Cranes Dancing in Snow Japanese Flower Vase

The furi technique involves using a fine metal mesh tool and a specialized brush. By rubbing the brush against the mesh, the paint is veiled across the surface, creating a nuanced texture that adds depth to the piece. This technique requires great skill to achieve the desired gradation, producing subtle irregularities that lend the artwork an air of softness and complexity—effects that cannot be replicated by spray painting.

Known as tsuru in Japanese, cranes carry deep cultural significance. Through the proverb, "A crane lives for a thousand years, a tortoise for ten thousand years," they are seen as symbols of longevity. As they mate for life, cranes also represent eternal love, making this vase particularly meaningful as a gift, celebrating long life and enduring devotion.

Nakamura Toshito is celebrated for his exceptional realism, enlivening nature’s beauty across the surfaces of Kutani ware. His work transcends traditional motifs, blending intricate, lifelike depictions of flora, fauna, and wildlife with refined brush techniques. Viewers are invited to connect deeply with the tranquility and balance found in the natural world through Nakamura’s meticulous attention to detail. His art brings comfort, creating a moment of calm amid the bustle of everyday moments.

Nakamura Toshito stands out as a unique figure whose life and work defy easy categorization. With a background that spans office work, bodybuilding, and ceramics, his journey to becoming an artist was anything but conventional. However, it is precisely these rich life experiences that give his artistic voice its distinct texture. His work, filled with natural motifs, balances tranquility with intricate technique, and nowhere is this harmony more evident than in his vase depicting red-crowned cranes against a snowy winter backdrop.

Since its inception, MUSUBI KILN has strived to introduce the world to the finest traditional crafts from masters all around Japan.

Here, in the Gallery, we seek to showcase the highest echelon of traditional techniques, passed down through generations. You can discover works from masters who have not only perfected those methods but added their imagination to innovate the craft even further.

Some of these masters have even been named Living National Treasures, a title bestowed upon them by the Japanese government to formally recognize their contribution to crafts and culture — thereby cementing their legacy and making them an important part of art history.

Each piece is meticulously handcrafted over many months to create a timeless treasure that's unlike any other. And when it's in your home, you, too, will become part of that history.