{"product_id":"p6556","title":"Bizen Black Sake Cup","description":"This is a new Bizen black sake cup (guinomi) by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the world of Bizen ware with an inexhaustible creative power.\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is his latest work, taken out of the kiln in December 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe piece was fired in a semi-underground anagama kiln for about 10 days, where black slip and intense \"goma\" (ash glaze) vie for dominance on the surface, while natural glaze spilling from the kiln walls creates a striking landscape.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe natural glaze that dripped from the kiln walls reacted with the black slip, turning into a pale blue, glass-like substance, reminding us once again of the astonishing diversity of changes possible in black-fired works.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe back of this piece received a generous baptism of fire, causing the yellow gold-like ash glaze—produced by high-quality pine firewood—to spill over to the front, forming magnificent \"tamadare\" (beaded glaze) patterns.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile the entire work has a deep luster from the slip, the bottom of the interior reveals a matte texture where the sheen fades, creating an interesting effect that looks as though light is reflecting off the bottom of a body of water.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-zan) included.\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter: 6.9cm x 6.7cm, Height: 7.1cm\n\nJun Isezaki (1936–2026, born in Inbe, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the second son of Bizen ware artist Yozan Isezaki, who specialized in ceramic sculptures.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe learned pottery techniques from his father from an early age, and after graduating from the Special Art Course at the Okayama University Faculty of Education in 1959, he entered the path of professional pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1962, he and his older brother, Mitsuru Isezaki, successfully restored and fired a medieval semi-underground anagama kiln.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn addition to traditional vessels such as flower vases, plates, and tea ceremony ceramics, he worked extensively on pieces that emphasized form, including ceramic walls, reliefs, and sculptures.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe prioritized both shaping and firing, establishing a unique style full of modern sensibility that utilized the specific characteristics of anagama, climbing (noborigama), and electric kilns.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs a representative artist in the production of Bizen ceramic walls and reliefs, he worked on numerous projects, primarily for public facilities.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966, and served as a lecturer in the Special Art Course at the Okayama University Faculty of Education from 1978 to 1987.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1998, he was designated as a Holder of Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property alongside his brother Mitsuru, and in the same year, he became a director of the Japan Kōgei Association and Secretary-General of its Chugoku branch.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2002, he created a ceramic wall for the Prime Minister's Official Residence.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2004, he was designated as the fifth Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property) for Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2025, he was named a Person of Cultural Merit.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 2026.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards and honors: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Excellence Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Modeling, Okayama Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award, Okayama Prefecture Miki Memorial Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Person of Cultural Merit, and others.","brand":"伊勢崎 淳","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618057179233,"sku":"6556","price":120000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6556.jpg?v=1790231635","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6556","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}