Black sake cup by Yanashita Hideki

Width 6.0cm Height 6.6cm

The Black Sake Cup by Hideki Yanashita is a work that condenses the artistic spirit and aesthetic sense of his representative work, the Black Tea Bowl, into a palm-sized sake cup. This work, which seems to encapsulate the pitch black silence itself in a small vessel, is a perfect fusion of the philosophy of the tea ceremony and the aesthetic beauty that is in keeping with modern life.

The black universe that resides in a small vessel

Yanagishita expresses the profoundness and mystery of the color black not simply through a choice of color, but as a "scenery." The black in this work is not just jet black. Depending on the amount of light, subtle nuances of brown or ink emerge, evoking a sense of expanse like the night sky or the deep sea. A tranquil scene, as if peering into the depths of space, emerges from within this small vessel. This expression of black is in the lineage of classics such as Koetsu and Chojiro, but it is a "modern" black born from Yanagishita's unique firing and glaze tones. Its visual depth gently captures the heart of the viewer as a "bottom view" that is only visible when the sake is poured and drunk.

Chamfering creates a quiet tension

The shape of this sake cup makes use of the beveling technique also used in the Black Tea Bowl. Within the limited size of a sake cup, even the slightest change in angle can greatly affect its appearance. The sharply rising ridges, combined with the luster of the black glaze, give the entire vessel a sense of tension and rhythm. The mouth of the cup is shaped with such sharpness that it appears as if it had been cleanly cut off, and the delicate feel on the mouth is a testament to Yanagishita's advanced wheel-throwing skills. The Black Sake Cup is a vessel that quietly asserts its presence while closely interacting with the physical senses of those who view and use it.

Beauty of form lies within practicality

What is important about a sake cup is that it is both visually beautiful and physically easy to use, in terms of how it feels when held and sipped from. The base of this black sake cup has a carefully crafted base, which gives it a particularly stable feel when held in the hand. There is no flaw in its appearance when viewed from the bottom, and it is a structure that is as meticulously designed down to the last detail, like a sculpture. There are also subtle variations in the amount of glaze applied, and sometimes the brown of the base material peeks through the gaps in the glaze. This gives the cup a wabi-sabi feel, creating a sense of balance between seemingly random yet calculated beauty.

From "black tea bowl" to "black sake cup" ── Inheritance and development of the spirit

This piece can be considered a miniature version of Mr. Yanagishita's black tea bowl, incorporating the spiritual and aesthetic beauty of the material into an everyday item such as a sake cup.
The feeling is as if the elegance and presence of the Black Tea Bowl, which can transform any space, is held in the palm of your hand. The slightly smaller size of the bowl means it is closer to the user, adding a quiet glow to your daily life. This form of expression does not simply imitate the classics, but symbolizes Yanagishita's creative approach, which is to create tableware that is based on the spirit of the classics and is in tune with modern life. One could say that the true meaning of "tradition and innovation" resides quietly within it.

To experience the extraordinary in everyday life

The Black Sake Cup is beautiful to display, and even more so when used. Its appearance brings a sense of serenity to moments at the dinner table or drinking party, and is no ordinary vessel. It is a small work of art that speaks gently to the user, transforming the time spent in the palm of their hand into something just a little more special. Pour sake into it, bring it to your mouth, and the "scenery" you see at the bottom of the empty vessel - this is the very aesthetic sense of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, which is also found in the tea ceremony.

Hideki Yanashita Profile
Ceramicist 1967 –
Born in Tokyo, Yanagishita is currently based in Iga, Mie Prefecture. Fascinated by pottery from the Momoyama period, he embarked on the path of ceramics. After training in Shigaraki, he built his own anagama kiln in Iga, Mie Prefecture, and opened the Kanda Kiln. Under the tutelage of Sadamitsu Sugimoto, Yanagishita has been creating a wide variety of works , including Raku ware, Yakishime, Ido, and Oribe, while deeply exploring the world of wabi-sabi from his own unique perspective. An important theme in Yanagishita's creations is the quest for new heights , born from the incorporation of modern materials and unique approaches while deeply studying the techniques and spirit of his predecessors. His works question essential beauty that is timeless, and invite the viewer into a deeper world of art.

Base of operations : Iga, Mie Prefecture

A conversation with Toki Yanagishita