The Raw Power and Grace of Bizen Clay
Crafted by renowned ceramic artist Kazu Fujiwara, this Bizen matcha bowl showcases a rich tapestry of natural firing marks and raw clay textures. Designed with both aesthetic majesty and functional harmony, its weighty feel and refined rim offer a supreme tea-drinking experience that deepens with every use.Size : approx. approx. 13.3 × 8.8 cm
*As each piece is individually handmade, there may be slight variations from the item shown in the images.
*Please also note that the appearance and colour of the product may vary depending on the lighting.
About : Kazu Fujiwara
Born in Honami, Bizen City, in 1958, Kazu Fujiwara trained under his grandfather Kei and father Yu, both designated Living National Treasures (Ningen Kokuho). He carries forward this distinguished family heritage while exploring new possibilities within traditional Bizen ware.
Working with carefully aged clay, Fujiwara creates unglazed ceramics that celebrate the natural character of the material and the individuality of kiln firing. He believes that pottery gains depth through everyday use, becoming part of the lives of those who treasure it.
With his dedication to craftsmanship and the legacy of two Living National Treasures, Kazu is an artist whose continuing contribution to Bizen ware invites anticipation for future recognition.
STYLE & APPROACH
Working from the principles of simplicity, clarity and boldness inherited from his grandfather Kei Fujiwara and his father Yū Fujiwara — both Living National Treasures — he draws out the vitality of the clay and the transformations of the kiln, seeking powerful forms that seem to arise from the earth itself.
SPECIALITY
Jars, flower vessels, sculptural objects
What is BIZEN WARE?
Bizen ware comes from Imbe in Bizen City, Okayama - one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Each piece is shaped by hand from local clay and fired with no glaze and no painted decoration, so the clay itself speaks. Fired with pine wood for 7-10 days at over 1,200 °C, it becomes a hard, dense stoneware - and no two pieces are ever alike.
The fired surface — yaki
Without glaze, every colour and pattern comes from how flame, ash and charcoal touch the piece in the kiln. Potters call these natural effects keshiki - “landscapes”.
- 窯変（Yōhen）: Buried in charcoal on the kiln floor, away from flame and air, the clay turns grey, dark grey or bluish.
- 胡麻（Goma）: Pine ash settles on the piece like sesame seeds; where it melts and runs, it is called tamadare.
- 棧切（Sangiri）: Where ash and charcoal cut off the air, grey to blue-black tones form against the redbrown clay.
- 緋襷（Hidasuki）: Straw wrapped around the piece reacts with iron in the clay, leaving scarlet lines.