Kuto Chawan

This is a newly fired Kuro Chawan by Masao Akiya, who studied under Jun Isezaki, a Living National Treasure of Bizen ware, and creates highly original works with a fresh, contemporary sensibility.

This is one of his latest works, freshly fired in February 2026.

Crafted using the Kuro-Bizen (black Bizen) technique inherited from his mentor, Jun Isezaki, this piece features an exceptionally appealing black surface with a deep luster and a warm, inviting tone.

A special clay collected near Osafune, close to Bizen City, is applied to the surface after being blended with a small amount of cobalt, creating a stylish and richly nuanced black texture.

One of the great attractions of black works is the "blue fire" effect, created by the reaction between cobalt and natural ash glaze. In this piece, these blue fire effects appear across roughly seventy percent of the surface, giving it a highly striking presence.

The form is quiet and refined, reminiscent of a Raku chawan, designed to showcase the vivid black and blue scenery while allowing the green of tea to stand out beautifully.

The fine wrinkles that emerged naturally in the clay during forming are particularly fascinating. These wrinkles create subtle variations in the blue fire effects, resulting in a landscape of remarkable depth.

Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1968.
Became a disciple of Jun Isezaki in 1998.
Built his own kiln in 2008 and became an independent ceramic artist.