• Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 1
  • Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 2
  • Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 3
  • Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 4
  • Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 5
  • Kutani Hidamari Matcha Bowl | Hand-Painted Japanese Chawan — view 6
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ZenKiln

Kutani Matcha Chawan — Iroe Yū Hidamari Cats Tea Bowl Ø11 cm (Kiri Box)

$188.00 AUD $132.00 AUD
Sale

Low stock: 3 left

  • Stoneware
  • Not microwave-safe
  • Hand-wash only
  • Made in Japan

Kutani Matcha Chawan — Iroe Yū "Hidamari" Cats-in-Blooms Tea Bowl Ø 11 × H 6.7 cm (with paulownia kiri-box)

A hand-painted Kutani matcha chawan from 色絵工房 遊 (Iroe Yū / "Iroe Workshop Yū"), an Ishikawa-based contemporary Kutani workshop. This is the cat variant of their signature "Hidamari" (陽だまり / "patch of sunshine") series, which the workshop describes as one of its most popular lines internationally since 2020.

The motif

A white cat and a black cat sit side by side with their backs to us, looking up at a small patch of springtime — a cluster of forget-me-not blue, tiny butterflies in pale yellow, and slender flower stems in purple, pink, and aqua. The drawing is intentionally pared-down: pencil-thin iron-red whiskers, the cats' tails caught mid-flick, the world around them suggested rather than filled in. It is the Hidamari feeling — a moment of warm light in a quiet corner.

The body

Iroe Yū's signature wabi-sabi grey-glaze stoneware. The lower body and interior are a deep, slightly warm grey, finely speckled where iron from the clay shows through; the upper panel that holds the painting is a soft kohiki-style white, equally speckled, like sun on snow. The foot ring is unglazed at the standing surface and stamped with the workshop's red 遊 kanji seal in a small square box (visible in the bottom photo).

Size & use

Diameter 11 cm × Height 6.7 cm (≈ 4.33 × 2.64 in) — within the standard size range for a matcha chawan (whisked-matcha tea bowl). The form sits comfortably in both hands and gives room for the chasen (bamboo whisk) to move. Sized for daily tea-ceremony practice (keiko-ya) as well as collector display.

Box & papers

Arrives in the workshop's premium 桐箱 (kiribako / paulownia gift box) with brushed calligraphy reading 九谷焼 茶碗 (Kutani-yaki matcha chawan) and the red 遊 seal, plus an Iroe Yū workshop introduction card and a Kutani-yaki METI Traditional Craft pamphlet (METI = Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Kutani-yaki is a designated Traditional Craft).

Care

Microwave and dishwasher use is not specified, so as with most hand-painted art-tier matcha chawans we recommend gentle hand washing only — warm water, soft cloth, no abrasive sponge. Dry by hand. The wabi-sabi grey glaze can hold a faint matcha stain after long use; many tea practitioners welcome this as keshiki (景色 / "scenery") — part of how a chawan grows into its owner. Each piece is decorated by hand, so slight variations in cat-tail line, flower placement, and speckle distribution are part of how the workshop makes them.

• Made by Iroe Yu Workshop / Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln.

Details & dimensions

Set contents: 1 bowl
Material: Ceramic / Pottery
Origin: Made in Japan
Workshop: Iroe Yu
Series: Hidamari
Style: Matcha bowl / chawan / cat motif bowl
Diameter: 11 cm (4.3 in)
Height: 6.7 cm (2.6 in)

Shipping, duties & delivery

Ships from Japan.

Orders are typically dispatched within 1–3 business days after payment is confirmed.

Estimated delivery times vary by destination and may be affected by customs clearance, public holidays, and local carrier conditions.

Buyers are responsible for any customs duties, VAT, and import taxes that may apply in the destination country.

Packaging & gifting

Presented in an individual box.

Carefully packed for safe delivery from Japan.

This bowl is also suitable for thoughtful tea-themed gifting and housewarming presentation.

Care instructions

Handle with care to protect the painted surface and rim.
Because each piece is hand-painted, slight differences in brushwork, glaze tone, and finish may occur and are part of its individual character.

Returns / damage support

Because many of our items are handmade, fragile, and shipped internationally from Japan, we do not accept returns or exchanges for change of mind, incorrect size expectations, or personal preference unless otherwise stated on the product page.

If your item arrives damaged, defective, or significantly different from the description, please contact us within 7 days of delivery and include clear photos of the item and packaging.

Cancellations are accepted within 12 hours of purchase.

THE MAKER

Iroe Kōbō Yū

色絵工房 遊 · Ishikawa

Iroe Kōbō Yū (色絵工房 遊 'Colour-Painting Workshop Yū') is a named Kutani-yaki workshop in Ishikawa Prefecture. Distinguished by a red 遊 foot seal and a wabi-sabi grey body palette beneath iroe overglaze decoration. Signature series: Hidamari (ひだまり sunny-spot cats) and Hana (花 floral). Body is stoneware (not porcelain — verified per photo evidence).

Independent named Kutani workshop; tradition designated 1975

More from Iroe Kōbō Yū →

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