Kutani
Kutani Ware History: Ko-Kutani, Yoshidaya, and Japan Kutani
Kutani village history, Arita evidence for Ko-Kutani-style porcelain, Yoshidaya’s revival, and Meiji exports—without dating objects from style or marks alone.
The Journal
Teabowl Studies
茶碘
Reading the chawan — the kilns, the glazes, and how a tea bowl is meant to be held.
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Hagi no Nanabake: Why Hagi Ware Changes Color With Use
Hagi no nanabake describes the changing appearance of absorbent Hagi ware. Understand glaze crackle, the tea tradition and care that...
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Kiri-bako: The Paulownia Box Behind a Japanese Tea Bowl
Kiri-bako, tomobako and hakogaki explained: paulownia storage boxes, artists’ inscriptions, provenance, and keeping a tea bowl dry and protected.
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The Chasen: How a Bamboo Matcha Whisk Is Made and Used
How a bamboo chasen is shaped, what tine designs mean and how to rinse and dry it. Learn about Takayama’s...
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Raku Ware: The Hand-Molded Tea Bowl of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Raku tea bowls: hand-shaping, Kyoto tea history, black and red firing differences, and checking intended use and care for the...
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Reading a Chawan's Foot Ring: What the Kōdai Reveals
Read a chawan’s kōdai through foot shape, exposed clay, making marks and kairagi, while understanding the limits of visual attribution.
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How to Hold a Chawan: Etiquette, Grip, and Why It Matters
Hold and turn a matcha bowl with care. An Urasenke usucha example explains the drinking point, kaishi and why detailed...
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Five Tea-Bowl Traditions in Japanese Tea Culture
An introduction to Raku, Hagi, Karatsu, Mino and Korean Ido tea bowls: their forms, glazes and histories, and what to...
Journal
ゼンキルン 誌
Japanese craft, everyday use and care
Craft & Kilns
Deep dives into kilns, glazes, and the wares behind them.
Care & Guides
Practical reading for the pieces you use every day.
Series
Four collections of stories on tea bowls, lacquer, color and care.
All Stories
Browse the Journal, newest first. For our specialist collections, visit Series above.
Craft & Kilns
Kutani Ware History: Ko-Kutani, Yoshidaya, and Japan Kutani
At the Table
Japanese Hot Pot Table: Donabe, Tonsui Bowls, and Renge
Lucky Cats
Red Lucky Cat Meaning (Maneki Neko): Protection and Health
Lucky Cats
Gold and Yellow Maneki Neko: Different Colours, Different Wishes
Lucky Cats
Green Maneki Neko Meaning: Study and Examination Wishes
Craft & Kilns
Edo Kiriko: Tokyo Cut Glass, Its Patterns and Care
Craft & Kilns
Hagi Ware: Yamaguchi Tea Ceramics and the Seven Changes
Craft & Kilns
Hasami Ware: Nagasaki Porcelain for Everyday Tables
Craft & Kilns