{"title":"Matcha Ritual","description":"\u003cp\u003eEverything for a quiet bowl of matcha — hand-thrown chawan tea bowls and bamboo chasen whisks for your morning ritual.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kutani-hidamari-matcha-bowl","title":"Kutani Matcha Chawan — Iroe Yū Hidamari Cats Tea Bowl Ø11 cm (Kiri Box)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKutani Matcha Chawan — Iroe Yū \"Hidamari\" Cats-in-Blooms Tea Bowl Ø 11 × H 6.7 cm (with paulownia kiri-box)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hand-painted Kutani matcha chawan from \u003cstrong\u003e色絵工房 遊 (Iroe Yū \/ \"Iroe Workshop Yū\")\u003c\/strong\u003e, an Ishikawa-based contemporary Kutani workshop, distributed by 加賀商会 (Kaga Shōkai). This is the cat variant of their signature \u003cem\u003e\"Hidamari\" (陽だまり \/ \"patch of sunshine\")\u003c\/em\u003e series, which the workshop describes as one of its most popular lines internationally since 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe motif\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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 \u003cem\u003eHidamari\u003c\/em\u003e feeling — a moment of warm light in a quiet corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIroe 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 \u003cstrong\u003e遊\u003c\/strong\u003e kanji seal in a small square box (visible in the bottom photo).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize \u0026amp; use\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiameter 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBox \u0026amp; papers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArrives in the workshop's premium \u003cstrong\u003e桐箱 (kiribako \/ paulownia gift box)\u003c\/strong\u003e with brushed calligraphy reading \u003cem\u003e九谷焼 茶碗\u003c\/em\u003e (Kutani-yaki matcha chawan) and the red 遊 seal, plus an Iroe Yū workshop introduction card and a \u003cem\u003eKutani-yaki METI Traditional Craft pamphlet\u003c\/em\u003e (METI = Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Kutani-yaki is a designated Traditional Craft).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe supplier does not specify microwave or dishwasher use, 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 \u003cem\u003ekeshiki (景色 \/ \"scenery\")\u003c\/em\u003e — 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Made by Iroe Yu Workshop \/ Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln. Distributed via 加賀商会 (Kaga Shōkai).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47537751818470,"sku":"ZK-CHAWAN-IROEYU-HIDAMARI-CATS-11CM","price":90.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC08869.webp?v=1778290058"},{"product_id":"kutani-hare-rabbit-matcha-bowl","title":"Kutani Matcha Chawan by Kozan Kiln — Hane-Usagi Leaping Rabbit Moon Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003eA modern Kutani matcha chawan from the \u003cstrong\u003eKōzan (幸山) kiln\u003c\/strong\u003e in Ishikawa Prefecture — three raised-white rabbits hop across a speckled gray ash-glaze body beneath a gold full moon and gold susuki (pampas grass) blades streaming with the wind. The supplier names this pattern simply \u003cstrong\u003eはねうさぎ (Hane-Usagi \/ \"Leaping Rabbits\")\u003c\/strong\u003e. Look at it for a moment and the older Japanese imagery surfaces: the jade rabbit (玉兎 gyokuto) pounding mochi on the moon, the autumn moon-viewing field (月見 tsukimi) where wild pampas grass catches the September light, the contemplative wabi-sabi aesthetic of softly speckled stoneware. The foot ring carries the gold-transfer \u003cstrong\u003e九谷 幸山\u003c\/strong\u003e kiln seal as definitive maker attribution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade by\u003c\/strong\u003e Kozan Kiln (幸山) \/ Kutani-yaki (九谷焼) in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaker:\u003c\/strong\u003e 幸山 (Kōzan) — Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan (Kutani kiln) — foot-ring kiln seal verified\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the design\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003e月夜野ウサギ\u003c\/em\u003e (moonlit-field rabbits) motif sits inside one of Japan's deepest cultural threads. In ancient folklore, the rabbit lives on the moon — the dark patches we see are the silhouette of the \u003cstrong\u003e玉兎 (gyokuto \/ jade rabbit) pounding mochi\u003c\/strong\u003e. Pair that mythology with pampas grass (susuki \/ 薄・芒), the autumn-grass companion of the September full moon, and you have the iconic \u003cstrong\u003e中秋の名月 (Chūshū no Meigetsu) Mid-Autumn moon-viewing\u003c\/strong\u003e aesthetic — though Japanese ceramic design enjoys this imagery year-round. The Kōzan kiln renders it here in the modern Kutani idiom: rather than the bold 五彩手 (gosaide \/ five-color polychrome) of classical Kutani, this piece uses a quieter contemporary palette — a nezumi-iro gray ash-glaze body, raised-white painting, gold-leaf accents — which sits comfortably in wabi-sabi-leaning Japanese interiors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUse\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFunctional matcha-whisking chawan — the speckled glossy gray interior whisks matcha cleanly with a chasen bamboo whisk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEqually usable as a small bowl for nuts \/ wagashi tea sweets \/ individual rice \/ dessert serving\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA meaningful tea-altar piece for daily chadō practice; pairs naturally with a chasen, chashaku tea scoop, and chakin tea cloth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDisplay-worthy when not in use — the rabbit-and-moon motif rewards close looking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGifting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe included wooden gift box (kibako) with calligraphic lid + 2 color-printed Kutani info inserts make this gift-ready as received. Well-suited for matcha practitioners, tea-ceremony students, Japanese-pottery collectors, autumn moon-viewing tsukimi gatherings, housewarmings (with a new tea-corner), Father's Day, anniversaries, and client \/ mentor \/ teacher thank-yous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47550376378598,"sku":"ZK-CHAWAN-KOZAN-K9-850","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC8542.webp?v=1776508042"},{"product_id":"kutani-iroe-yu-matcha-chawan-hana-floral-wabi-sabi-bowl","title":"Kutani Hand-Painted Matcha Chawan by Iroe Yū Workshop — Hana Floral Wabi-Sabi Stoneware Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003eA hand-painted 九谷焼 (Kutani-yaki) matcha chawan (茶碗 \/ tea ceremony bowl) by 色絵工房 遊 (Iroe Kōbō Yū \/ \"Color-Painting Workshop Yū\"), distributed by 加賀商会 (Kaga Shōkai) in Ishikawa Prefecture — the heart of the Kutani-yaki ceramic tradition. The bowl combines a contemporary wabi-sabi aesthetic (a gray-speckled iron-fleck glaze on roughly half the exterior + the entire interior) with a classical 色絵 (iroe \/ polychrome overglaze enamel) hand-painted floral reserve on the other half. The Hana (華 \/ \"Flower\") series motif layers six-plus distinct flower species — red chrysanthemum, peach dianthus, plum and sakura blossoms, blue forget-me-nots, with green leaves — into a 百花 (\"100 flowers in bloom\") arrangement that doesn't lock to one season. Marked on the foot with the workshop's signature red 遊 seal in a square stamp box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade by\u003c\/strong\u003e Iroe Yū \/ Kaga Shōkai \/ Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShips in 1–3 business days\u003c\/strong\u003e (ZK own-stock ready-to-ship)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🌸 The motif — Hana (華) \"100 flowers\"\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 華 series gathers a layered multi-species bouquet across one white-slip reserve panel. This bowl carries red chrysanthemum (菊), pink\/peach dianthus (撃子), plum and sakura blossoms, blue forget-me-nots (勿忘草), and green leaves and grass-strokes. Unlike a single-season motif, the multi-species arrangement evokes a year-round flowering — a quiet meditation on the cyclical fullness of nature rather than a single seasonal moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎨 Why this is Kutani-yaki + Wabi-Sabi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e九谷焼 (Kutani-yaki) is one of Japan's most respected ceramic traditions (designated 経済産業大臣指定伝統的工芸品 \/ Traditional Craft of Japan, 1975), known for expressive 色絵 (iroe \/ polychrome overglaze enamel) brushwork. The 色絵 遊 workshop name itself means \"Color-Painting Yū\" — the technique IS the workshop's identity. The wabi-sabi gray-glaze body on this piece is a contemporary aesthetic choice — joining the classical iroe enamel decoration with a modern speckled-glaze surface that reflects the wabi-sabi principle of finding beauty in imperfect, transient, incomplete forms. The half-decorated \/ half-bare composition embodies this duality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🍵 At the table — Matcha Chawan, Tea Bowl, or Kobachi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe open chawan shape is the classical matcha tea ceremony vessel. Use it for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatcha preparation — daily matcha or matcha latte, whisked with a bamboo chasen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSencha, hojicha, genmaicha, or other loose-leaf Japanese teas — held with both hands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall kobachi (小鉢) — side dishes, rice, ochazuke, fruit, dessert, pickles, nuts, small appetizers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDisplay piece on an open shelf, paired with raw wood and linen for a wabi-sabi tea corner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎁 Gift-ready\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArrives in a paulownia 桐箱 (kiribako \/ wooden gift box) stamped 九谷焼 茶碗 + the red 遊 workshop seal — the traditional Japanese gift-presentation box used for tea-ceremony pieces and named-workshop work. The box also includes a Kutani-yaki cooperative-issued tradition brochure documenting the ware lineage, plus the workshop info card 「絵付工房 色絵 遊」. A natural gift for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatcha ritualists and tea-ceremony practitioners\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapanese pottery and Kutani-yaki collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWabi-sabi aesthetic curators and modern Japanese home-decor enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWedding, anniversary, housewarming, hostess occasions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47695289286886,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC8744.webp?v=1779245733"},{"product_id":"hidamari-rabbit-kutani-matcha-chawan-iroe-yu","title":"Hidamari Rabbit Kutani-yaki Matcha Chawan — Hand-Painted by Iroe Yū Workshop","description":"\u003cp\u003eHand-painted Kutani-yaki matcha chawan from \u003cstrong\u003eIroe Yu\u003c\/strong\u003e (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 (\u003cem\u003ehidamari\u003c\/em\u003e, \"warm patch of sunlight\") series, a quiet counterpoint to the brilliant five-color tradition Kutani is best known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade by\u003c\/strong\u003e Iroe Yu Workshop \/ Kaga Shōkai \/ Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShips in 1–3 business days\u003c\/strong\u003e (ZK own-stock ready-to-ship)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🐰 What the painting shows\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePair of rabbits\u003c\/strong\u003e (双兎 \/ sōto) — quiet companionship; a recurring motif in Japanese decorative art tied to longevity and lunar imagery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHagi\u003c\/strong\u003e (萩, bush clover) — one of the Seven Autumn Flowers (秋の七草)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSusuki\u003c\/strong\u003e (薄 \/ ススキ, Japanese silver grass) — another of the Seven Autumn Flowers, iconic to autumn moon-viewing imagery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmall golden orb\u003c\/strong\u003e — the studio's \u003cem\u003ehidamari\u003c\/em\u003e sunlit-spot signature, painted high on the cream panel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🍵 At the table — Matcha Chawan, Tea Bowl, or Kobachi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎁 Gifting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47697456857318,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC8834.webp?v=1779273780"},{"product_id":"bamboo-chasen-matcha-whisk-kazuho","title":"Bamboo Chasen Matcha Whisk | Kazuho, Clear Storage Tube, 10.7 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe tool that turns matcha powder into a standing crown of foam. A \u003cem\u003echasen\u003c\/em\u003e is the bamboo whisk of the Japanese tea ceremony — dozens of fine tines split from a single piece of bamboo, the outer ring curled inward, the core bundled straight, bound with dark thread. This is a \u003cem\u003ekazuho\u003c\/em\u003e, the standard class that suits everyday \u003cem\u003eusucha\u003c\/em\u003e (thin tea) best, and it arrives in a clear tube that doubles as its keep-case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maker's own tip: dip the tines in warm water for a moment before each use — it makes the bamboo supple and far less likely to snap. Whisk in M or I strokes from the wrist until a fine foam stands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Designed by carpe diem (若兆) \/ bamboo tea tools line in its home market in Japan; produced in China for carpe diem; curated by ZenKiln\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Origin disclosure: Designed in Japan under the carpe diem brand. Produced in China per the brand's specification. Imported by ZenKiln through the brand's Japanese channel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair it with a chawan from our \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/gifts-for-tea-lovers\"\u003egifts for tea lovers\u003c\/a\u003e — the simplest entry into the matcha ritual at home.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47764145275110,"sku":"ZK-CHASEN-CARPEDIEM-H16KH","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC00018.webp?v=1781279775"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/collections\/DSC8542.webp?v=1781416867","url":"https:\/\/zen-kiln.com\/en-ch\/collections\/matcha-ritual.oembed","provider":"ZenKiln","version":"1.0","type":"link"}