The literal meaning of Kiridame is “ to gather what was chopped,” but when it is used as a noun form it means a box that one puts in anything that has been chopped, cooked, or boiled for the next step of cooking. This is a utensil that was used in the kitchen until decades ago. They come in a variety of shapes. Some are round with lids, some rectangles with lids, and some are without lids entirely. One element that is common between them is that they are all made to fit to form a single piece so that they are easy to store. They are crafted with precision to nestle snugly, which inevitably requires master craftsmanship. Kiri-dame like these are no longer manufactured nor used, so the skill has gone as well.

Transporting it to today’s life these kiri-dame expand their usage. One can serve food in them on the table, or arrange flowers and line them as center piece.. They can also simply enjoy the excellence of shape and balance in this exquisitely crafted utilitarian object from yesteryear and appreciate it.