Tenmoku Teacup / Blue Moon

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

The gradation of yellowish tints on the bright turquoise blue base is created by the Munakata Kiln craftsmen's intuition based on their experience.
It will make your room more gorgeous if you display it as a daily-use bowl or as a decoration for your interior. Why don't you pick one up and feel the traditional beauty of Japan?

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：500 years ago / 1500AD / Sengoku period in Japan

The origin of Aizu Hongo pottery is said to be the firing of roof tiles for the construction of the castle of a feudal lord. Although many kilns were built after that, the industry was caught in the fires of war and the industry was not viable for a long time. However, the kilns continued to carry on the long tradition of pottery techniques, and the pottery has come to be widely known for its simple beauty and usability.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Toshihiro Munakata & Toshinori Munakata / Munakatagama
Aizu Hongo Pottery has been made in Fukushima Prefecture for nine generations by a father and his son. The ancestors of Munakatagama were missionaries of Munakata Taisha Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture and established Munakata Shrine in Aizu. He began to make pottery while serving as a priest, and feeling that he had a talent for pottery, he resigned from the priesthood and began to devote himself to the pottery business. This was the beginning of the Munakatagama. The most distinctive feature of Munakatagama is its works with fuzzy colors created by using unique glazes. Both father and son have made inroads into Paris, New York, and other countries.

Craftsman Passion

"It is important to draw out the potential power of the soil"
Since ancient times, the Japanese have cherished a culture of appreciating things through the five senses. We will continue to focus on pottery making to embody this spirit.

Achievement

Received the 36th Pola Prizes for Traditional Culture and Regional Awards
Received the Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General's Award
They have received many other awards for their work.

 

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Kintsugi Insurance Service：Eternal Product Life

What is Kintsugi: Explanation and PICTURE

Kintsugi is one of the traditional skills in Japan repairing broken ceramics or glass. Broken part will be mended with lacquer and the product will get more beautiful look with covering gold/silver on the area of breakage.

Cost for Kintsugi Insurance

Our selling price includes Kintsugi Insurance (Only in the case of kintsugi available products such as Ceramics). Once our products are broken, please let us know and send it to Japan. Your product will be back to your home with upgrading beautiful outlook!

Delivery Fee

Although Kintsugi itself is free as an insurance service, delivery fee will be owned by customers each time. However, it will worth using this kintsugi service since the story between you and products will continue!

Measurement

Width：12.2cm
Depth：1.8cm
Height：7cm
Weight：215g

Material & Caution

Materials

Clay

 

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

It takes 20 days to ship the product from the date of your order.

Manufacturing Process

We have not uploaded this craftsman’s video yet, please discover another craftsman’s video from below link.

YouTube