A great masterpiece. This tea caddy was made by Han. The inscription “Late Cherry Blossom” is for Hatsuhana. It was originally under Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and if it had been made before the Hatsuhana kagatatsu, it would have been considered the most famous tea ceremony utensil in the world.
Although it is not as bright as the first cherry blossoms, but rather somewhat gloomy, it has a lofty dignity in its lack of splendor. It is said that the lack of a clear view is somewhat unsatisfactory. The history of this work is as follows. Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Munehisa Kyoshinoya (Tensho period), Takatora Todo (Genna period), Tadasato Matsudaira, grandson of Ujisato (early Kan’ei period), Tokugawa shogunate (after Tadasato’s death), Tadaaki Matsudaira, lord of Himeji Castle, shogunate (after Tadaaki’s death), Tokumatsu Kofu (1651, Keian 4), shogunate (1699, Genroku 12). (Taisho Meikikan)
