From May 6 (Tue.) to 13 (Tue.), a Matcha workshop and tea box exhibition will be held at Tortois General Store (LA), where our products are sold, hosted by Yoko Dobashi, the designer of fun pun clock.

Workshop: Explore Nodate Treasury – Matcha culture in nature

“Explore Nodate Treasury – Matcha culture in nature”
■ Exhibition：May 6th Tuesday – 13th Tuesday 2025
*Monday is closed.
■ Workshop：May 9th Friday, 10th Saturday & May 11th Sunday
＊TIME: FRI&SAT: 10:30AM-1PM (2.5 Hours) , SUN: 9:30AM-12PM (2.5 Hours)
■ Place：Tortoise General Store
https://shop.tortoisegeneralstore.com/
■ Address：12701 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066

Message from Yoko Dobashi
I am honored to be able to hold a matcha workshop and tea box exhibition at the Tortoise General Store in Los Angeles, which carries fun pun clock. I have been into the world of tea boxes for more than 10 years because I wanted to bring the tranquility that I get from my hobby of tea ceremony to my apartment life which does not have a tea room. A tea box is a set of tea utensils. Opening the box and unraveling it is a special time when I can face myself as neither a “mother” nor a “wife” nor a “daughter”.

In a corner of my living room and dining room, I keep seasonal matcha bowls and tea utensils in a writing bureau, where I usually make matcha tea to refresh myself between housework and work. When I travel or visit friends, I assemble my utensils according to the theme of the day. Some are from the Edo period, some are from contemporary artists, some were handed down to me, and some I acquired overseas. All of them have various historical backgrounds and are filled with the breadth of a long time. Some are expensive, some are not, but they all have one thing in common: they are favorites. There is only one rule for tea boxes, and that is that there should be nothing to dislike about them, including their ease of use.

Last year, when Keiko from Tortoise came to our house with her son, I opened the drawers and pulled out various items, as usual, and had them choose their favorite teacups for a cup of tea or a cup of tea, and we played with them. Her son said, “Mom, this is the EXPERIENCE I always talk about!” I was so happy that we could share our joy beyond the borders of countries and ages. Then one day, I received a proposal from Keiko that was like a beautiful poem, and we started working together on ideas to realize this exhibition.

Mr. Taku and Mrs. Keiko of Tortoise General Store were my bosses at IDEE, and my son, who is studying abroad in LA, has also been a great help to them. I am very much looking forward to sharing a special time with them and the people of LA, as they are branding craftsmanship from all over Japan to the global market.