Bizen Yunomi

Koichiro Isezaki, the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, has brought a fresh new spirit to the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense of design and remarkable skill in forming clay.

This is a newly fired Bizen Yunomi from his latest kiln firing, unloaded from the kiln in July 2026.

While making full use of the distinctive qualities of Bizen clay, Koichiro skillfully incorporates elements from wood carving—one of the artistic traditions that form part of his roots—creating a highly individual piece that is immediately recognizable as his work.

This firing took place in the height of summer. The prolonged rainy season brought considerable humidity, which affected the atmosphere inside the anagama kiln. As a result, the surface displays softly emerging, delicate reddish tones together with particularly intense Kase-Goma, producing the distinctive texture often referred to as a “melon skin.”

Although the Yunomi has a simple cylindrical form, the design of the lower body gives it an unusual character. A subtle step is formed around the waist, while the base curves gently into a rounded bottom, creating an intriguing and distinctive silhouette.

The clean, crisp coloration characteristic of anagama firing blends beautifully with the simple yet refined design, resulting in a work that feels completely at home even in a contemporary living space.

The Yunomi comes with a paulownia wooden box, making it an excellent choice as a gift or commemorative piece.

He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture as the eldest son of Jun Isezaki in 1974.
He graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 1996.
He studied ceramics in NY and has been active since 2000.