Bizen tea cup

This is a brand-new Bizen teacup, freshly removed from the kiln by Mr. Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of the past by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen era, he eschews the use of modern refractory bricks, resulting in a kiln where modern conventional wisdom regarding internal thermal efficiency simply does not apply. Consequently, the work exhibits a superb "earthy flavor" that transcends modern aesthetics, rivaling that of Old Bizen itself. The tea-brown body is graced with understated *hidasuki* (fire cord) markings; at first glance, the appearance may seem plain and unassuming, yet the surface reveals a powerful, earthy vitality that seems to explode with the life force of the clay—a hallmark of Mr. Soga, who holds Old Bizen in high regard. A particular feature of this firing is the way iron deposits have bubbled up across the entire surface like sweat, combined with a surprisingly soft and delicate texture that belies the intense look of the piece. It is a true delight to be able to enjoy this contrast in a cup, a work meant to be held in the hand. The scenery is reminiscent of the *hidasuki* style of the master potter, the late Mr. Ken Fujiwara.

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Diameter 7.5cm x 7.4cm x Height 9.3cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. In 2009, he began an apprenticeship under Mr. Jun Isezaki, and in 2012, he built his own kiln in Kuku-i, Bizen City. He became independent and began his career as a potter in 2013.