hibashi 火箸

Also called koji 火筋 or hisuji. Lit. fire-chopsticks. Charcoal tongs. A pair of metal chopsticks used for placing, arranging, and removing charcoal from either a portable brazier *furo 風炉, or a fixed hearth *ro 炉 used in a tea ceremony. Although not joined, these implements are used like tongs. The tongs used for the portable hearth have long handles and are made of silver, iron, brass, or copper. Tongs used for the ro are made of the same material but also sometimes of ivory or silver. They may be square, round, hexagonal, or diamond-shaped. They are also decorated with bracken, flowers, birds, or acorns.