Bizen ware bowl

This bowl is a work by Shusaku Taku, an artist who transforms the inspirations of daily life into form, using Bizen ware—a craft that has matured alongside the continuous activities of people throughout history—as his medium. True to Taku’s meticulous style, this piece is a versatile bowl suitable for any time or place. Created as functional tableware, the artist chose a combination of *Ibe-de* (a signature Bizen finish) and rich yellow *goma* (sesame ash glaze) to highlight the colors of the food served within. This choice not only improves the natural water resistance of the vessel, as has been done since ancient times, but also creates a stunning landscape of yellow and black, representing a cutting-edge evolution rooted in the history of *Ibe-de*. The form itself is also ingeniously crafted, with a design inspired by the shape of *Ido* tea bowls.

Interview with Shusaku Taku No box
Diameter 16.0cm x 15.8cm x Height 9.2cm Shusaku Taku was born in 1980 as the eldest son of Mamoru Taku. In 2001, he graduated from the Arita College of Ceramics in Saga Prefecture and began his apprenticeship under his father. In 2002, he received the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education Superintendent's Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Chugoku Branch Exhibition. In 2004, he won the Excellence Award at the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition. He has also had works selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Kogei Chugoku Branch Exhibition.