Blue porcelain sake ware by Masao Tagai

Width: 12.2cm x 11.4cm Height: 7cm

This sake vessel is clad in a clear blue glaze that seems to reflect the air after a rain. Its simple design, with a soft, bowl-shaped body reminiscent of a sake cup and a tiny spout (katakuchi), combines practical beauty with elegance. The vessel's surface is as smooth as a mirror, with a faintly milky layer visible from deep within the glaze, creating a pale gradation. The rim is a silver-gray "iron rim" created by applying a thin layer of glaze and oxidizing the iron, tightening the blue world while also evoking a sense of wabi (traditional Japanese wabi).

Glaze Design

Masao Tagai uses a "reduction-off" technique, in which he controls the iron powder , fires the piece at a high temperature, and then lightly switches to oxidation towards the end. This technique results in a pure "rainy blue" color that eliminates any reddish tinge, and the milky layer that forms behind the blue creates depth.

Crack suppression

Considering its use as a sake vessel, the expansion coefficients of the clay and glaze are matched as closely as possible, and rapid cooling is avoided to prevent noticeable crazing. As a result, a smooth, translucent glaze surface is achieved, which reflects the color of the sake without distortion.

Iron edge treatment

The rim is thinly coated and made using the traditional "iron rim" technique, which oxidizes the iron in the base during firing to create a silvery gray color. The more it is used, the more it will acquire a black luster, which contrasts with the blue and tightens the appearance of the vessel.

As a sake cup

Temperature retention : The uniform wall thickness makes it easy to keep cold sake cool and hot sake at the right temperature.

Diameter : The slightly narrow bowl shape prevents too much aroma from escaping, allowing the ginjo and aged aromas to gently rise.

Easy pouring : The edge of the spout is sharpened while leaving the glaze intact, allowing the pour to drip easily and preventing stains on the table.

history

Celadon originated in the Yuezhou kilns of the Six Dynasties and reached its peak in the Ru kilns of the Northern Song dynasty and the Longquan kilns of the Southern Song dynasty. Brought to Japan by Zen monks after the Kamakura period, it has been treasured not only for tea utensils but also for sake utensils. The clear color of celadon in particular beautifully brings out the pale golden color of sake, which retains the umami flavor of rice, and it is said that tea masters of the Momoyama period favored it at drinking ceremonies. This piece respects that tradition while being reconstructed into a minimalist form that stands out on modern dining tables and in bars.

Viewing

Reflected scenery <br data-end="1673" data-start="1670">The glazed surface reflects the surroundings like a mirror, and the poured sake also reflects a soft light.

Changes in the iron rim over time <br data-end="1730" data-start="1727">The silver-gray rim will develop a black luster with use, deepening the contrast with the blue.

Comfortable in the hand <br data-end="1784" data-start="1781">The bowl-shaped body fits naturally in the palm of your hand, and the protruding spout provides a comfortable grip for steady pouring.

Masao Tagai's "Celadon Sake Ware" is a piece that combines a clear blue color, a neat iron rim, and a minimalist form that is both functional and elegant. It quietly elevates the moment you sip a drink, and the appearance of the glaze that develops over the years will gently bring back memories of your drinking occasion. We hope you will use it for many years to come and enjoy the changing appearance of the celadon along with seasonal sake.