相較於木工藝的大器沈實，竹藝製品相對顯得小巧優雅，而且是充滿東方特色的工藝。專門生產竹製品的「公長齋小菅」，是一家開業於1898年的京都老鋪，誠然走在京都，手指隨便一掠都是百年老店，但不同於其他「京都老鋪」的地方，在於「公長齋小菅」不僅堅守傳統工藝技術，在五代目小菅達之的主理下，品牌同時敢於放下傳統包袱，挹注入現代的設計感，與眾多非傳統工藝品牌合作，包括跟三宅一生推出的竹編手袋，以及跟小泉誠推出Minotake系列生活器物等。
Compared with wood crafts that are often subtle and exquisite, bamboo crafts appear to be more delicate and graceful. Founded in 1898, Kohchosai Kosuga is a boutique in Kyoto that specializes in bamboo crafts. Unlike the other handful of century’s old craft shops in Kyoto that are devoted exclusively to traditional craftsmanship, Kohchosai Kosuga strives to connect traditional techniques with modern design concepts. Over the years, they have collaborated with various brands and artists, under the leadership of Tatsuyuki Kosuga, the fifth-generation of the Kosuga family. To name a few, they have worked with Issey Miyake in launching a bamboo woven bag and collaborated with Makoto Koizumi to introduce the Minotake cutlery collection.
在「公長齋小菅」云云眾多竹製商品中，最熱門肯定要數竹筷系列。以孟宗竹製，由職人們逐一打磨並上漆，其漆色多樣並帶有明顯光澤，不致於奢華，卻又在沉實中帶有一絲貴氣，無論是用於傳統的高級料亭，抑或置在現代家庭簡約的餐桌上，都不會覺得突兀。此外孟宗竹製的筷身，好夾不滑手，有利於夾起軟綿或細碎的食物，加上材質打磨極之細緻，把食物送進嘴巴含住時，也完全不會有異物不適感。從歷史到設計、從材質到加工，「公長齋小菅」竹筷既傳統又現代的內涵，裡裡外外都是無可挑剔的的好食器。
Among the wide array of artful pieces crafted by the Kosuga atelier, the chopstick is perhaps the most sought-after item. Hand-crafted with Mousouchiku (Moso bamboo), the chopsticks are finely lacquered and polished to produce an exquisite and delicate finish. Whether at a ryotei high-end restaurant or a modern living space, the Mousouchiku chopsticks will surely add elegance and beauty to the dining table. Not only are the chopsticks visually pleasing, they are easy to handle and slip-proof allowing you to pick up food that is soft or in a smaller bite-size gracefully without hassle. Last but not least, the chopsticks have an extremely fine-polished and burr-free surface making them gentle to your fingertips and mouth. From their sophisticated design, to the carefully-sourced material and delicate hand-crafting skills, Kohchosai Kosuga’s chopstick perfectly combines traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics and has proven itself to be one of the most remarkable utensils available in the market.
