{"title":"Cats on Ceramics","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhimsical cats for your daily table — hand-painted cat-motif mugs, bowls and matcha chawan, plus one little neko incense holder. Quiet comfort you can hold.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kutani-cat-mug-230ml","title":"Kutani Cat Mug 230 ml | Iroe Yū Hidamari Cuddling Cats","description":"\u003cp\u003eA quiet, slow-morning mug. Two cats — one white silhouette, one dark sienna — sit back-to-back in a sunlit patch of garden, surrounded by hand-painted forget-me-nots, wildflowers, and tiny fluttering butterflies. Made in Ishikawa Prefecture by the Kutani-ware workshop Iroe Yu (色絵 遊), from their beloved 陽だまり (\"Hidamari\" — Sunny Spot) series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat \"Hidamari\" means\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e陽だまり \/ Hidamari translates as \"sunny spot\" — the warm patch of afternoon sunlight where a cat will curl up and nap. Iroe Yu's Hidamari series renders that scene without features on the cats — pure silhouette — so the viewer can project their own pets onto the mug. The two cats here are sitting back-to-back, each one a different color, sharing the same sunbeam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's hand-painted on this mug\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo cuddling cats sitting back-to-back: one white silhouette + one dark sienna silhouette\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForget-me-not cluster (blue 5-petal flowers with yellow centers) on a branching stem above the cats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWildflower stems with pink, magenta, yellow, and blue dot-flowers along the left side\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo small butterflies — one yellow, one white-and-yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpeckled white kohiki (粉引) glaze upper field\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed square workshop stamp on the foot — the Iroe Yu signature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUse cases\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle-cup coffee, latte, tea, or matcha — 230 mL is a comfortable daily portion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-friendly loop handle, balanced weight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaily use, not a display-only piece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this microwave \/ dishwasher safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e The maker does not state this. Treat as hand-wash hand-painted ware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy don't the cats have faces?\u003c\/strong\u003e Iroe Yu's deliberate compositional choice — the cats are pure silhouette so viewers can project their own pets onto the mug.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487581356262,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/il_fullxfull.7474020707_1y3e.jpg?v=1774622214"},{"product_id":"kutani-hidamari-small-donburi-bowl","title":"Kutani Cat Donburi Bowl ~12 cm | Iroe Yū Hidamari Cuddling Cats","description":"\u003cp\u003eA quiet, slow-meal bowl. Two cats — one white silhouette, one dark sienna — sit back-to-back in a sunlit patch of garden, surrounded by hand-painted forget-me-nots, multi-color wildflowers, and tiny fluttering butterflies. Made-to-order in Ishikawa Prefecture by the Kutani-ware workshop Iroe Yu (色絵 遊), from their beloved 陽だまり (\"Hidamari\" — Sunny Spot) series — now in the small-donburi (小丼) form, paired with the workshop's signature cat mug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e⏳ Made-to-order\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece is the workshop's original (当社オリジナル商品) and is hand-decorated to order. The supplier's stated lead time is approximately \u003cstrong\u003e1 month after order\u003c\/strong\u003e before dispatch from Japan; international shipping time (typically 1–3 weeks) is added on top. If you need a fixed-arrival gift, please message us with your target date before purchasing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat \"Hidamari\" means\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e陽だまり \/ Hidamari translates as \"sunny spot\" — the warm patch of afternoon sunlight where a cat will curl up and nap. Iroe Yu's Hidamari series renders that scene without features on the cats — pure silhouette — so the viewer can project their own pets onto the bowl. The two cats here are sitting back-to-back, each one a different color, sharing the same sunbeam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's hand-painted on this bowl\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo cuddling cats sitting back-to-back: one white silhouette + one dark sienna silhouette\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForget-me-not cluster (blue 5-petal flowers with yellow centers) on a branching stem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWildflower stems with pink, magenta, yellow, and blue dot-flowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen leaves on each wildflower stem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo small butterflies — one yellow, one white-and-yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-drawn whiskers and tails on each cat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpeckled cream-white kohiki (粉引) glaze upper field\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGranular black-speckled stoneware lower field — reads as warm earthy ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubtle green\/celadon haze at the horizon transition between the two glazes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnglazed exposed clay foot ring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed square workshop stamp on the foot — the Iroe Yu signature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUse cases\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHalf-portion ramen, udon, soba, gyudon, oyakodon, donburi rice bowls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoup, salad, fruit, ice cream, ochazuke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenerous everyday rice chawan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSister pieces in the Hidamari series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIroe Yu Hidamari cat mug (230 mL) — same two-cat motif\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIroe Yu Hidamari matcha bowl — same two-cat motif, chawan form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIroe Yu Hidamari rabbit small donburi — same form, rabbit motif\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this microwave \/ dishwasher safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e The maker does not state this. Treat as hand-wash hand-painted ware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Hidamari mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e 陽だまり — the warm patch of afternoon sunlight where a cat will nap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy don't the cats have faces?\u003c\/strong\u003e Iroe Yu's deliberate compositional choice — the cats are pure silhouette so viewers can project their own pets onto the bowl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy ~1 month lead time?\u003c\/strong\u003e Each piece is hand-decorated to order by the workshop; this is not warehoused stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's the exact capacity?\u003c\/strong\u003e ~350–400 mL is the form-class estimate. Exact spec will be confirmed on first-piece dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47537522442470,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC8817.webp?v=1777274861"},{"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-yunomi-cup-pair-iroe-yu-cat-moon-hidamari","title":"Kutani Yunomi Cup Pair — Iroe Yū Cat \u0026 Moon Hidamari Tea Set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHand-painted Kutani ware yunomi (Japanese tea cup) pair\u003c\/strong\u003e from the \u003cstrong\u003e陽だまり (Hidamari \/ 'Sunny Spot') series\u003c\/strong\u003e, crafted by the \u003cstrong\u003e色絵 遊 (Iroe Yu) workshop\u003c\/strong\u003e in Ishikawa, Japan. Two cats — one white, one chestnut — sit shoulder-to-shoulder inside a round white moon-disc reserve, gazing at a single spray of seasonal blossoms: forget-me-nots on the larger cup, plum or cherry on the smaller. The speckled grey ground around the disc is finished in a kohiki-style wash, lending each piece a quiet, refined surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade by\u003c\/strong\u003e Iroe Yu Workshop \/ 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🏮 Workshop \u0026amp; tradition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKutani ware (九谷焼 \/ kutani-yaki) is a Japanese ceramic tradition from Ishikawa Prefecture, recognised for hand-painted overglaze decoration and the five-colour 五彩 (kutani-gosai) palette. The Iroe Yu workshop — based in the Kutani heartland — works in this lineage, treating each cup as a small painted scene. The Hidamari series has been part of the workshop's catalogue since 2019, distinguished by its kohiki-style grey ground and warm-narrative animal motifs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🐱 Pattern \u0026amp; design\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hidamari Cat \u0026amp; Moon motif places two seated cats inside a circular reserve, like a winter window or a full moon. The larger cup carries \u003cstrong\u003eforget-me-nots\u003c\/strong\u003e; the smaller a single branch of \u003cstrong\u003eplum or cherry blossom\u003c\/strong\u003e — a seasonal pairing rather than a matched set. Raised enamel dots define each flower, gold accents sit at the centres, and a red painter's seal 遊 (Yu) appears on the foot of every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e✨ What is a Meoto Yunomi?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003emeoto yunomi (夫婦湯呑)\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Japanese tea cup pair made in two sizes — traditionally one slightly larger and one slightly smaller, shared between two people at home. The form is a classical wedding and anniversary gift in Japan, representing companionship across daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🍵 Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaily Japanese green tea for two (sencha, hojicha, genmaicha, bancha)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTea-corner display: pair on a dark wood tray with a kyusu teapot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWedding, anniversary, or Father's Day gift — the meoto-yunomi pair is a classical Japanese gifting form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlow-tea ritual cup: the kohiki ground and hand-painted moon reserve invite quiet attention\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47697769431270,"sku":"k9-778","price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC8805.webp?v=1779277297"},{"product_id":"handmade-cat-incense-holder-mino-ware-neko-stick-stand","title":"Handmade Ceramic Cat Incense Holder — Kawaii Mino-ware Neko Stick Stand with Dish","description":"\u003cp\u003eA handmade ceramic incense holder shaped like a round little cat, by the Gifu workshop Hōdai-gama. The white clay neko is hand-painted with soft blue and ochre dots, red ear-tips and cheeks, and a small gold bell on its tummy — and it sits on its own blue-glazed square dish. Pop a stick of incense in the hole behind its head and let the smoke curl up while the dish catches the ash.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat you get (2-piece set)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 ceramic cat incense holder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 matching blue square dish (catches ash)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCat body: H ~3.5 cm (1.38 in); dish: 6 cm square (2.36 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCeramic (stoneware), entirely hand-made and hand-painted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGood for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quiet desk, an entryway, a meditation or tea corner, or a small thoughtful gift for cat lovers and incense lovers. Because every step is done by hand, each cat's face and markings are a little different — part of its charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to use \u0026amp; care\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlace a stick of incense in the back hole and rest the cat on its dish; always burn on a heatproof surface and never leave burning incense unattended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWipe clean and keep dry; light soot is normal and wipes off\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative incense accessory — not for food use; not microwave or dishwasher safe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e• Made by Hodai-gama \/ Mino ware in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout ZenKiln\u003c\/strong\u003e — 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e📦 Ships from Japan, hand-packed for safe delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47759237382374,"sku":"ZK-INCENSE-HODAI-CAT","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/DSC09839.webp?v=1781106829"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/collections\/il_fullxfull.7474020707_1y3e.jpg?v=1781416864","url":"https:\/\/zen-kiln.com\/en-gb\/collections\/cats-on-ceramics.oembed?page=2","provider":"ZenKiln","version":"1.0","type":"link"}