A "Shinkyowara" Oval Tub Crafted by a Barrel Maker to the Imperial Household | PRODUCT Tokyo Tips April 2015
Shin Yoshiwara | Shinyoshiwara
A Stylish and Alluring Edo Souvenir: The Koban Oke from "Shin Yoshiwara" x "Okeiei"
Yoshiwara is famously known as the area where the pleasure quarters once thrived. While remnants of that era remain, it's also a district with a glamorous history that has served as the setting for kabuki, novels, and films. "Shin Yoshiwara," launched by "Okano Yayoi Shoten" to share the essence of Yoshiwara, is a souvenir shop offering stylish, alluring, and humorous Edo-themed items. Among them, the cypress koban oke (oval tub) is a masterpiece showcasing traditional craftsmanship. This is a collaboration with "Okeiei," a tub maker that has served the Imperial Household for 120 years, and is crafted using the traditional Edo method of splitting logs with a curved knife. This unique shape, impossible to achieve with machinery, requires the skill of seasoned artisans. Complete with an original "Shin Yoshiwara" tenugui (hand towel), this koban oke naturally evokes a sense of stylishness.


The Koban Oke from "Okeiei" x "Shin Yoshiwara"
Price | ¥60,000 (excluding tax)
Materials | Hinoki family cypress, German silver
Size | 220×285×115mm
Okano Yayoi Shoten
www.shin-yoshiwara.com