Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, an artist who expanded his perspective beyond Japan to share the appeal of Bizen ware with the world. It features the very fine "kase-goma" (dry sesame ash glaze) characteristic of his kiln, which, combined with the bold, simple, and clear form, makes it a delightful cup to use. The kase-goma itself is a mixture of two patterns—a strong whitish, slightly bright green and a calm, grassy hue—allowing one to savor the profound aesthetic changes typical of Bizen ware. The "nuke" (unaffected areas) and the texture of the clay inside the cup show a gentle, pale orange tone, which, along with the beautifully defined rim, balances ease of use with visual appeal.

View blog post about Yu Fujiwara Includes signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.7cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.6cm Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. His pottery was guided by the motto of "simplicity, clarity, and boldness," and he became known as "Yu of the Jars" for the many jars and bowls he created. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also highly skilled in creating tableware. Beginning in 1972, he held a series of themed exhibitions, including the "100 Jars Exhibition," "Tokkuri (sake bottle) Exhibition," "100 Flowers Exhibition," and "100 Bowls Exhibition." He also produced many large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967. In 1980, he was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he became the first person in the ceramic art world to be designated a nationally recognized holder of an important intangible cultural property (Living National Treasure), following in the footsteps of his father.
Major awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award and Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Prize, Chugoku Cultural Prize, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Grand Prize for Art and Culture, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.