Iga Open Rim Large Bowl

This large bowl features an outward-turned rim with petal-like folds that break up its circular outline. The bowl’s raised foot lifts it slightly above the table, creating a form that appears both grounded and open. A green vidro glaze and the milky white of a glaze made with straw ash were poured alongside each other. As they pool in the center, unique color interactions form.

Where the glassy vidro glaze gathers, a network of kannyu crackles emerges. Spots of rust black appear by chance where iron exists in the clay underneath. Pebble-like traces of feldspar remain visible throughout the clay body.

Under the direction of eighth-generation head Fukushima Kazuhiro, Mukai Kiln continues to explore new expressions within inherited traditions. Shaped by experiences ranging from apprenticeship under Koie Ryoji to years spent working with anagama “cave kilns” in the United States, Fukushima leads the kiln in treating tradition not as a boundary, but as a starting point.

Mukai Kiln

Mukai Kiln is a long-established Iga ware kiln with roots dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. Today, eighth-generation potter Fukushima Kazuhiro and brother Shinya continue the tradition through both traditional and contemporary designs.

The kiln creates vessels that preserve the natural character of the region's coarse clay. Pieces born from the same firing carry subtle harmony in surface and color, bringing visual continuity to the table.

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.