Matcha Bowl - Kenzan Style “Red and White Plum Blossoms” by Kakozan Kiln

Matcha Bowl Depicting Seasonal Flowers and Plants

This matcha bowl is from the Kakozan kiln, which has been in business for four generations in Gojo-zaka, Kyoto. Featuring flowers and plants that adorn Japan's four seasons as motifs, it expresses beautiful seasonal scenery within the vessel. Amidst the vibrant colors, one can feel the rustic beauty of nature, making this a bowl that adds seasonal color not only to tea ceremonies but also to daily tea breaks.

Elegant Colors Painted with Japanese Pigments

At Kakozan kiln, each piece is hand-painted, cherishing traditional Japanese pigments. A significant feature is the subtle unevenness and three-dimensionality created by layering colors with delicate brushstrokes and carefully applying the pigments.

The soft hues, intricate depictions, and the unique expression of the brushstrokes inherent in hand-painting, combined with the warm texture of the pottery and the gorgeous painting, harmonize to create a rich expression that can be enjoyed from different angles and lighting.

Kakozan Kiln's Ware, Inheriting the Style of Kenzan

The artistic style of Kakozan kiln inherits the aesthetic sense of Ogata Kenzan, a representative potter of the Edo period. Kenzan was a master craftsman who created numerous free and elegant works by combining the rustic texture of pottery with painterly decorations, using familiar natural subjects like flowers and plants.

Kakozan kiln's ware utilizes the warm expression unique to earthenware while expansively depicting seasonal nature. Inheriting the aesthetic sense of Kyo-yaki that dates back to Kenzan, these matcha bowls are finished to be vibrant and approachable, enjoyable in modern life.