Kaga Kuksa Black Lacquer

A night alone, feeling the great outdoors. With a flickering bonfire, you want to spend a blissful moment sipping on a cup of coffee or a drink using your own high-quality camping gear. We have embodied the dreams of such solo campers and breathed life into this outdoor cup, an essential part of camping gear, with traditional Japanese techniques.

A mug made from Japanese zelkova wood, crafted with Kaga's "Yamanaka Lacquerware," which has a 400-year history, and Kaga's "Armor Braid," which is used in armor tailoring. "Kaga Kuksa" was born from the combination of these two traditional techniques that Kaga is proud of, and the name of a wooden cup in Finland, Northern Europe, that is said to bring happiness to the person who receives it.

The "Kaga Kuksa" is made using the traditional "Yamanaka Lacquer" technique of vertical wood cutting, and is a superb product that is pursued with consideration for not only its refined appearance, but also its sturdiness and the deliciousness of the drink it produces. It will make today's drink at camp the best drink ever.

"Kaga Kukusa" is a Japanese zelkova mug, carefully crafted by Yamanaka-nuri artisans to make the rim as thin as possible, just 1.5 to 3 mm. The egg-shaped form, with a wide center and a thin rim, allows for a smooth, elegant, and exquisite mouthfeel. When you pour sake or coffee into it, the aroma is concentrated toward the rim, richly tickling your nose.

In addition, the round egg-shaped shape slows down the flow rate, allowing you to enjoy a wide range of flavors, including sweetness, sourness, and richness, in a well-balanced way. This is the perfect product for those who want to enjoy more delicious alcohol and coffee while camping.

"Kaga Kukusa" is made using the traditional techniques of "Yamanaka Lacquerware", which is famous for being made in Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Its history is said to date back 400 years to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and it is one of Japan's outstanding traditional crafts.

The distinctive feature of Yamanaka-nuri is the beauty and warmth of the wood grain and annual rings. You will be enchanted by the beauty of the wood grain and annual rings, and just admiring them will lift your spirits, and holding the cup will soothe you with the warmth of the wood... The Kaga Kuksa is the perfect product for such an exquisite camping experience.

The beauty of Yamanaka Lacquer's grain and annual rings can be attributed to its unique manufacturing process. Yamanaka Lacquer is made using vertical cutting, not horizontal cutting, which is the method used for general woodworking products. A Japanese zelkova log is cut into slices and cut into the shape of a mug in the direction the tree grows. This delicate work requires skilled technique.

After that, craftsmen carefully shape each mug. The wooden mugs that are completed in this way have a unique beauty, with no two mugs having the same expression. A custom-made black and gold armor-braided cord is used as the length-adjustable adjuster belt. This armor-braided cord makes the mug fit securely in your hand. You can fully feel the warm texture of the wood.

In addition, custom-made armor braids are finished with the Agemaki Musubi knot, which is considered to be auspicious. *Agemaki Musubi: The Agemaki Musubi knot is also used on the backs of armor displayed at Boys' Festival and other events. It is an auspicious knot that protects the defenseless back and is worn as a talisman to hold on to the cord of life. We sell "Kuro-zuri-urushi" (black lacquer) that makes armor braids stand out.