Iga Sometsuke Kobachi Small Bowl

This kobachi small bowl features a flower-shaped rim that opens into broad lobes before the body gradually gathers toward the foot. This movement from openness to containment gives the bowl a distinct profile, one that changes noticeably when viewed from above and from the side.

Sweeping bands of gosu blue follow the vessel's contours, spreading across the interior in alternating passages of deep blue, green, and pale stoneware. Toward the center, the colors gather into a dense field of kannyu crackles, while traces of feldspar emerge throughout the surrounding stoneware. Here, the gosu blue of sometsuke behaves differently, interacting with the coarse texture of the clay rather than the smooth surface of porcelain.

As the eighth-generation head of Mukai Kiln, Fukushima Kazuhiro continues to explore new expressions within inherited traditions. Guided by experiences spanning an apprenticeship under Koie Ryoji, years spent working with anagama “cave kilns” in California, and a return to his native Iga, the kiln's work moves fluidly between tradition and experimentation. In a wood-fired anagama, ash and flame interact directly with the clay; each vessel responds differently depending on its position and exposure during firing. Fired alongside the other pieces in this collection, each bowl shows its own balance of color, texture, and form.

Mukai Kiln

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

Using the region’s coarse clay, the kiln creates vessels shaped by ash and flame while preserving the natural character of the 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.