Kenzan's Kuma bamboo sake cup by Kousai Miyagawa

"Kenzan copy of Kumazasa-no-e sake cup by Miyagawa Kosai" is a work that reflects the outstanding technique of the Miyagawa Kosai family and the style of Ogata Kenzan, a master of Kyoto ware in the Edo period. Compared to ordinary bamboo leaves, this work has a unique strength and wild impression. Kumazasa is a plant that lives in mountainous regions and has adapted to harsh environments, and its leaves are large, characterized by thick veins and jagged edges. For this reason, designs with Kumazasa as a motif express the vitality and grandeur of nature.

• Strength : The veins of the Japanese kumazasa leaves are thick, and while they are delicate, they give the sake cup a strong presence. This gives the piece a sense of natural strength, and gives the user a sense of vitality.
• Wildness : The depiction of the vitality of Japanese kumazasa bamboo that grows in mountainous regions creates a sense of oneness with nature, allowing the user to feel that natural energy in their hands.
• Style : The large leaves of the Japanese bamboo grass give the entire sake cup a sense of dignity and create a sense of luxury when you use it. Visually, you can enjoy the beauty of Japan's four seasons and nature, which further enhances the charm of the Japanese bamboo grass painting sake cup.

Miyagawa Kosai family techniques and straw ash glaze

This piece is decorated with the " straw ash glaze " that has been passed down through the generations of the Miyagawa Kosai family. Straw ash glaze is made from the ash of burnt straw, and gives the ware a soft, warm luster. This is one of the representative techniques of Makuzu ware, and is a traditional glaze that was also used by Nonomura Ninsei, the founder of Kyo ware.

• The beauty of straw ash glaze : Straw ash glaze is characterized by its soft milky white luster, which gives the work a warmth and dignity. It can also give the surface of the vessel a bluish hue, which adds a seasonal feel to the sake cup.
• The traditions of the Miyagawa Kosai family : The Miyagawa Kosai family is a pottery family with over 300 years of history, and their traditional techniques have been passed down through the ages to this day. This straw ash glaze has also been refined over that long history, giving their works a mellow, deep texture.

The history and techniques of Kenzan copying

"Kenzan copies" refers to works that copy the style of Ogata Kenzan , a master of Kyoto ware in the Edo period. Ogata Kenzan, along with his brother Ogata Korin, a Rinpa painter, shaped the aesthetic world of Kyoto ware. Kenzan's style was influenced by his brother Korin and is characterized by bold and free designs with natural motifs.

• Influence of Kenzan : Kenzan produced many works in collaboration with his brother Korin, and his works with plum blossoms as a motif are particularly famous. His works are simple yet rich in expressiveness, due to the simplification of the designs and skillful use of color. Kenzan's copies also inherit these characteristics, but with a modern interpretation.
• Miyagawa Kosai's Kenzan copies : Miyagawa Kosai's Kenzan copies are the work of many of the Kenzan works, and among them, the Kumazasa leaf painting is a work that evokes the power of nature and traditional Japanese beauty. Kenzan's free expression and unique design based on nature, combined with the techniques of the Kosai family, give a deep sympathy to us modern people.

The Miyagawa family and the tradition of Makuzu ware

Makuzu ware is a traditional pottery technique that has been used since the Edo period as a branch of Kyoto ware. The Miyagawa Kosai family has inherited the techniques as the head of Makuzu ware for generations. Makuzu ware encompasses all the techniques of traditional Kyoto ware, and its most distinctive feature is the use of straw ash glaze.

• History of Makuzu ware : The history of pottery in the Miyagawa family began in the Jokyo era (1684-1687) of the Edo period. The first Yukan Miyagawa Kobee Masakazu opened a kiln in Kyoto, and the techniques of Makuzu ware were passed down through the Chobei and Jibei families. Makuzu ware is mainly produced as tea ceremony utensils and other tea ceremony items, and its works are highly acclaimed both in Japan and overseas. In particular, works by the Miyagawa Kosai family are held in international collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum (London) and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO (Paris).

"Kenzan copy of Kumazasa no E sake cup by Miyagawa Kosai" is a work that delicately expresses the powerful natural beauty of Kumazasa. This sake cup, which combines the wild charm of bamboo leaves with the traditional techniques of the Miyagawa Kosai family, is not just a tool for tasting sake, but also a work of art that enriches our souls as a way to enjoy Japanese nature, the sense of the seasons, and the aesthetic world of ceramics.