Tenmoku glaze sake bottle by Okada Masaru

Width: 8.4cm Height: 11.2cm

Tenmoku-yu Tokuri by Okada Masaru - "The black lapis lazuli that holds the starry sky reflects the night sky in a sip of sake."

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Overview of the Work

A small sake bottle that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The deep lapis lazuli Tenmoku glaze sparkles with black silver, and the purple outline drawn by the reduction flame runs faintly along the rim and ridges of the steps. The fine silver sand twinkles like stardust depending on the strength of the light, inviting the sake poured into it, from Nada Kiippon to Yamazato Doburoku, into the deep night sky.

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The mysterious beauty of Tenmoku glaze

Stardust on Silver Sand <br data-start="533" data-end="536">The iron crystals precipitated on the surface shine silver-gray, and depending on the angle of the light, they resemble the night sky.

Pale Red from the Fire <br data-start="586" data-end="589">The temperature fluctuations during the reduction firing cause the ridges to bleed reddish purple, giving a sense of warmth to the darkness.

Aging <br data-start="637" data-end="640">Trace components of the sake soak into the glaze, and the more it is used, the more astringent the black becomes, and the silver sand sinks elegantly.

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Echoes of history

Tenmoku glaze, which originated from the black-glazed tea bowls of Jian kilns in the Song dynasty, was brought to Japan by Zen monks and came to symbolize the darkness and light of wabi-cha tea. The idea of applying it to sake ware can also be seen in the Oribe and Iga styles of the Momoyama period, but Okada Masaru has floated silver sand like stardust and used a bamboo joint-shaped design to replicate the bamboo forests of the mountain villages at night, delivering a drop of mystery to a modern drinking party.

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Conclusion

When you pour sake into the cup, stardust sways in the depths of the black lapis lazuli, and the purple-red ridges tell the subtle temperature of the sake. Whether you're enjoying a quiet drink in the evening or entertaining guests, the Tenmoku glaze sake bottle will add a story to the night sky with every sip. Please use it for many years to come and enjoy the deepening shadows of the Tenmoku glaze and the overlapping aromas of the sake.