Takayama Chasensince 1500s
Takayama Chasen
Seven steps, and a single bamboo becomes a chasen.
The outer skin is stripped from the upper half at the node, and the bamboo is split by its thickness.
Each piece is split in turn, alternating wide and narrow.
The shaving changes with the school and the character of the bamboo; each tine is pared from base to tip. The hardest step — the one that decides the taste of the tea.
Both corners of each outer tine are pared.
The pared outer tines are raised and bound with thread.
Two more turns of thread are wound over the raised tines.
The tips are evened and their spacing is set right.
