Kakitsuke refers to writing about a utensil by a school's head, a senior teacher, or a recognised authority, covering several formats including box inscriptions, accompanying letters, and formal certificates of authentication.
Why it matters
The existence of an attestation plays a decisive role in judgements of authenticity and rank. An object carrying a school head's attestation passes as an official utensil of that school.
In practice
Reading the attestation during examination is how a guest understands an object's provenance and value. The handwriting itself is also an object of appreciation — the attestation is, among other things, a piece of calligraphy by a named person.
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Chado (The Way of Tea)chado
The Japanese practice of preparing and serving powdered green tea, treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a beverage ritual.
- Wabiwabi
Finding sufficiency of mind within insufficiency and plainness; one of the root concepts of tea practice.
- Ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting)ichigo ichie
The principle that every gathering is unrepeatable, and should therefore be treated as if it will never occur again.
- Hakogaki (box inscription)hakogaki
Writing on a utensil's box giving its name, provenance, and maker; a principal basis of attribution.
- Tomobako (original box)tomobako
A box made specifically for a utensil by its maker or owner and inscribed by them; irreplaceable once lost.
- Shomen (the front)shomen
The face of a bowl or container turned toward the guest; the side with the best keshiki.
- Keshiki (the 'landscape' of an object)keshiki
The collective term for what is worth looking at in a utensil — glaze flow, distortion, kiln effects, age.