Tokufu natsume 徳風棗 Miyata Munekage

This elegant Tokufū Natsume (徳風棗) was created by Miyata Munekage 宮田宗景 after original design by the 11th Urasenke tea master Gengen Saikō (玄々斎). Miyata is a contemporary Echizen urushi artist who studied under Yōrin Issei (養輪一星). 

Symbology

This refined natsume, intended for usucha (thin matcha), exemplifies the balance between simplicity and symbolism. The deep black lacquer exudes tranquility and serenity, while the gold maki-e decoration subtly shimmers in the light. The lid features the phrase "粒万倍" (ichiryū manbai – "One grain can multiply into ten thousand") in elegant calligraphy.

The idea comes from a Japanese proverb emphasizing that small beginnings can lead to great fruition or success, a traditional Japanese wish for prosperity and growth. Nine grains of rice are depicted in gold on the inside of the lid, a reference to the harvest and the abundance that can come from a single seed.

Objectgegevens

• Creator: Miyata Munekage 宮田宗景
  
• Title: Ichiryū manbai (「粒万倍」)
  
• Type: Tokufu Natsume
  
• Material: Urushi maki-e
  
• Diameter: ≈ 8.4 cm
  
• Height: ≈ 6.3 cm
  
• Condition: Excellent;
  
• Accessories: Original tomobako with hanko, calligraphy and cloth.
• Extra: Biography of the creator.

Signature and Maker

This natsume was crafted by Miyata Munekage (宮田宗景), a Japanese lacquerware artist rooted in the Echizen lacquer tradition of Fukui Prefecture, Japan, one of Japan’s oldest and most respected lacquer‑producing regions. Echizen lacquerware has been developed over roughly 1,500 years and is known for its deep connection to tradition and high‑quality craftsmanship.

Miyata Munekage began his training in 1970 as an apprentice under the lacquer master Issei Minowa, and in 1975 he became independent, continuing his development as a maki‑e artist specializing in fine tea‑ceremony vessels and other lacquerware. 

His work reflects a deep engagement with traditional techniques while maintaining a refined aesthetic balance, and he has been recognized in exhibitions such as the Echizen Maki‑e Exhibition and has received accolades including the Lacquerware Association Award. 

Such training and recognition are typically noted alongside tea‑ceremony objects (chadōgu) to provide context and underscore the maker’s place within the Japanese lacquerware tradition, adding to the object’s appreciation and value.