Oil Drop Tenmoku Sake Cup by Shigeo Takemura

Width: 10cm Height: 4cm

A conversation with Shigeo Takemura and Yotaro Takemura

The charm of the Yuteki Tenmoku sake cup and its overwhelming presence despite its small size

Shigeo Takemura's " Yuteki Tenmoku Sake Cup " is a small but attractive cup that fully expresses the beauty unique to Yuteki Tenmoku. Depending on the angle of the light, it shines silver or rainbow colors, inviting the viewer into a fantastical world as if they were gazing at a starry sky. The speckled pattern on the black background spreads across the entire cup, giving the impression of the vastness of the mysterious universe.

Oil Droplets and Yohen: Fantastic Black Created by Markings

" Yuteki " refers to the phenomenon in which metallic components contained in the iron glaze rise to the surface of the glaze during firing, forming a speckled pattern. When this pattern shines with rainbow colors, it is called "Yohen" and is especially prized. Silver spots appear on the inside and outside of this cup, which is coated with a jet-black glaze, and when light hits it, they emit a unique beauty, hence the name "Yuteki." The pattern resembles drops of oil, and the dreamy glow that shines on the vessel continues to hold special meaning for Japanese tea masters and art lovers.

The origin and historical background of Yuteki Tenmoku

The technique of Yuteki Tenmoku is said to have originated in the Jian kiln in southern China during the Southern Song Dynasty in the 12th to 13th centuries . The markings on the Tenmoku tea bowls fired at the Jian kiln are characterized by iridescent oil droplets, a pattern that formed naturally under the special conditions in the kiln. In China at that time, black-colored bowls were favored for the "tea ceremony," and bowls with beautiful markings were especially highly valued. These Jian kiln Tenmoku tea bowls became popular from the Song dynasty through the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and the iridescent bowls known as "Yohen Tenmoku" were especially prized among aristocrats and emperors, and are renowned as legendary masterpieces, of which only a few remain today.

The historical position of Tenmoku tea bowls in Japanese tea ceremony

Tenmoku tea bowls fired at Kengama were introduced to Japan by Zen monks in the Kamakura period . In particular, monks who studied in Tenmoku Mountain in Zhejiang Province, a base of Zen Buddhism, brought these bowls back to Japan as tea utensils, and during the Muromachi period, they became highly valued as "Tenmoku" by Ashikaga Yoshimasa and others. These Tenmoku tea bowls were not simply utensils for everyday use, but developed as symbols of the aesthetic sense of "wabi" and "sabi" in the tea ceremony. The reason that bowls using Tenmoku glaze were loved by tea masters and military commanders was the tranquil and mysterious charm of the depth of the black glaze and its metallic shine.

The origins and techniques of Tenmoku glaze

Tenmoku glazes are made using glazes that contain feldspar, limestone, and iron, and the color and pattern change depending on how they are fired in the kiln. Tenmoku glazes are known as black glazes, and if the iron content of the glaze is 1-2 percent it is celadon, and if it is 15 percent or more it is black porcelain. Depending on the amount of iron in the glaze, it can be further classified as amber-colored glaze (amber glaze) or persimmon-colored glaze (persimmon glaze). In addition, because it is difficult to adjust the ingredients and temperature control of this glaze, advanced techniques are required to bring out the beauty of the mottled patterns.

The fusion of tradition and modernity seen in Shigeo Takemura's Yuteki Tenmoku sake cups

Born in Yamashina, Kyoto Prefecture, Shigeo Takemura studied under Professor Morinobu Kimura , a holder of the Kyoto Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property, and has developed his own techniques as a leading expert in natural ash glazes. The Yuteki Tenmoku cup expresses a beauty that is still relevant today while inheriting the traditional techniques that have been passed down since the Southern Song Dynasty. The mottled patterns that spread throughout the cup and its deep shine are the result of decades of training, and the work conveys the depth of the glaze made from natural ash and a passion for pottery. The Yuteki Tenmoku cup reproduces the traditions inherited from ancient China in the modern era and adds a unique beauty to create a new artistry. The silver mottled patterns that emerge from the black background of this cup show different expressions depending on the angle from which it is viewed, deeply moving the viewer, and its presence and beauty are overwhelming.

Shigeo Takemura Biography

1953: Born in Yamashina, Kyoto Prefecture 1972: Graduated from Kyoto Municipal Hiyoshigaoka High School, Ceramic Department - Studied under Professor Kimura Morinobu 1975: First selection at the 4th Japan Crafts Association Kinki Branch Exhibition 1978: Selected for the Kyoto Prefecture Crafts and Arts Exhibition 1980: Became independent and opened Dainichi Kiln in Yamashina 1988: Selected for the 35th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 1989: Founded the Tsuchi no Ko-kai 1990: Selected for the 37th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 1996: Encouragement Award at the 25th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition 1998: Selected for the 53rd Shinsho Crafts Association Exhibition 2001: Solo exhibition at the Kyoto Crafts and Arts Association Exhibition, Takashimaya, Kyoto 2002: Selected for the 49th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2003: Solo exhibition at Okayama Takashimaya Art Gallery 2005: Solo exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Art Gallery 2006: Solo exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Art Gallery 2007: 36th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition, Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education Superintendent Award, Certified as a full member of the Japan Crafts Association Solo exhibition at Okayama Takashimaya Art Gallery 2008: 36th New Ceramics Exhibition by a full member of the Japan Crafts Association Ceramics Division, Japan Crafts Association Award 2009: Selected for the 56th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2010: Appointed as a judge for the 39th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition 2014-2018: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition 2019-2020: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition 2023: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2024: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition