Sake "Yatagarasu"

This is a freshly kiln-fired sake cup, "Yatagarasu" (Eight-Span Crow), by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakinuma. It is an exceptionally creative work that exemplifies Mr. Ichikawa's style of giving shape to his endlessly overflowing ideas through the supreme medium of clay. The title references the Yatagarasu, a divine bird from Japanese mythology, featuring a two-tone design with black glaze representing the three-legged crow and a vivid red glaze representing the Yatagarasu as an incarnation of the sun. The textures differ between the glazes, with the black glaze being smooth and the red glaze having a coarse feel. Gold, Mr. Ichikawa's signature color, is applied between the red and black sections and on three protrusions that resemble gold buttons. It is a work typical of Mr. Ichikawa, who resonates with and fuses various cultures, including philosophy, mathematics, and mythology. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 2.6cm × Diameter 7.4cm × Height 6.2cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakinuma in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.