Hope, you are having a nice advent season.

In this last newsletter of this year, I would like to share some special artisanal pieces, as well as to thank you for your interest and support for good handwork throughout year.

Bizen pottery by Shota Terazono

Bizen ceramic-ware has a history of more than a thousand year.
There is an old Japanese saying ¨water in Bizen water pot doesn’t spoil.¨: for example, leaving the drinking water overnight in the Bizen carafe makes the water smoother and clearer, keeping it fresh for long time, thanks to the consistent of clay and the Yakishime method which is burned without glazing in the very high temperature.

I visited Shota Terazono this summer in Okayama, where he lives with his family and produces his Bizen ceramics. His work is very well balanced between an old tradition of Bizen ceramic and the modernity which is backed by his career as an art designer before he became independent.

Natsume (Matcha tea holder) made of a very rare burl of ash

My partner tea holder producers in Hokkaido informed me about this very rare Natsume made of a burl of ash. Burl is a kind of knots grown at the side of trees, which is caused by some unexpected events for trees like actions by animals, insects, or a different kind of weather. The burl itself is very rare and nowadays very difficult to find in the market. The grain of burl is very beautiful almost like a marble.