Oribe Soft Ridge

This Oribe piece by Iga ware artisan Fukushima Kazuhiro carries an energy both sculptural and rhythmic. Hand-pinched, the bowl has a thickness and weight that speak of deliberate touch. The surface is worked in shinogi, where the clay is shaped into ridges that rise and fall in a quiet rhythm. These lines bring harmonious movement to the form while giving the vessel a sense of balance and strength.

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 a striking blue. Within the interior, the blue settles into a vivid pool, an effect that recalls water gathering in a hollow.

Depending on the angle of view, the surface reveals different landscapes: patches of rough, textured clay stand beside glossy, translucent glaze, while the ridges catch shadows that change with the light. The whole piece offers shifting scenery, rewarding the eye with new impressions at every turn.

Fukushima’s artistry shows its evolution—from restraint to bold exploration, from controlled form to organic freedom. Yet the spirit of Oribe remains at the core, grounding his innovations in centuries of tradition. 

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.