Child Sake Cup by Michihachi Takahashi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

In the gentle light of the milky white glaze, the "Nemon" (child pattern) carved with soft curves quietly appears in a row.
This work, "Ne" (Children's Cup), marks the beginning of the "Twelve Zodiac Sake Cups" series by Takahashi Michihachi IX.
As a "vessel of beginnings" that symbolizes the birth and circulation of new life, it exudes a tranquil yet powerful energy.

1. Beauty of form - A soft, enveloping design

The vessel is slightly bulging and bowl-shaped, with an impressive silhouette that gently widens towards the rim.
The base is slightly elevated, providing a structure that supports the entire structure lightly.
When you hold it in your palm, the center naturally settles into a sense of stability, and the beauty of Kudai's unique "design that is close to the person" is alive and well.

2. Glaze - A milky white with a tranquil and warm feel

The glaze is a slightly thick milky white that gives off a soft luster when exposed to light.
Fine crazing spreads across the surface, and over time, as tea and sake soak into the wood, it develops a unique appearance.
The small fire that appears near the hill brings natural shadows and a sense of warmth to the whole piece.

3. Design - The budding of life in the "Kobun"

The inscription that circles the bottom of the rim is an abstract design of the character for "rat" (ne), which originates from ancient hieroglyphics.
The gentle curves are connected together to create a rhythm that is like the heartbeat of life.
"Rat" is the first of the twelve zodiac signs and symbolizes the "birth of new life" and "beginning."
This piece embodies this symbolism in its tranquil form, and combined with the purity of the white glaze, it expresses an "innocent beginning."

4. Technique - The beauty of fusion of engraved lines and glaze

After the clay is shaped on a potter's wheel and dried, the inscriptions are carefully engraved one stroke at a time using an iron stylus.
During firing, the glaze flows thinly into the engraved lines, creating a soft shadow effect known as "glazed relief."
This subtle three-dimensional effect is only possible through the ninth generation's delicate handiwork and precise control of the glaze thickness.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - Zodiac Patterns Celebrating "Beginnings"

Since ancient times, zodiac patterns have been used on ceramics and textiles as designs symbolizing good fortune and cycles.
The first of the twelve zodiac signs, Rat, represents the moment when yin reaches its peak and yang is born - the moment when new life quietly begins to stir in the womb.
The ninth generation Takahashi Dohachi has entrusted this "spirit of beginning" to his sculptures not through gaudy decoration, but as a quiet power.

The 9th generation Takahashi Dohachi studied fashion design before moving on to pottery, and studied under the 8th generation in 1996. He succeeded to the 9th generation in 2012.
While inheriting the delicate beauty of traditional Kyoto ware patterns, the pieces have been elevated to modern forms with refined lines, shapes, and glazes.

This work, "Ginko" (small sake cup), is a fine piece in which engraved inscriptions symbolizing the breath of life softly float within the tranquility of the milky white glaze.
Every time you hold it in your palm, a quiet hope suddenly arises, like the dawn of a spring day - it exudes such a refreshing presence.
This is an exquisite piece that serves as the "starting point" of the zodiac and is also suitable as a vessel to celebrate a new beginning in life.