Nakagawa Yorkton Workshop

Nakagawa will host an intimate programme celebrating the art of Japanese tea-whisk making and the ritual of the Matcha Tea Ceremony, inviting London audiences to experience living traditions passed down through generations.

At the heart of the event is Master Craftsman Tango Tanimura, 20th-generation head of the Tanimura family from Takayama, Nara Prefecture. For nearly 500 years, his family has produced the finely crafted chasen (tea whisk), an indispensable tool in the Japanese tea ceremony.

Join us for a series of workshops and Matcha Tea Ceremonies across London:

Dates: 29 NOVEMBER – 7 DECEMBER 2025___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORKSHOP VENUE: Yorkton Workshops, 1-3 Yorkton Street, East London (E2 8NH). 

SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER 2025

Chasen Threading Workshop

10:00–11:30 | £100 | Limited to 10 participants

Learn and complete the most intricate stage of finishing a traditional tea whisk

You will:

• Learn directly from a 20th-generation master
• It’s a rare opportunity to choose your favorite color of thread and create your own exclusive bamboo tea whisk
• Guaranteed to bring home your own "Chasen"
• Enjoy a relaxed environment with time for photos and questions
• During the waiting time, we will serve Japanese hand whisking matcha and our original scones.

Reservation required. Walk-ins accepted if space allows.

SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER 2025

Chashaku Carving Workshop

13:00–15:00 | £75 | Limited to 20 participants

A chashaku is a small, slender bamboo tea scoop used in the Japanese tea ceremony. Its main purpose is to scoop matcha powder from a container into a tea bowl before whisking, and it is considered an essential and indispensable tool in the practice of tea ceremony. In this workshop, you will have the rare opportunity to carve your own Chashaku, shaping the bamboo by hand and creating a unique, personal tea scoop that reflects your own touch and appreciation for the tradition.

You will:

• Learn directly from a 20th-generation master
• Shape, carve and finish your own chashaku
• You will give your chashaku its own name.
• Guaranteed to bring home your own "Chasyaku"
• Enjoy a calm and focused craft session
• During the waiting time, we will serve Japanese hand whisking matcha and our original scones.

Reservation required. Walk-ins accepted if space allows.

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SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2025

A demonstration and talk by Tango Tanimura, Master Craftsman

11:00–12:30 | £35 | Limited to 30 participants

A rare opportunity to hear directly from a master craftsman about the history, philosophy and techniques behind the tea whisk.Learn how a single piece of bamboo becomes one of the most iconic tools of the tea ceremony.

You will:

• Witness how a single piece of bamboo is transformed into a chasen
• Discover the history and cultural significance of the chasen, a craft tradition preserved for nearly 500 years.
• Understand what defines a truly high-quality chasen – from bamboo selection to balance, flexibility and function.
• Learn how to care for and maintain your chasen so it lasts longer and performs beautifully when whisking matcha.
• During the waiting time, we will serve Japanese matcha and our original scones.

Reservation required. Walk-ins accepted if space allows.

Pop-up Matcha Stand & Tea Tool Shop

First-Ever Exhibition of 50 Original Chasen and Matcha Tools.

6th Dec | 11:00–15:00 | Free Entry  | Walk-In

7th Dec | 10:00–15:00 | Free Entry | Walk-In

Chasen Sales

We will be offering a special selection of over 50 handmade chasen for purchase throughout the event.  ＊daily purchase limits apply due to limited production.

• Workshop participants will receive priority access to all chasen sales.
• Two brand-new, original chasen designs will be unveiled for the first time anywhere in the world.

Additional Items Available

A curated selection of tea ceremony essentials will also be available for purchase:

• Matcha bowls (chawan)
• High-quality matcha
• Chasen stands
• Chakin (linen tea cloths)

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MATCHA WHISKING WORKSHOP VENUES ACROSS LONDON:

• Niwaki, Chiltern Street, Marylebone. 29 November | 12pm - 4pm part of Chiltern Street Christmas Shopping Day. No booking required
• Nakagawa, 16c Calvert Avenue. 30 November | 9am - 11am. No booking required
• tokyobikes, Shoreditch. 3 December | 11am-5pm. No booking required
• Yorkton Workshops, East London. 6 & & December | 12.30pm - 3pm daily. No booking required