off-white matcha green tea bowl by Yanashita Hideki

Width 11.7 cm Height 8.5 cm

The soft, rounded shape of this bowl exudes a sense of capacity. It is as if it is a vessel with a quiet breathing. The "White Tea Bowl" by Yanagishita Tokiki has a calm, stable and pure serenity that calms the mind the moment you pick it up. However, what is particularly noteworthy about this tea bowl is its "whiteness."

"White" as a margin: beauty spoken of through absence

The white of this tea bowl is not just a color. It exists as a blank space , and speaks volumes in silence. Like snow or mist in ink painting, it has the power to make us imagine what is not depicted, and there resides the beauty of lingering impressions and spaces. As seen in the world of gold and silver paint by Tawaraya Sotatsu and Ogata Korin, the white space brings rhythm and serenity to the entire work. Like the relationship between ink and blank space in calligraphy, the "White Tea Bowl" gently offers us a dialogue between light and shadow, presence and absence.

White is a color of purity and holiness

Since ancient times, "white" has been a symbol of purity and holiness in Japanese culture. White is seen in the white robes and curtains used in Shinto rituals, and in Buddhist art as a symbol of enlightenment.
The white of this tea bowl also subtly embodies this spirituality. The depth of the white that seems to shine through the glaze exudes a dignified purity, like unstained Japanese paper or white porcelain.

Reflecting the memories of the seasons and nature

Winter snow, early spring plum blossoms, moonlit nights... The white of this tea bowl evokes the transitions of nature . Beauty in silence, the hint of an upcoming rebirth, and the light that accompanies solitude. When you pick it up, the soft roundness of the bowl fits comfortably in your palm, and you can almost feel the breath of nature. The fine crazes on the ceramic surface that catch the steam lightly change the expression of the bowl over time.

The "Shirocha Bowl" is a vessel for those who listen carefully not only to what is visible, but also to the beauty that cannot be seen . Enjoy a moment of tea while feeling the hidden story in the silence. There, you will find a deep beauty of blank space that will help you forget the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Hideki Yanashita Profile
Ceramicist 1967 –
Born in Tokyo, Yanagishita is currently based in Iga, Mie Prefecture. Fascinated by pottery from the Momoyama period, he embarked on the path of 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, Yanagishita has been creating a wide variety of works , including Raku ware, Yakishime, Ido, and Oribe, while deeply exploring the world of wabi-sabi from his own unique perspective. An important theme in Yanagishita's creations is the quest for 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 is timeless, and invite the viewer into a deeper world of art.

Base of operations : Iga, Mie Prefecture