Goma Gourd‐shaped Sake Set

This Bizen ware sake set, featuring a unique gourd-shaped tokkuri (sake carafe), showcases a pattern called goma, which means "sesame" in Japanese. The coarse texture, exquisite colors, and intricate patterns produced by the kiln's flames are remarkable examples of Bizen ware, celebrated as "the art of clay and fire."

The goma pattern is a distinctive feature of this ceramic art. It is created by reducing pine wood, used in the kiln firing process, to ash. This ash adheres to the ceramics, forming a pattern that resembles a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Each firing results in unique patterns, ensuring that every piece is a one-of-a-kind work of art.

The microscopic pores within Bizen ware mellow the flavors of sake and enhance its aroma, a quality renowned for centuries. This effect is so celebrated that there is a saying, "second-grade sake becomes first-grade sake when kept in a Bizen ware pot."

The set includes one sake carafe and two sake cups, all delivered in a wooden box, making it a perfect gift for your loved ones.

Hozan Kiln

Hozan Kiln is a long-established Bizen ware kiln. Located in Imbe, Bizen City, the hometown of Bizen ware, Hozan Kiln is directly descended from the Six Families of Bizen ware potters. For centuries, it has continuously produced masterpieces of tea ceremony utensils, sake cups, and art pieces. The oldest-known piece to bear the fan-shaped ceramic stamp, or brand mark, the kiln still uses today is a large jar dating to the 16th century.

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.