Iga Sometsuke Side Plate

The shallow form of this side plate rests on three small feet, lifting it slightly above the table. Across the interior, a spiral winds inward from the rim, creating alternating ridges and channels that draw the eye toward the center. Though restrained in profile, the pattern introduces a quiet sense of movement.

Within these recessed lines, vidro glaze gathers more deeply, creating bands of green that become denser as they approach the center. A network of kannyu crackles emerges across the pooled areas, while traces of feldspar remain visible throughout the clay body. Along the outer wall, flashes of gosu blue appear beneath the rim, becoming visible gradually as the plate is turned.

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. Though sharing the same wood, flame, and firing as the other works in this series, the plate emerged with its own interplay of spiral form, vidro glaze, and gosu blue.

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.