Red guinomi by Yanashita Hideki

Width 7.8cm x Height 6.5cm

The "Red Sake Cup" by Yanashi Hideki is, as its name suggests, a small vessel with a lustrous vermilion color that catches the eye. However, its presence is by no means small. Rather, it has a bold and powerful shape that is contrary to the vessel's size, leaving a vivid impression on those who see it and those who use it.

A fierce crimson color dwells within a small vessel.

The greatest attraction of this sake cup is, of course, its color. This color, neither red nor vermilion, goes beyond the beauty of simple vivid coloring, and has a deep resonance that symbolizes a burning passion and the power of life. It is lustrous, yet by no means gaudy; rather, it exudes a restrained beauty that is characteristic of Japan. It is the result of the memory of fire and earth meeting and the birth of a vessel being sublimated into color, a beauty that stands between the red that is part of nature and the shape created by human hands.

Not a miniature tea bowl, but an independent character

This Red Sake Cup is not a miniature tea bowl. Although the structure is similar, it has a clear "independent personality." The base and body are made with a strong awareness of the sake cup's role as a tool, and the shape is designed to pursue its role and beauty as a sake cup. The shape is intentional, with slight distortions and fluctuations left, and rather than striving for perfect symmetry, it is finished as a "living shape" that naturally retains traces of the movement of the hand. These distortions give the entire vessel a rustic strength, which resonates with the user's senses from the moment they pick it up.

Tableware that reflects the spirit of "eternal change"

The spirit of "Futeki Ryuko" quietly but surely lives in this "Red Sake Cup." "Futeki" means unchanging essence, aesthetic sense, and the fundamental way of being as a vessel. Mr. Yanagishita's works are always permeated with a sincere attitude toward earth and fire, form and use, and an unchanging philosophy toward the work of pottery. On the other hand, "Ryuko" means accepting the times and being flexible to new sensibilities and expressions. In the case of the "Red Sake Cup," its clear colors and compact, powerful shape reflect the presence of a vessel that lives in the "now" era. "Futeki Ryuko" is originally a concept advocated by Matsuo Basho in the world of haiku, and is the idea that two seemingly contradictory concepts exist simultaneously: eternally unchanging truth (Futeki) and the ever-changing flow of the world (Ryuko). Yanagishita Tokiki's "Red Sake Cup" beautifully combines these two elements in one vessel.

New time created every time you use it

Not only is it perfect as a piece of pottery, it is also comfortable to hold, has a smooth mouthfeel, and pairs well with sake. It is not only practical, but the more it is used, the deeper its flavor becomes. When sake is poured into it and the light reflects off the vermilion glaze, the pottery begins to speak quietly. Its expression will change with the day, the season, and even the mood of the user.

A small work of art at the crossroads of beauty and practicality

The Red Sake Cup is a work that exists between opposing elements: function and beauty, tradition and modernity, serenity and intensity. At the dinner table every day, or while quietly enjoying a drink alone, at certain moments, the aesthetic sense and the spirit of the artist behind the cup emerge. It is a small but eloquent work of art that holds such power.

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