Kuro Mug

This is a newly fired Kuro (black) mug by Masao Akitani, who studied under Jun Isezaki—the fifth Living National Treasure for Bizen ware—and creates highly original works with a fresh, contemporary spirit.

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

This piece was made using the Kuro-Bizen technique inherited from his teacher, Jun Isezaki. Its black surface is particularly appealing, offering a deep luster with a warm, inviting tone.

A special clay collected from areas near Osafune, close to Bizen City, is applied to the surface after being mixed 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, the blue fire effect appears on the front of the mug, giving it a striking presence.

Rather than relying on elaborate decoration, the design makes full use of the chic, modern character of black ware, bringing out the beauty of its silhouette and lines to great effect.

This is a generously sized mug that can also be enjoyed as a beer mug.

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