Guinomi

This Guinomi was created by Kei Ushigaki, who trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki.
He later established his own kiln in Kagoshima, his grandfather's ancestral home.

By viewing Bizen ware culture from a distance—both geographically and conceptually—he has created a work that captures the essence and renewed appeal of Bizen through an external lens.

This piece is reminiscent of the traditional Imbe-te style, featuring clay sourced from Kagoshima applied to its surface.
Although he is associated with the Isezaki school, he deliberately avoids using cobalt, adhering instead to old-fashioned methods.

The entire piece is covered in Kigoma, which—perhaps due to the influence of the Kagoshima clay—has developed a dry, weathered appearance, acquiring a matte texture and rough feel reminiscent of Irabo ware.

In form, it faithfully carries the Isezaki clan vocabulary: thrown with generous thickness, then pared along the sides into an elegant octagonal profile.

Kei Ushigaki was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1989.

After graduating from Kyoto Traditional Crafts University in 2013, he studied under Jun Isezaki, honing his ceramic technique.

In 2018, he established himself as an independent potter in Kagoshima Prefecture.