Bizen Henko Tokkuri

This is a newly fired Bizen Henko Tokkuri by Makoto Kaneshige, who inherited the Maruyama kiln as the eldest son of Sozan Kaneshige and captivates many with the harmony of delicate, elegant clay texture and powerful form.

It is one of his latest works, newly fired at the end of 2025.

When pursuing dramatic fire patterns, Makoto Kaneshige is known for firing his works to the utmost, and this piece displays the heavy and intense effect that only he can achieve, as though the clay itself had been fired to its very limit.

The reverse seems to capture the very moment when the earth is being overtaken by molten lava, and the softly gleaming mass of ash holds both a beauty that draws the viewer in and a sense of danger.

Alongside these black-silver masses of ash, brilliant golden highlights appear in the shaded areas, and together with the tones of the fire pattern and exposed clay, they create a scene reminiscent of a radiant full moon.

Although this is a powerfully fired work that seems almost to test the limits of the clay, it is surprising how pleasant the surface feels in the hand. This comes from the high quality of the clay itself and the careful, time-consuming finishing that is characteristic of the Kaneshige lineage.

At the neck, one finds a small exposed mark that resembles a necklace, as if left there by the playful hand of the kiln god, forming a fascinating combination with the moon-like exposed area on the body.

This is a commanding Henko Tokkuri that beautifully balances ease of handling with an intriguing presence, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that such a masterful work could only be achieved by Makoto Kaneshige, who has truly devoted himself to the art of sake vessels.

He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture in 1945 as the eldest son of Sozan Kaneshige.
He graduated from Kyoto University in 1969.
He became his father's disciple.