Cherry blossom tea bowl by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 11.7cm Height: 8.0cm

This is a gorgeous bowl with cherry blossoms in full bloom scattered all over it. White and gold cherry blossoms bloom all over the bowl, with small birds that look like Japanese bush warblers frolicking here and there - it's like holding "spring itself" in the palm of your hand. Below, we will explain its appeal from five perspectives: shape, design, technique, functionality at the tea ceremony, and cultural significance.

1. Shape and clay

Neat, bulging shape <br data-start="195" data-end="198">The bulging shape that rises gently from the inside to the rim has ideal proportions that allow the matcha foam to spread evenly.

The pedestal has a unique shape cut into three parts, giving it a strength and stability reminiscent of Goki style ware. The reddish base contains a slight sandiness, providing a comfortable warmth to the hand during tea ceremony.

2. Design: A collaboration between cherry blossoms and green trunks

Cherry blossoms blooming all over the surface <br data-start="396" data-end="399">The petals are raised in white, with the center and outline outlined in gold, and flower dust scattered in pale gold creates the appearance of flower dust dancing in the wind. By filling the entire surface, a sense of volume is created that is reminiscent of "spring clouds."

Green tree trunk

The beautiful green trunk, created using the tareshikomi technique found in Japanese painting, expresses the kindness of life. It reminds us that trees are a universal presence for the Japanese people.

3. Techniques: A combination of Morie and Kinsai

Shiromori (white serving)
A thick layer of paint containing white lead as its main component is applied and then re-fired at a low temperature to give the petals a three-dimensional look and luster.

Kinrande
The line drawing and surface painting using real gold mud are done in two stages, and the final step is firing at around 800°C to ensure a shine that is resistant to peeling.

Multiple firings <br data-start="783" data-end="786">Through this time-consuming multi-step process - depositing the painting, firing at a low temperature, gold leafing, and then re-firing - the white, gold, and green colors are kept vivid and lasting.

4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

Matcha Shines <br data-start="874" data-end="877">The inside is uniformly glazed with a slightly bluish plain glaze, reflecting the green of the matcha like a mirror. The shadows of cherry blossoms and warblers swaying on the tea surface are reminiscent of flower rafts floating on the water.

Creating a seasonal feel <br data-start="973" data-end="976">This bowl looks best from early spring after the first tea ceremony through to cherry blossom viewing season, but it can also be used in midsummer as a way to reminisce about the distant spring, and can create a wide range of seasonal feels.

5. Cultural and symbolic significance

Cherry blossoms are the essence of Japanese beauty, symbolizing the pathos of things, and the grace with which they fall overlaps with bushido. In this work, the cherry blossoms are depicted in full bloom, visualizing the spirit of the tea ceremony of "appreciating the moment." The nightingale is said to be a spring bird that heralds good omens, and its combination with cherry blossoms is a typical spring scene that has appeared repeatedly in ancient waka poetry and picture scrolls. This tea bowl reinterprets a traditional theme with a bold composition of full-surface decoration, and exudes a freshness that will also shine in modern tea ceremonies.

The splendor of the cherry blossoms expressed with white and gold leaf, the strength of the three-sided high base, and the dynamism of the warbler... This is a masterpiece that condenses the "joy of spring" into a single bowl. When held at a tea ceremony, guests will enjoy the aroma of matcha and the cherry blossoms in full bloom, and will naturally smile.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi