{"product_id":"p7330","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a newly fired Bizen sake cup by Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen pottery was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece was removed from the kiln in May 2024.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo reproduce the firing style of the Old Bizen era, the piece was fired in a kiln made entirely of earth—avoiding the use of refractory bricks that did not exist at the time—where modern firing conventions do not apply.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe all-earth kiln itself acts like a single massive piece of pottery, resulting in an exquisite earthen texture that transcends modern aesthetics and approaches the quality of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFor this firing, Soga challenged himself with an unprecedented 19-day duration, resulting in a rich, reddish-rust earthen base characteristic of Old Bizen, accented by his signature ultra-fine, matte *kase-goma* (ash glaze).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe fine-textured *kase-goma* covering approximately 70% of the piece gives it a soft, rounded feel that is surprisingly unlike typical Bizen ware, creating a marvelous *yohen* (kiln transformation) that one longs to keep rolling in their palm.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe base of this piece features a mysterious reddish-rust color, combined with black spots caused by the eruption of iron and other minerals within the clay, resulting in a weathered, \"chilled\" texture unique to the Old Bizen style that can only be achieved through an all-earth kiln.\n\nSigned wooden box to follow (delivery is generally expected in 2–3 weeks, though this may vary significantly depending on Mr. Soga's health).\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.8cm × 6.6cm × Height 6.0cm\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009, and in 2012, he built an all-earth kiln without the use of refractory bricks in Kuku-i, Bizen City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent and began his pottery career in 2013.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618120880225,"sku":"7330","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7330.jpg?v=1790232548","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7330","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}