Ao-Bizen Five-Sided Matcha Bowl

The Ao-Bizen Five-Sided Matcha Bowl embodies the restrained, metallic beauty of Bizen ware at its most experimental. Its cool, matte surface shimmers with an ethereal depth that shifts between blue, gray, and silver, drawing the eye into its understated complexity. From a pentagonal foot, the form unfolds into five softly flowing panels, organically stretching upward to create a harmony between structure and spontaneity.

The bowl's distinctive color emerges from a technique that Mori Toshiaki attempted for the first time in this firing. The piece was placed on the uppermost shelf at the rear of the kiln and sealed within a double-layer enclosure. Charcoal introduced into the gap between the two layers releases gases that react with the clay, producing the bowl's characteristic blue-gray tones. The precise character of the color is shaped by the fineness of the charcoal and the volume of air present—factors that are felt and adjusted rather than measured. 

Within the kiln, no outcome is fully guaranteed. The sealed enclosure limits direct flame contact, producing the bowl's signature matte finish, while the subtle movement of gases within creates variations in shade that could not be planned in advance. In this particular firing, Mori notes that the metallic shimmer emerged more strongly than anticipated, while the blue settled into a more restrained expression.

Mori finds a quiet harmony in the interplay of yin and yang: the cool, subdued tones speak to yin, while the five-sided form and gentle curves carry the expansive energy of yang. This piece is a testament to an artist’s courage to venture into the unknown, a single, resolved form born from deep respect for tradition and a bold willingness to innovate.

Mori Toshiaki

Among the esteemed lineages known as the Bizen Rokusei, or Six Ancient Kilns of Bizen ware, Hozan Kiln stands out as a venerable institution. Mori Toshiaki, the 19th-generation successor, masterfully upholds this rich tradition while pioneering new possibilities. Balancing his responsibilities at the kiln with his personal artistic pursuits, Mori conducts extensive research and explores innovative approaches in both shaping and firing techniques, pushing the boundaries of Bizen ware.

Bizen Ware

Bizen ware is a traditional stoneware produced in the Imbe area of Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the oldest ceramics in Japan, and is made using the yakishime technique, in which pieces are fired at high temperatures without glaze to make them durable and water-resistant.

Bizen ware is called "the art of clay and fire" for the exquisite colors and patterns produced by the kiln's flames, and is characterized by its minimalist, wabi sabi design.