Kenzan's Cherry Blossom-Painted Sake Cup by Kosai Miyagawa

Height: 7.5cm Width: 6.5cm

"Kenzan's Cherry Blossom Sake Cup" is a piece with a motif of cherry blossoms, a symbol of spring. It is characterized by warm, spring-like colors, and the surface of the vessel is decorated with delicate, slightly raised cherry blossom petals. While cherry blossom paintings often express softness and transience, this piece exudes a lively freedom, conveying the strength of the cherry blossoms that bloom en masse with the arrival of spring.

The appeal of large sake cups

This piece is a slightly larger sake cup than a typical ochoko, allowing you to enjoy your sake at your own pace. It is characterized by its lightness and shape that fits comfortably in the hand, offering a luxurious moment of sipping sake while admiring the cherry blossom painting. The size and depth of the sake cup make it comfortable for the user and a visually pleasing vessel.

What is a Kenzan copy?

"Kenzan copies" refers to works that imitate and further develop the style of Ogata Kenzan, a master of Kyoto ware from the Edo period. Based on techniques learned from Nonomura Ninsei, considered the founder of Kyoto ware, Kenzan was influenced by his brother, the painter Ogata Korin, and incorporated the gorgeous floral patterns and bold designs of the Rinpa school into his works. Kenzan's works are characterized by their free and powerful designs, making them particularly popular among Kyoto ware. Kenzan and Korin also collaborated on many works, and stories that evoke the bond between the brothers are still passed down today. The word "copy" does not simply mean imitation, but rather incorporates the techniques of predecessors and adds further ingenuity. Kenzan's bold and sophisticated designs have influenced contemporary potters, and his free and innovative expression continues to be passed down to this day in the form of "Kenzan copies."

The Miyagawa Kosai family and straw ash glaze

The straw ash glaze used in this piece is a precious glaze that has been passed down through generations of the Miyagawa Kosai family. It is characterized by a soft bluish hue and a warm surface, with a beautiful, mellow milky white color that creates a dignified texture. This glaze is a symbolic technique of Makuzu ware, a traditional glaze that has been added to over 200 years. Depending on the clay and firing method, the straw ash glaze can produce different colors, sometimes a warm reddish finish and sometimes a cool bluish-white finish. These variations give the piece its own individuality and invite new discoveries from the viewer.

The history and inheritance of Makuzu ware

Makuzu ware was founded in Kyoto around 1684 by Yukan Miyagawa Kobee Masakazu, and was popularized by Miyagawa Chozo V, who opened a kiln in Makuzugahara, Higashiyama. Chozo's fourth son, Toranosuke, later moved to Yokohama, took the name of the first Makuzu Kozan, and made Makuzu ware known both domestically and internationally. Meanwhile, the Jihei family lineage continued Makuzu ware under the leadership of Miyagawa Kosai I, and in 1934, Eiyo Kosai IV took the name Makuzu and began producing mainly tea ceremony utensils. Currently, Miyagawa Kosai V, the seventh generation of Makuzu, continues to preserve the techniques and traditions.

The Miyagawa family's works and their international reputation

The Miyagawa Kosai family's Makuzu ware is highly acclaimed not only in Japan but also internationally. Their works are housed in collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO in Paris, and are beloved by many collectors and art lovers. The "Kenzan Copy Cherry Blossom Sake Cup" is a masterpiece that combines the beauty of cherry blossoms, evocative of the arrival of spring, with the charm of the Miyagawa Kosai family's traditional straw ash glaze technique. The strength and freedom of the cherry blossoms painted on the vessel brings the joy of spring to the user and enriches the time spent savoring sake.

A conversation with Miyagawa Kosai