Kozan-ji Temple Choju Giga Katakuchi Sake Carafe

Featuring the distinctive “nami-yu” glaze, which is made from the ashes of the Kyoto forest, this Katakuchi Sake carafe has a natural base color of yellowish cream-white. With the design of "Choju Giga", you can enjoy the company of playful rabbits, frogs, and a fox entertaining your sake drinking experience. 

The paintwork is done by individual Japanese-style painters, pursuing their own originality and depth beyond the expectations for a mere decoration. 

This Katakuchi Sake carafe depicts the famous illustrated scroll named "Choju Giga," which is a caricature picture scroll depicting anthropomorphic animals and their playfulness, dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. These designs from the picture scrolls are designated as a Japanese national treasure in Kozan-ji Temple in Kyoto. Please enjoy these humorous and playful works intricately depicted through Tosen Kiln’s painting techniques.

The handle is made of the branch, giving a contrast between the smooth stoneware and the rustic texture of wood. Holding the carafe, we see the picture of a wrestling match between a frog and a rabbit. The carafe is very light, and the rim is stroked by a handwritten line of gold. The lower part of the carafe is faintly brushed with gold to portray grass. The other side of the carafe depicts a fox enjoying the wrestling, turning the item around playfully completes the comical scene.

Tosen Kiln

Tosen Kiln was founded in 1868 as a Kiyomizu ware wholesaler. In 1944, it established a production studio in Mukomachi, a suburb of Kyoto, marking the beginning of full-scale Kiyomizu ware production. Today, the kiln operates in Gojo, Kyoto, continuing its legacy of craftsmanship.

Dedicated to refining its techniques and artistic sensibilities, Tosen Kiln embraces Kyoto’s traditional craftsmanship while adapting it for the modern era. Drawing inspiration from Edo-period master potter Nonomura Ninsei, it preserves his precise lathing techniques and luminous painting styles, blending them with clean lines and warm tones to create pieces that resonate with contemporary aesthetics.

Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware, collectively known as Kyo-yaki or Kiyomizu-yaki, are esteemed crafts from Kyoto. Unlike other pottery styles, they integrate various techniques from across Japan, resulting in unique, handmade pieces. Each item is crafted meticulously, from shaping on the pottery wheel to intricate painting, showcasing exceptional modeling skills and delicate designs.

With a rich history intertwined with traditional Japanese culture, Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware are celebrated for their refined artistry and elegance. Known for their vibrant and detailed paintings, they were officially recognized as a traditional craft by the Japanese government in 1977. Today, these ceramics are prized for their high artistic quality, embodying both historical craftsmanship and aesthetic sophistication.