Our long-range vision is to broaden the concept of Japanese traditional wooden barrels (kioke), so this master craft genre will grow and flourish for at least the next 100 years. To that end, we have created a portable “Wooden Barrel Tearoom” that can be easily moved and assembled for indoor and outdoor events as well as for permanent installation.

The oke is a wooden bucket that has been used in Japan for daily domestic purposes such as bathing, storage and preparation of food for over 700 years.  These durable cypress or cedar containers are made up of curved pieces of wood held in shape with metal hoops placed at the top and bottom, resulting in a seamless surface.  The vertical wood grain used in construction enhances breathability and prevents warping and other deformation.