Matcha Tea Whisk | 20th Generation Chasen Master Tango Tanimura

Matcha (green tea) has become a global sensation, embraced by tea lovers around the world. Yet few are familiar with the layers of craft that create the perfect cup, especially the traditional bamboo tea whisk known as chasen.

This spring, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles welcomes 20th-generation chasen master Tango Tanimura for a special talk and live demonstration exploring the artistry, history, and cultural significance of this remarkable tool.

Over centuries, the implements of the Japanese tea ceremony have been carefully refined to elevate the preparation of matcha. Among them, the chasen remains the most recognizable. Each whisk is hand-carved from a single piece of bamboo and features approximately 70 to 100 fine prongs, thicker at the base and tapering to delicate tips. Bamboo’s natural flexibility creates a unique balance, resilient enough for vigorous whisking, yet gentle enough to glide across the bowl. With each motion, the chasen transforms matcha powder and water into a smooth, velvety foam enhancing both texture and aroma.

The art of chasen-making began over 500 years ago in Takayama Village, now part of Nara Prefecture, a region known for its high-quality bamboo. Passed down through generations, these techniques have been carefully preserved within family lineages. Today, Takayama continues to produce the majority of the world’s chasen, each one meticulously handmade using locally grown bamboo.

As the heir to this centuries-old tradition, Tango Tanimura carries forward a legacy shaped by precision, intuition, and deep cultural knowledge. Working entirely by hand, his practice resists mechanization and reflects the enduring spirit of Takayama craftsmanship.

For this special engagement, Tanimura will travel from his home in Takayama to JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles and present an artist talk and demonstration. Join us for an afternoon exploring a living cultural tradition in its most refined and intimate form.

Tanimura Tango is the 20th generation descendant of a family that has been making bamboo tea whisks (chasen) used in the preparation of matcha tea. Based in Takayama, Nara, Japan, the Tanimuras have been passing this skill from father to son for over 500 years. The name “Tango” was given to the family by the Tokugawa Shogunate to recognize their role as the official supplier of tea whisks during the Edo period (1603-1867). The Tanimura family creates over 100 types and forms of tea whisks to meet the varying requirements of Japan’s numerous tea schools, and crafts each whisk by hand from a piece of bamboo.

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