Bizen square plate

This is a newly fired Bizen square plate by Masao Akiya, who studied under Jun Isezaki, the fifth Living National Treasure of Bizen ware, and creates highly original works with a fresh and distinctive spirit.

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

This piece was made using yellow clay collected from Ibe Hiraike, near Akiya’s studio.

Without fully mixing the different clay components, he beat and stretched them into a single plate, allowing the variations in the clay itself to appear as differences in color and form a marbled pattern across the surface.

These variations appear not only in the pattern but also in the texture. The smooth, matte surface has a pleasant feel, reminiscent of frosted glass.

Rather than simply ending with an expressive clay surface, he has also paid careful attention to making the piece practical and comfortable to use as a dish.

The plate has been stretched as thinly as possible, while the rim has been firmly trimmed, achieving both beauty and ease of use as a vessel.

He was born in Saitama Prefecture in 1968.
He became a disciple of Jun Isezaki in 1998.
He built his own kiln in 2008 and became an independent ceramic artist.