Brushed sake cup by Takahashi Dohachi

Width: 7.6cm x 7.0cm Height: 3.91cm

A neat umbrella shape and a sense of stability

This piece features a slightly outward-curving rim and a cap-shaped design that tapers gently from the body to the base. Its soft texture and comfortable feel on the lips are its defining features. The small yet sturdy base ensures stability on the table and a comfortable grip.

White brush marks on gray glaze

The entire body is covered in a moist, semi-gloss gray ash glaze. The calm gray tone characteristic of gray glaze takes on a slight blue tinge depending on the angle of the light, adding a sense of coolness when cold sake is poured into it. The white brushstrokes running across it were created by applying semi-dried white clay in one go with a thick brush. The dynamic brushstrokes speak of improvisation, and combined with the quiet gray glaze, they create a scene full of dynamism.

Contrast of the yakishime base

The area around the base is left unglazed and fired, revealing the original reddish-brown color of the clay. This unglazed area accentuates the contrast with the gray glaze, giving the vessel just the right amount of tension while conveying the warmth of the clay when touched with the palm of your hand. The tatami mat is smooth and trimmed, showing consideration to prevent damage to lacquerware and wooden trays on the Japanese dining table.

Ash glaze and improvised brush strokes

It is a two-stage process in which the piece is first shaped thinly on a potter's wheel, then brushed with white clay before bisque firing, and after drying, dipped in a transparent ash glaze. During firing, the thickness of the glaze becomes thinner in the brushed areas, causing the unevenness of the white clay to subtly emerge, leaving a pleasant texture on the fingertips. The brushed marks sunken under the glaze and the unglazed base - these two contrasting features are beautifully harmonized in one cup, showcasing Takahashi Michihachi's kiln-handling skills.

History - Brushwork and the Spirit of Folk Crafts

The brushstroke technique originated in the creation of Buncheong porcelain (Funseisaki) from the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea, and was widely used in Japan as everyday tableware in local kilns across the country from the mid-Edo period onwards. Its simple improvisational nature was highly praised as "beauty of utility" in the Mingei movement advocated by Yanagi Muneyoshi and others. Takahashi Michihachi, a renowned Kyoto ware color painting artist, has incorporated this technique into modern sake cups, resulting in masterpieces that reaffirm the primordial beauty created by the interweaving of clay and glaze.

The Takahashi Dohachi family has been known as a prestigious Kyoto ware colored ware family since the late Edo period. The ninth generation master graduated from Kyoto Bunkyo Junior College, majoring in fashion design, and then went on to study molding and research at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Technical College, and further solidified his technical foundation at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute.

In 1996, he began to study pottery under his father, Dohachi Yashiro, and began making pottery in earnest.

In 2012, he took on the name of the 9th Takahashi Dohachi

His style, which combines the sense of form cultivated through clothing design with the traditional techniques of Kyoto ware, breathes new life into the Dohachika style and displays a refinement that stands out in modern tea ceremony and gallery spaces.

Combining the serenity of the gray ash glaze with the vibrant white brushstrokes, this genuine sake cup is suitable for both cold and hot sake. The soft roundness of the rim and the high, baked base feel comfortable on the fingertips, and the way the brushstrokes reflect the fluctuations within the cup with each sip is exceptional. It will gently infuse the "breath of handcrafted craftsmanship" into conversations over drinks, as well as your daily evening drinks. We hope you will savor this cup for many years to come, and enjoy the beauty of the ash glaze that deepens with age and the outstanding sculptural beauty of Takahashi Michihachi.