Bizen Guinomi

This is a Bizen sake cup by Junpei Kaneshige, the eldest son of the master Kosuke Kaneshige, the leading figure of the Kaneshige school. Sticking to the traditional clay-making methods of the Kaneshige lineage, this work is crafted from clay refined entirely by hand without the use of a pug mill, and which has been aged for several decades before use. It features the fine-grained, deep greenish *kase-goma* (dry ash glaze) characteristic of Kosuke Kaneshige’s Koto kiln, which has evolved into an even more pronounced bluish *kase-goma* under the guidance of Junpei’s own kiln firing. There is also a *nuke* (a clear area of original clay color) in the center of the interior, which is a delightful feature for a sake vessel, allowing the user to enjoy "nurturing" the piece through continued use. The finishing process after firing was performed with meticulous care, completely dispelling the rough, dry impression typically associated with *kase-goma*; its soft, gentle texture is a welcome quality for a vessel that touches the lips. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 9.2cm × Diameter 9.0cm × Height 3.3cm Junpei Kaneshige was born in Komaba, Tokyo, in 1972 as the eldest son of Kosuke Kaneshige. He graduated from Waseda University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences in 1994. After completing a graduate program in sculpture at Long Island University in New York in 2000, he returned to Japan to apprentice under his father, Kosuke Kaneshige.