Authentic japanese sake set by Shin Fujihira

Width 6.5cm x Height 6cm

A conversation with Yasushi Fujihira

Shin Fujihira's "Cinnabar Sake Cup" captures the hearts of those who see it, as a special vessel that brings beauty and poetry into the everyday. Although this cup is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, it embodies Fujihira's free and creative spirit. The beauty of the deep cinnabar glaze harmonizes with the warmth and tolerance that the cup itself exudes, creating a masterpiece with a quiet presence.

The deep red and transparency created by cinnabar glaze

The greatest feature of the "Cinnabar Sake Cup" is the beautiful color created by the cinnabar glaze that was painstakingly adjusted by Mr. Fujihira. This glaze shows a variety of different expressions depending on the viewing angle and the way the light hits it, creating a rich gradation of colors from deep red to a faint purple.

Cinnabar glaze is extremely difficult to produce, and even the slightest deviation in the temperature of the kiln or the adjustment of redox conditions makes it difficult to achieve the intended color. However, Fujihira's "Cinnabar Sake Cup" achieves a unique beauty that transcends this difficulty. The glaze has a subtle texture that absorbs and reflects light, and its transparency seems to breathe life into the vessel. The depth and brilliance of this red can truly be said to be the crystallization of Fujihira's outstanding technique and sensibility.

A poetic warmth you can feel in the palm of your hand

The shape of the "Cinnabar Sake Cup" was created using Fujihei's distinctive hand-twisting technique, and is characterized by a natural fluctuation and organic form rather than a perfect circle. This subtle unevenness gives the work a human touch and makes those who pick it up feel a sense of warmth.

The appeal of the sake cup itself is further enhanced when you touch it with your hands. Although it is a small vessel, the smooth curves calculated from the rim to the base combine a pleasant feel with aesthetic satisfaction. Through this sake cup, we aim to convey a "poetic warmth" that goes beyond a simple vessel. Just by holding the sake cup, you will be able to feel the spirit and playfulness that he has put into his vessels.

Small works of art that brighten up your everyday life

The "Cinnabar Sake Cup" has the function of an everyday sake cup, but it is not just a tool; it is a small work of art that brings special value to the space. When you pour sake into the cup, you can enjoy the changing colors of the glaze, and it feels as if the cup itself has a life of its own.

Even when not in use, simply displaying it will have a quiet presence in any space. The "poetic appearance" of this sake cup is proof of its artistic quality, going beyond being just a vessel.

Shin Fujihira's playfulness and ceramic philosophy

Shin Fujihira's pottery has always been a fusion of playfulness and poetry. This spirit is strongly expressed in the "Cinnabar Sake Cup." Formed by hand without the use of a potter's wheel, this cup presents a natural beauty in contrast to the modern aesthetic sense that seeks perfect shapes. While pottery has a practical purpose as a "vessel," he believed that it should also inspire poetic emotions in those who view and use it. This philosophy is fully reflected in this small cup.

It is also noteworthy that while using the traditional cinnabar glaze, he has incorporated modern color expression. This piece symbolizes how Fujihira-sama has combined tradition and innovation in ceramics. It is a piece that is surprisingly narrative and poetic despite its small size. The deep color of the cinnabar glaze, the form that fits comfortably in the hand, and the presence that enriches the user's senses are the reasons why this cup is valued not as a simple vessel but as a work of art. Fujihira-sama's pursuit of the state of mind as a "poet of ceramics" is clearly felt through this cup. The warmth that is conveyed when you hold it in your hand and the quiet emotion that is created in the space by displaying the cup can be said to be part of the poetic world created through the medium of ceramics.

Shin Fujihira Biography
1944 Entered Kyoto Higher Technical School but dropped out due to illness
1945 Started pottery at Tohei Ceramic Arts
1957: Won the Hokuto Prize at the 13th Nitten Exhibition
1960 Florence International Ceramic Exhibition, Italy
1963: Received the Kikka Award at the 6th Shin-Nihon Exhibition and the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
1968 New Generation Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition: Ceramic Art Today - From Kyoto
1970 Contemporary Ceramics Europe and Japan Exhibition
1973 Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award
1974 Latin American Travel Exhibition
1976 Traveling exhibition of Japanese ceramic masterpieces in East Germany
1978 Traveling exhibition of Japanese ceramic masterpieces in West Germany
1982 US/Canada Traveling Exhibition
1983 Contemporary Japanese Crafts Exhibition
1985: Perspectives on Contemporary Japanese Art
1990: Winner of the Kyoto Art and Culture Award
1991 Received the Kyoto City Cultural Merit Award

"This is a new, unused piece. It is currently kept at the Fujihira Shin Memorial Museum. If you purchase it, his son, Fujihira Yasushi, will create a box to certify that it is an authentic piece."