Authentic japanese sake set by Shin Fujihira

Width 6.5cm x 6.5cm Height 6cm

A conversation with Mr. Yasushi Fujihira

Shin Fujihira's "Cinnabar Sake Cup" captures the hearts of those who see it, as a special vessel that brings beauty and poetry into everyday life. Though this cup is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, it embodies Fujihira's free and creative spirit. The beauty of the deep cinnabar glaze harmonizes with the warmth and inclusiveness that the cup itself exudes, creating a masterpiece that exudes a quiet presence.

The deep red and translucency created by cinnabar glaze

The greatest feature of the "Cinnabar Sake Cup" is the beautiful color created by the cinnabar glaze that was painstakingly adjusted by Mr. Fujihira. This glaze shows a variety of different expressions depending on the angle at which it is viewed and how the light hits it, creating a rich gradation of colors from deep red to a faint purple.

Cinnabar glaze is extremely difficult to produce, and even the slightest deviation in the temperature of the kiln or the adjustment of the oxidation-reduction ratio makes it difficult to achieve the intended color. However, Fujihira's "Cinnabar Sake Cup" achieves a unique beauty that transcends this difficulty. The glaze has a subtle texture that both absorbs and reflects light, and its transparency seems to breathe life into the vessel. The depth and brilliance of this red are truly the crystallization of Fujihira's outstanding technique and sensibility.

Poetic warmth in the palm of your hand

The shape of the "Cinnabar Cup" was created using Fujihei's distinctive hand-twisting technique, and is characterized by a natural fluctuation and organic form rather than a perfect circle. This subtle unevenness gives the work a human touch, creating a sense of warmth when you hold it in your hand.

The very form of the sake cup itself is made even more appealing by being held in the hands. Though it is a small vessel, the smooth curves carefully calculated from the rim to the base combine a pleasant feel with aesthetic satisfaction. Through this sake cup, we aim to convey a "poetic warmth" that goes beyond mere vessels. Simply by holding a sake cup, you will be able to experience the spirit and playfulness that he has put into his vessels.

Small works of art that brighten up your everyday life

While the "Cinnabar Cup" functions as an everyday sake cup, it is not just a tool, but a small work of art that adds special value to the space. When sake is poured into the cup, you can enjoy the changing colors of the glaze, and it feels as if the cup itself has a life of its own.

Even when not in use, simply displaying it will create a quiet presence in any space. The "poetic appearance" of this sake cup is proof of its artistic merit, going beyond mere vessels.

Shin Fujihira's playful spirit and ceramic philosophy

Shin Fujihira's pottery has always been a fusion of playfulness and poetry. This spirit is also evident in the "Cinnabar Sake Cup." Formed by hand without the use of a potter's wheel, this cup presents a natural beauty in contrast to the modern aesthetic sense that seeks perfect form. While pottery has a practical purpose as a "vessel," he believed that it should also inspire poetic emotion in those who view and use it. This philosophy is fully reflected in this small cup.

Also noteworthy is the use of the traditional cinnabar glaze while incorporating modern color expression. This piece symbolizes how Fujihira-sama has combined tradition and innovation in ceramics. Despite its small size, it embodies a surprising narrative and poetic quality. The deep color of the cinnabar glaze, its form that fits comfortably in the hand, and its presence that enriches the user's senses are reasons why this sake cup is valued not as a mere vessel but as a work of art. Fujihira-sama's pursuit of his state of mind as a "poet of ceramics" is vividly conveyed through this sake cup. The warmth felt when held in the hand and the quiet emotion created in the space by displaying the sake cup are part of the poetic world he has created through the medium of ceramics.

Shin Fujihira's biography
1944 Entered Kyoto Higher Technical School but dropped out due to illness
1945 Started pottery making at Fujihira Ceramic Arts
1957 Received the Hokuto Prize at the 13th Nitten Exhibition
1960 Florence International Ceramic Exhibition, Italy
1963 Received the Chrysanthemum Award at the 6th Shin-Nichi Exhibition and the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
1968 New Generation Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition: The Present of Ceramic Art - From Kyoto
1970 Contemporary Ceramics Europe and Japan Exhibition
1973 Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award
1974 Latin America traveling exhibition
1976 East German Touring Exhibition of Japanese Ceramics
1978 Traveling Exhibition of Japanese Ceramics in West Germany
1982 US/Canada traveling exhibition
1983 Contemporary Japanese Crafts Exhibition
1985: Perspectives on Contemporary Japanese Art
1990 Kyoto Art and Culture Award
1991 Kyoto City Cultural Merit Award

"This is a new, unused piece. It is currently stored at the Shin Fujihira Memorial Museum. When you purchase it, his son, Yasushi Fujihira, will create a box to certify that it is an authentic piece."