Black sake cup by Yanashita Hideki

Width 6.0cm Height 6.6cm

The Black Sake Cup by Yanashi Hideki condenses the aesthetic and creative spirit of his signature work, the Black Tea Bowl, into a palm-sized sake cup. This work, which seems to encapsulate the silence of pitch black in a small vessel, is a wonderful fusion of the philosophy of the tea ceremony and aesthetic beauty that is relevant to modern life.

The black universe residing in a small vessel

Yanagishita expresses the profound and mysterious qualities of the color "black" not simply through a choice of color, but as a "scenery." The black in this work is not simply jet black. Depending on the light, subtle nuances of brown or ink emerge, evoking a sense of expansiveness like the night sky or the deep sea. A tranquil landscape, as if peering into the depths of space, emerges within this small vessel. While this expression of black is in the lineage of classics such as Koetsu and Chojiro, it is a "modern" black born from Yanagishita's unique firing and glazing techniques. Its visual depth gently captures the viewer's heart as an "underlying landscape" that is only seen when the sake is poured and drunk.

Chamfering creates a quiet sense of tension

The shape of this sake cup makes use of the same beveling technique used in the Black Tea Bowl. Within the limited size of a sake cup, even the slightest change in angle can greatly affect its appearance. The sharply rising ridges, combined with the lustrous black glaze, give the entire vessel a sense of tension and rhythm. The drinking rim is shaped with such sharpness that it appears as if it had been cut off, and the delicate feel on the mouth is a testament to Mr. Yanagishita's advanced wheel-throwing skills. The Black Sake Cup is a vessel that quietly asserts its presence while intimately interacting with the physical senses of those who view and use it.

Beauty of form dwells within practicality

What is important for a sake cup is both visual beauty and ease of use in terms of handling and sipping. This black sake cup has a carefully crafted base, which gives it a particularly stable feel when held in the hand. When viewed from the bottom, it also has a flawless appearance, with every detail meticulously thought out, like a sculpture. There are also subtle variations in the amount of glaze applied, and sometimes the brown color of the base tea peeks through the gaps in the glaze. This gives the cup a wabi-sabi aesthetic, creating a sense of balance between seemingly random yet calculated beauty.

From "black tea bowls" to "black sake cups" - Inheritance and development of the spirit

This piece can be described as a miniature version of the spirituality and aesthetic beauty of Yanagishita's black tea bowl, embodied in a tool found in everyday life: a sake cup.
The elegance and presence of the Black Tea Bowl, which can transform any space, is felt as if it were held in the palm of your hand. Its slight size allows it to be closer to the user, adding a quiet radiance to your everyday life. This form of expression is symbolic of Yanagishita's creative approach, which does not simply imitate the classics, but instead builds on the spirit of the classics to create tableware that is relevant to modern life. It can be said that the true meaning of "tradition and innovation" resides quietly within it.

To experience the extraordinary in the everyday

The Black Sake Cup is a beautiful piece to display, yet remains memorable even when used. Its appearance, which brings a sense of serenity to moments at the dinner table or drinking party, is more than just a piece of tableware. It is a small work of art that gently speaks to the user, transforming the time spent in the palm of their hand into something just a little more special. Pour sake into it, bring it to your mouth, and the "scenery" you see at the bottom of the empty cup - it embodies the aesthetic sense of once-in-a-lifetime encounters, which is also found in the tea ceremony.

Hideki Yanashita Profile
Ceramic artist 1967 –
Born in Tokyo, Yanagishita currently lives and works in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. Fascinated by pottery from the Momoyama period, he embarked on a career in ceramics. After training in Shigaraki , he built his own anagama kiln in Iga, Mie Prefecture, and opened the "Kanda Kiln." Under the tutelage of Sadamitsu Sugimoto, he delves deeply into the world of wabi-sabi from his own unique perspective, producing a diverse range of works, including Raku ware, Yakishime, Ido, and Oribe ware. An important theme in Yanagishita's creative endeavors is the pursuit of new heights , born from the incorporation of modern materials and unique approaches, while deeply studying the techniques and spirit of his predecessors. His works question essential beauty that transcends time and invite viewers into a deeper world of art.

Base of operations : Iga, Mie Prefecture

A conversation with Toki Yanagishita