Sunouchi Shikibu (1818-1872) Antique Bamboo tea spoon #5493

width: approx. 18.5 cm (7.28 in)
weight: approx. 2g (w/ case 34g)
condition: damaged,see photos, the lid is loose and comes off easily.

The bamboo tube of this tea scoop bears the handwritten title “Tenarekusa.”. It refers to a passage connected with Japanese classical literature.

The poem expresses the following sentiment:

If this fan, long familiar to my hand,
were to become a keepsake of that person, could there ever be a moment
when tears would not accompany the sight of it?
Surely, each time I see it, tears would fall.

Sunouchi Shikibu (1818-1872)
A sonno-joi (Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians) activist and poet active from the late Edo period to the early Meiji era.
He was from Ozu in Iyo Province (present-day Ehime Prefecture).
He studied Kokugaku (National Learning) under Tokiwai Ikashihoko, among others. Later he moved to Kyoto, where he served the court noble Takamatsu Yasusane.
He took part in the Boshin War.
In 1869 (Meiji 2), he was suspected of involvement in the assassination of Omura Masujiro and was confined in his hometown. He died on October 5, 1872 (Meiji 5) at the age of 55.
His original family name was Matsui, and his personal name was Nobuyoshi.
His works include the poetry collection “Kogai Kashu” (Collection of Impassioned Poems).