Tea Cup / Sakurazume

This is a teacup with the popular Ichirakugama cherry blossom design.
The detailed floral pattern is cute, and the design blends in well with interior decor without being too assertive. The lightweight teacups are made by machining, making them easy to use in daily life and creating a blissful moment when enjoying a cup of tea. Please enjoy it together with the rice bowl.

Width：7.5cm
Depth：7.5cm
Height：9cm
Weight：153g

Clay

ICHIRAKUGAMA

"Not focusing on making right choice, but make it right after the decision"

Once I take my first step onto the path of craftsmanship, I intend to put forth the utmost effort I have and get down to work on production. I want to establish my own style while preserving the techniques that have been passed down from my family, and I want to grow so that I can be proud of myself for having become a craftsman.

ARTISAN STORY

Yuya Yamamoto / Ichirakugama
The third generation of Ichirakugama potters has been studying Kyo ware & Kiyomizu ware pottery under the second generation of Ichirakugama potters, who took over the name "Ichirakugama" in Kyoto in 1990. He is a hardworking individual who studies glazes at a research center in addition to his daily work. He mainly produces tableware used in prestigious Japanese restaurants and has an established reputation among many of his clients. His works are characterized by blue and white tones.

KYO WARE & KIYOMIZU WARE

About 1,200 years ago / 800s / Heian Period (794–1185)

Kyoto ceramics reach back to kilns operating before and during the Heian period, then expanded with tea culture in the Muromachi and Momoyama eras. In the seventeenth century, Nonomura Ninsei perfected brilliant overglaze decoration, followed by innovators such as Ogata Kenzan, Okuda Eisen and Aoki Mokubei, whose diverse approaches shaped today’s Kyo and Kiyomizu ware.

In Japan, these ceramics are famous precisely because there is no single fixed style. Tea bowls, kaiseki dishes and everyday tableware may use overglaze painting, blue-and-white decoration, gold, sancai-inspired color and many other techniques. The craft sits at the heart of Kyoto’s culture of pairing vessels with cuisine and tea.

The surprising point is that Kyoto was never defined by a single major clay deposit. Potters drew on materials such as Amakusa porcelain stone, techniques arriving from other regions, and the tastes of artists and patrons gathered in the capital. Freedom from one local material helped make Kyoto ceramics unusually hybrid and stylistically diverse.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.