Q.Are 90% of Japan's tea whisks really made in Nara?
Published 2026-06-23
Answer
Mostly yes. The tea whisk (chasen) used in the Japanese tea ceremony is made almost exclusively in Takayama, Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture — effectively the only production area in the country — and accounts for over 90% of domestically produced whisks. That said, cheap imports (largely from China) circulate widely, and by the volume actually used in Japan they make up about 70% of the market. The craft dates back roughly 500 years to the mid-Muromachi period, and was designated a National Traditional Craft on May 10, 1975.
Takayama is the only place in Japan that makes them
The chasen used in the tea ceremony is made in Takayama, Ikoma City, Nara — described as the only production area in all of Japan — and accounts for over 90% of domestically produced whisks. Takayama reportedly produces about 300,000 whisks a year, almost entirely by hand (approximate figure), with the thin-tea "kazuho" and "80-prong" types being the most common. Note, though, that this is not the same as market share: Japan is estimated to consume about 1,000,000 whisks a year, of which roughly 70% are cheap imports (largely from China) and only about 30% are made in Takayama. The "90%" figure refers specifically to Takayama's share of whisks produced in Japan.
It began in the Muromachi period, at the request of Murata Juko
The origins of the Takayama chasen go back about 500 years to the mid-Muromachi period. It is said to have begun when Takayama Soze — the second son of the lord of Takayama Castle — made one at the request of Murata Juko, the founder of wabi-cha (rustic tea). The technique was passed down as a closely guarded secret to "16 retainers," and was long kept out of outside hands.
Designated a National Traditional Craft in 1975
On May 10, 1975, the Takayama chasen was designated a National Traditional Craft by the then-Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). The official traditional crafts database (kougeihin.jp) records the same designation date. It marked the point at which a roughly 500-year-old handicraft was formally recognized, at the national level, as a region-wide traditional technique.
Artisans are declining — fewer than half the peak
The number of chasen makers grew to about 45 around 1975 (the peak), when the tea ceremony was at its height. As the tea-practicing population shrank, the number fell steadily and now stands at about 19 (18 manufacturers belong to the cooperative, on a post-2006 basis). It is this small group of makers who sustain a 90%-plus share in Japan's only production area.
- Peak (around 1975)45makers
- Now (about 19)19makers