Kuroshuten

This new black sake cup, which specializes in yohen (kiln-change) effects, is the work of Koichiro Isezaki, the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who is breathing new life into the Bizen ware world with his exceptional sense of style and skillful molding techniques. The cup was hand-formed by tearing a lump of clay into two pieces, stacking them, and shaping them by hand; the resulting tear marks remain, creating a powerful, rugged aesthetic reminiscent of a rocky cliff face. This piece is specifically crafted with blue yohen, where black clay is applied over the entire surface and fired intensely to produce a strikingly vivid cobalt blue. The vibrant cobalt blue is beautiful on its own, but when wet during use, it develops an exquisite color that defies description. Conversely, the interior (mikomi) retains a glossy black finish, allowing one to enjoy the contrast between the black and blue.

View Koichiro Isezaki's blog post Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 8.3cm x Diameter 7.7cm x Height 6.0cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki. Koichiro aspired to become a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He spent approximately two years learning ceramics under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist living in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under his father's guidance alongside his father’s other students. In 2002, he exhibited a piece at the Tanabe Museum of Art's Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time, where it was selected for the show.