Iga Fluid Luster

This Iga ware piece by artisan Fukushima Kazuhiro draws from Oribe ware of the Momoyama period (1573–1615 CE), reimagining traditional vocabulary through his own sensibility and personal interpretation. The form’s contours flow naturally yet harbor tension, as though quiet surfaces hold latent force. An alluring luster emanates from the body, where glaze shifts across the walls, revealing layered expression as light changes.

Fukushima devotes close attention to fuchizukuri, shaping the rim with irregular undulations. This frees the vessel from rigid symmetry and lends it an unhurried, organic bearing, inviting the viewer to experience the beauty of imperfection through both touch and sight. 

This piece is created using the rare hikidashi technique. At around 1300°C (2370°F), the bowl is drawn from the kiln at its peak heat and cooled in an instant. The sudden temperature shift freezes the glaze in mid-transformation, giving rise to a luminous surface and an unmistakably distinctive texture. Across the vessel, subtle flecks of white and gold appear, leaving behind a trail of radiance.

Fukushima Kazuhiro

Born as the eighth-generation successor of the Mukai Kiln, which has thrived in Iga for over three centuries, Fukushima Kazuhiro creates ceramic works that combine the profound presence of earth with the translucent beauty of vidro glaze and the distinctive, crackled kairagi texture. While deeply rooted in tradition, his work embraces a contemporary sensibility, transforming the seemingly accidental patterns formed by fire, clay, and ash into deliberate expressions of artistry. Through this process, Fukushima opens new horizons for Iga ware, infusing each piece with striking individuality and life.

Iga Ware

Iga ware, produced in the Iga region of Mie Prefecture, is celebrated for its deep roots in Japanese ceramic history and its distinctive character. With a lineage stretching back some 1,200 years, Iga ware rose to prominence during the Momoyama period (1573–1615 CE), when it became closely tied to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony.

As a form of traditional Japanese pottery, Iga ware is admired for its robust clay, earthy texture, and the organic beauty that emerges through various firing methods. The natural ash glazing and translucent green, glass-like vidro effects created by the intense heat of the kiln reveal the expressive artistry that defines Iga ware.