Hand-painted Kutani-yaki matcha chawan from Iroe Yu (色絵 遊) studio, in Ishikawa Prefecture. A pair of rabbits — one amber, one white — sit quietly in a sunlit field of hagi (bush clover) and susuki (Japanese silver grass), with a small golden sun overhead. This is the studio's 陽だまり (hidamari, "warm patch of sunlight") series, a quiet counterpoint to the brilliant five-color tradition Kutani is best known for.
📐 Specifications
Ware: Kutani-yaki (九谷焼), Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Capacity: to be measured on dispatch (matcha service ~70-100 mL leaves generous whisking headroom)
Weight: to be measured on dispatch
Material: Stoneware (陶器 tōki), Kutani-yaki lineage — hand-thrown with wabi-sabi rim
Decoration: 色絵 (iroe / overglaze enamel) + hand-painted brushwork on a kohiki-style cream slip panel, set within a nezumi-shino-style gray exterior glaze
Signature: red 「遊」 (Yu) seal on box and on the foot ring
Year stamped: 2024
Made by Iroe Yu Workshop / Kaga Shōkai / Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln
Ships in 1–3 business days (ZK own-stock ready-to-ship)
🐰 What the painting shows
Pair of rabbits (双兎 / sōto) — quiet companionship; a recurring motif in Japanese decorative art tied to longevity and lunar imagery
Hagi (萩, bush clover) — one of the Seven Autumn Flowers (秋の七草)
Susuki (薄 / ススキ, Japanese silver grass) — another of the Seven Autumn Flowers, iconic to autumn moon-viewing imagery
Small golden orb — the studio's hidamari sunlit-spot signature, painted high on the cream panel
🍵 At the table — Matcha Chawan, Tea Bowl, or Kobachi
The form (~11 cm × 6.7 cm) is a standard matcha chawan size — comfortable for whisking matcha with a chasen, and suited to the slightly slower, more deliberate rhythm of tea-ceremony practice. The cream painting panel is the side that traditionally faces the guest. Outside of tea, the bowl also works as a small serving vessel for ice cream, fruit, dessert, or a single rice course; the gray-glazed exterior is intentionally restrained for everyday display.
🎁 Gifting
Each piece arrives in the studio's wooden gift box with brushed calligraphy 「九谷焼 茶碗」 and a small red 「遊」 box-seal, along with the accompanying Kutani-yaki brochure marking the ware's status as a 経済産業省認定伝統工芸品 (METI-designated Traditional Craft of Japan, 1975). Suitable as a tea-practice gift, a quiet housewarming, or a piece for collectors building a single-bowl rotation.
🧼 Care
Hand-wash with mild detergent and a soft cloth; dry promptly
Do not dishwasher — alkaline detergent strips overglaze 色絵 enamels
Do not microwave (manufacturer-confirmation not provided)
Avoid sudden temperature changes (do not pour boiling water onto a cold bowl)
📌 Reference Conversions
11 cm ≈ 4.3 inches
6.7 cm ≈ 2.6 inches
陽だまり (hidamari) ≈ "a warm patch of sunlight"
茶碗 (chawan) ≈ "tea bowl"
双兎 (sōto) ≈ "a pair of rabbits"
About ZenKiln — A Japan-based curator connecting international collectors with Japan's artisan ceramic tradition. We work closely with the kilns, workshops, and makers featured in our shop — each one disclosed in our About section — and hand-pack every piece in Japan for safe delivery worldwide.
📦 Ships from Japan, hand-packed for safe delivery.
Details & dimensions
Set contents: 1 matcha chawan + 1 wooden gift box + Kutani-yaki METI-craft brochure
Workshop: 色絵 遊 (Iroe Yu)
Distributor: 加賀商会 (Kaga Shōkai)
Material: Stoneware (陶器 tōki), Kutani-yaki lineage — hand-thrown
Origin: Made in Japan — Ishikawa Prefecture (Kaga region)
Series: 陽だまり (Hidamari / 'warm patch of sunlight') — Rabbit motif
Dimensions: φ11 cm rim × 6.7 cm height (4.3 × 2.6 in)
Capacity: TBD on dispatch (matcha service ~70–100 mL)
Weight: TBD on dispatch (typical chawan in this size: 180–260 g)
Motif: 双兎 (sōto / paired rabbits) + 萩 hagi (bush clover) + 薄 susuki (silver grass) + small golden hidamari sun
Exterior glaze (un-decorated side): nezumi-shino-style gray with iron-fleck speckle
Exterior glaze (decorated side): kohiki-style cream slip panel with hand-painted 色絵 (iroe) overglaze enamels
Interior + foot: matching gray wabi-sabi glaze (fully food-sealed)
Foot mark: red 「遊」 (Yu) workshop seal in square stamp box
Microwave safe: No (manufacturer-confirmation not provided)
Dishwasher safe: No (overglaze 色絵 enamels strip in alkaline detergent)
Gift box: wooden kiribako-style with brushed 九谷焼 茶碗 calligraphy + red 遊 seal
Includes: Kutani-yaki METI-craft tradition brochure
Year stamped: 2024
Shipping, duties & delivery
Ships from Japan.
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–3 business days from ZK own-stock inventory (NOT the supplier's wholesale lead time).
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
Arrives in a wooden gift box (paulownia kiribako-style) brushed with 「九谷焼 茶碗」 calligraphy + red 「遊」 workshop seal on the lid.
Includes the Kutani-yaki METI-designated Traditional Craft brochure documenting the ware lineage.
Fragile item additionally packed with protective wrapping and cushioning for safe international delivery from Japan.
Care instructions
Hand-wash ONLY with mild detergent and a soft sponge or cloth.
Do NOT use the dishwasher — alkaline detergent strips overglaze 色絵 (iroe) enamels.
Do NOT use the microwave (manufacturer-confirmation not provided for either microwave or dishwasher safety).
Avoid sudden temperature changes (do not pour boiling water onto a cold bowl).
Dry thoroughly before storing back in the wooden gift box.
Because each piece is hand-thrown and hand-painted, slight variations in glaze tone, iron-fleck pattern, brush stroke placement, and rim asymmetry are inherent to the workshop's wabi-sabi aesthetic — they are not defects.
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 with clear photos of the item and packaging.
Cancellations are accepted within 12 hours of purchase.
