Name: Crane Chopstick Rest in Tin (Hashioki) | Jutaro
Brand: kurita-sangyo
Price: 1650 JPY
Availability: InStock

Crane Chopstick Rest in Tin (Hashioki) | Jutaro

¥1,650

A hashioki in pure tin, shaped as an origami crane — a bird Japan has long counted as lucky. As the saying goes ("the crane lives a thousand years"), it stands for longevity and a happy marriage. The folded-crane shape is one people recognize the world over now. And because tin is fairly soft, you can open out or bend the wings yourself, by hand.

Length x width x height (mm) 42 x 30 x 24

17g pure tin

Why the Crane Carries Good Wishes

There's an old saying — "the crane lives a thousand years, the turtle ten thousand." The crane has long stood for long life and good fortune, and because it's said to pair for life, for a happy marriage too.

Fold a crane from a single sheet of paper and you're folding in a wish: for someone's recovery, for a long life. A thousand of them strung together — senbazuru — has become a symbol of peace known well beyond Japan.

We made that into something palm-sized for your table. One on its own, or a pair. A quiet way to set a wish for someone next to their chopsticks.

About the Ori-ori Collection

Mountains, rivers, sea. Shizuoka sits in the middle of all of it — good water, good ingredients, and the local sake that comes from both.

We wanted a set of vessels that would do that sake justice. Ori-ori — the word means "season by season" — is our tin answer: cups and pieces for drinking Shizuoka's sake alongside whatever the sea and the hills are giving that month.

The shapes fold like paper, and the light moves on them like water. Tin's ion effect rounds off the sake, too — softer on the tongue. Simple objects, but they hold the table.

Tin: A Metal People Have Used for a Thousand Years

Tin — *suzu* in Japanese — has been part of daily life for more than a thousand years. It has a soft silver-white sheen, and because the metal itself is soft, people around the world have shaped it into all kinds of things.

In Japan, tin came into use around the Edo period. People kept it inside their water jars, because tin helps keep water from going bad. It doesn't rust easily, it's non-toxic, and it's been used for tableware and sake cups ever since.

A few things make tin a little special as a vessel. Its subtle ion effect softens the flavor of tea or sake poured into it. It conducts heat quickly, so a cold drink chills the whole cup almost the moment you pour it. Some people even keep cut flowers in a tin vase — the water stays fresher for longer.

Made by Hand, One at a Time

Every Jutaro piece is cast and finished by hand, one at a time. Casting — *chūzō* — starts with a mold. We pour the melted tin in, let it cool until it sets, and then polish it by hand until it's ready.

We stick to handwork because some things really do live in the hands of the artisan, not in a machine. The small natural ripples on the surface, the soft line of a rim shaped by hand — these are the details a machine can't quite reach, and they're part of what makes a handmade piece feel different to hold.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Tin — *suzu* in Japanese — is one of those metals that's been quietly part of daily life for a long time. It has a soft silver-white sheen, it doesn't rust easily, and it's non-toxic, which is why it's been used for tableware and sake cups for centuries.

Two things make tin a little special. It's a very good conductor of heat, and it has a subtle ion effect on whatever you pour into it. Tea, beer, and sake all seem to soften — the rough edges smooth out, and cold drinks stay cold longer. Some people even keep cut flowers in a tin vase, since tin helps keep the water fresh.

One thing to know: because tin conducts heat so quickly, it's not the right choice for hot drinks.

Everyday care

- Wash soon after use. Leaving liquids sitting in tin is the main cause of discoloration. A mild dish soap and a soft sponge are all you need.
- Dry it well. Water left on the surface can cause clouding or stains, so wipe with a soft cloth right after washing.

If smells or flavors linger

Dissolve a small spoonful of baking soda in lukewarm water and let the piece soak for a short while. Then wash as usual and dry thoroughly.

If the surface clouds or darkens

A little change over time is part of tin's character — we'd usually leave it. But if it really bothers you, make a paste of baking soda and water and polish gently with a soft cloth. No scrubbing, no metal polish.

Short answer: no to both.

Tin is a metal, so the microwave is out. And tin is soft enough that we don't recommend the dishwasher either — the high-heat drying cycle can change the surface, and the water pressure plus knocking against other dishes can scratch or even bend a piece out of shape.

A quick hand wash is really all it needs.

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