Oribe Earthen Tide Pool Matcha Bowl

In this work, Iga ware artist Fukushima Kazuhiro expresses elemental nature in a matcha bowl. The earthy, aerated texture of the clay, combined with the glossy glaze, evokes wet, crumbly sand when held between the palms. Peering inside reveals a brilliant, glassy blue, like a tide pool nestled within a hidden cove. The wildness of clay is unleashed yet tightly controlled, creating a changeable landscape.

Four types of glaze have been applied across its surface, layering tones that shift with the light. Deep green glazes characteristic of Oribe flow alongside earthy browns, creamy whites, and striking blue. Small pinholes known as ishihaze appear where stones within the clay body have risen to the surface. The glaze accents the clay beneath without hiding it, revealing the organic expressiveness of the material itself.

The rocky, untamed look of the clay is tempered by the matcha bowl’s rounded, asymmetrical shape that nestles softly in the hands. The slight inward curve of the rim further invites an engagement with and exploration of the form during use.

Dramatic in presence and texture yet gentle to hold, the bowl celebrates duality: movement captured in stillness, unpredictability made intentional. Here, the viewer is invited to see not only a finished vessel, but also the artistic process of creation in which each moment of choice and chance shaped this living expression.

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.