Oribe Pearled Bloom Matcha Bowl

In this matcha bowl, Iga ware artisan Fukushima Kazuhiro reaches the most forceful stage of his Oribe journey. This piece moves into new territory—one that accepts boldness, risk, and transformation as essential to its voice. The vessel asserts itself through mass and texture, carrying a natural force that feels unrestrained, yet still retaining the utility of a matcha bowl.

Along the rim and side, white clusters emerge where feldspar, the raw material of glaze, is applied thickly. As the piece is fired, the feldspar glaze contracts unevenly against the clay, pulling apart to reveal a cracked, textured surface. This deliberate effect, known as kairagi, transforms the natural separation of clay and glaze into a striking visual landscape.

The green shades of the Oribe glaze contrast with the fractured textures of the surface. Small pinholes known as ishihaze appear where stones within the clay body have burst to the surface, adding to the natural landscape of the vessel. These organic expressions are here embraced as vital elements of Fukushima's artistry.

Rooted in an Iga ware family kiln, Fukushima inherited not only technique but also conventions that guided his work for many years. With this bowl, Fukushima breaks away from what he once held as fixed, then rebuilds it into something personal and alive.

The result is a work that is steeped in the tradition of Oribe, yet driven by a contemporary voice. Its thick edges, raw textures, and layered glazes speak of risk and change, inviting the viewer to see not only a finished form but the evolving journey of an artist who dares to let tradition fracture to find its rebirth.

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.