These 'Irodori Fude' chopsticks are painted with a brush by craftsmen, and are dishwasher safe. Their gentle texture and vividness are attractive, reminiscent of viewing a painting. The design is inspired by scenes visible from the craftsmen's workshop.

Spring Mountain — Light green, orange, and yellow hues resemble a spring mountain gradually taking on color. Matte finish.
Autumn Leaves — Bright orange gradient evokes the appearance of wood. Matte finish.

We will now introduce how the 'brush-painted' chopsticks, including those with 'Fude Fude' (brush painting), were created.

Obama City in Fukui Prefecture is a small town facing the Sea of Japan with a population of about 30,000, but it is a major production area boasting an 80% share of Japan's lacquered chopsticks.
Famous for traditional Wakasazuri lacquered chopsticks using 400-year-old techniques, there were craftsmen who expressed free ideas beyond this framework on chopsticks.
This is Masayoshi Matoba, a lacquered chopstick craftsman.
Mr. Matoba was born in 1938. Since childhood, he loved drawing and, despite a poor family, used leaves as palettes to paint.
At 18, he entered the world of chopstick craftsmanship, learned traditional Wakasazuri techniques, and then became independent. Over 20 years as a chopstick craftsman, he incorporated a 'brush painting' technique that colors the chopsticks with a brush, unlike traditional Wakasazuri lacquered chopsticks.

While classic black or red chopsticks were mainstream, Mr. Matoba's colorful creations were revolutionary. He also drew design inspiration from brooches, clothing, and stage lighting worn by women. When he had a good idea, he would jump out of bed even at midnight and work in his workshop.

Over his more than 60-year career, he created over 500 types of chopsticks. Even though they are large at up to 23cm long and only 1cm wide, their rich colors burst out from the small canvas, offering us fresh surprises.

Mr. Matoba passed away in 2019. Currently, his disciple Yuuya Fujii has inherited his techniques.

Fujii is from his hometown, Obama City.
He had no prior connection to chopsticks or crafts, but was guided by a mysterious fate to learn from Mr. Matoba.
At that time, Fujii was 34 years old. It was not a young age to gain experience as a chopstick craftsman. Quitting his long-standing job to enter an unknown world must have taken great courage.

However, he found it completely enjoyable to attend Mr. Matoba.
He says, 'Mr. Matoba was a lovely person. Not a strict craftsman, but easygoing and often laughing. If it weren't for Mr. Matoba, I wouldn't have become his apprentice.' When Fujii talks about Mr. Matoba, his face becomes very gentle, reflecting his personality.

A few months after Fujii became his apprentice, Mr. Matoba fell ill. It was revealed he had only a short time to live. From then on, Mr. Matoba spent as much time as his health allowed in the workshop, trying to pass on everything he could to Fujii. Fujii was also desperate to learn.
When asked if he felt anxious about possibly losing his master, Fujii laughs and says, 'I was making chopsticks without even thinking about future worries.'

While teaching Fujii, Mr. Matoba said, 'Fujii-kun doesn't know anything about chopsticks, which is good. He's honest and absorbs everything quickly.'
Fujii says he is not particularly skillful, but listening to him, I feel his delicate consideration everywhere. His thoughtful attention to the user's feelings is also reflected in his chopsticks. Unlike Mr. Matoba's free-spirited style, Fujii's chopsticks have a delicate atmosphere.

Even with the same design, brush-painted chopsticks have slightly different textures depending on the craftsman. Please enjoy the unique character born from handcrafting at your dining table.

＜Notes Before Purchase＞
Each set is handcrafted. Please understand that there are individual differences in the pattern appearance and the application of glitter.