectly even when stacked upon one another. Such precision can only be achieved when the fit is neither too tight nor too loose, a testament to his refined skill.

Compared to hardwoods, cedar contains more air, making it soft and more challenging to handle. Kobayashi goes beyond flat forms, shaping vessels with depth and presence—creating works that embody the difficulty of the material and the refinement of his mastery.

“I’m happy when something I’ve made finds its way into someone’s hands,” he says. Whilst still honing his craft, he seeks to deepen his connections through exhibitions and meaningful interactions, further continuing his exploration of new forms of expression with Yoshino cedar.