Hon'ami Koetsu matcha green tea bowl by Yanashita Hideki

Width 11.7 cm x Height 11.1 cm

This work was born from a deep respect for the national treasure Raku tea bowl "Fujiyama" left by the giant of the early Edo period, Hon'ami Koetsu, and a contemporary reinterpretation of it. Koetsu's "Fujiyama" is one of a kind in its shape and scenery, and occupies a unique place in the history of Japanese pottery. Drawing on its spirituality, Yanagishita has fired a new "Fujiyama" through the quiet yet powerful expression of "white."

The uniqueness lies in the white scenery

The shape is a soft, semi-cylindrical shape that is kneaded by hand. The shape fits in the palm of your hand, and while it is somewhat organic, it maintains an exquisite balance between chance and intention. From the base of the vessel to the rim, the milky white glaze gently rises in a gradation, evoking a view reminiscent of the snow-capped ridgeline of Mt. Fuji.

The white is not simply a bright white, but a layered, translucent color of depth and profundity, a "color of tranquility." It is soft like washi paper, gently catches the light, and has a texture that seems to bring tranquility into the depths of your line of sight. It naturally calms the viewer's mind, and has a mysterious power that makes you feel the gentle flow of time.

Firing and chance - the memory of time trapped inside

The lower part of this piece is subtly shaded in a way that is reminiscent of the carbonization that occurs during firing. The color, which is neither black nor gray, goes beyond a simple contrast effect and gives the piece depth and a sense of story. It is as if memories of the past and the accumulation of time that has been submerged in silence have risen to the surface. Mr. Yanagishita's experience with the firing technique and climbing kilns and anagama kilns that he has cultivated over the years is quietly reflected here.

"White" as a margin: Beauty told through silence

The greatest appeal of "White Fujiyama Tea Bowl" is that this "white" goes beyond its assertion as a color and functions as a "space to speak." This resonates with the essential value of Japanese art, that what is not depicted speaks, and that something resonates in silence.

The flow of the wind on Tawaraya Sotatsu's gold background, the silence floating in Ogata Korin's silver paint, the lingering emotion of "the unpainted" in ink painting, and the relationship between ink and white space in calligraphy... Just like these, the white of this tea bowl gently offers us a sensibility of beauty that lies between presence and absence, sound and silence, form and space.

White reflects the seasons and nature

The white starts with the snow of winter, then changes to the petals of plum blossoms in spring, the morning dew sparkling in the summer light, and the veil of mist in autumn. Such memories of nature are quietly sealed in this tea bowl. The moment hot water is poured into the bowl and the steam rises, a fantastical moment is created, as if you were touching the surface of a mountain at night in the moonlight.

When the glaze becomes wet with steam, fine crazing appears on the surface, and tiny cracks change appearance over time. It is as if the vessel itself is breathing, evoking the cycle of life in nature.

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