Bizen Mitsuishi Mugcup

After completing his training at Jun Isezaki’s studio, Sohei Takashima received the Contemporary Ceramic Art Encouragement Award from the Japan Ceramic Society, marking a brilliant debut. This is his new Bizen Mitsuishi mug cup.

Sohei Takashima studied under Jun Isezaki, the fifth Living National Treasure of Bizen ware, and later established himself in Ushimado, Setouchi City. This is one of his mug cups.

This piece was made by mixing Bizen clay with roseki (pyrophyllite) stone from the Mitsuishi district in eastern Bizen City, resulting in a white surface that looks almost like unfired clay.

The roseki stone, a specialty of Mitsuishi, is finely crushed and blended into the clay, giving the piece an extremely smooth texture that matches its porcelain-like appearance.

Because of the nature of the clay, this is a piece that will develop beautifully with use. The colors of tea, coffee, and other drinks will gradually soak into the surface, and it is said that the piece will slowly take on a soft, earthy tone, almost as if it were being fired once again.

In keeping with the character and color of the clay, all unnecessary flourishes have been completely stripped away. The result is a wonderfully simple and quiet design that perfectly suits its clean, pure appearance.

He was born in 1991 in Hokkaido, Japan.
After graduating from the Design Department of Doto University in 2014, he became an apprentice to Jun Isezaki.