{"product_id":"kutani-yoshidaya-yunomi-tea-cup","title":"Kutani Yoshidaya Yunomi — Hand-Painted Mountain Sakura \u0026 Bird (Tōjudō, Ishikawa, ~220 ml)","description":"\u003ch3\u003e🌸 Kutani Yoshidaya Yunomi — Hand-Painted Mountain Sakura \u0026amp; Bird on Stoneware\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hand-painted 九谷焼 (Kutani-yaki) large yunomi — the traditional Japanese handle-less tea cup, made in the 吉田屋 (Yoshidaya) revival palette: a saturated yellow overglaze ground frames a painted reserve of mountain cherry blossoms (山桜 yama-zakura) with a perched small bird in blue and pink. The reserve panel is set against a calm gray-speckled stoneware body, drawing the eye to the painted scene. The foot carries a red painter\/workshop seal in cursive script.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade by\u003c\/strong\u003e Tōjudō \/ Kutani-yaki in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🌼 The motif — Yama-zakura ni Tori (山桜に鳥 \/ Mountain Cherry \u0026amp; Bird)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Yama-zakura” is the wild mountain cherry that grew in Japanese hills before Edo-period cultivation made the 染井吉野 (Somei-Yoshino) cherry dominant. Unlike its cultivated cousin, the mountain cherry blooms together with new spring leaves — which is why this painted reserve shows orange-pink new growth alongside the white blossoms (a small but specific botanical accuracy). The perched small bird joins the scene as a “kachō-e” (花鳥絵 — flower-and-bird) composition, one of the oldest decorative traditions in East Asian decorative arts. Each detail is hand-painted in the Yoshidaya tradition; small variations in brushwork and palette are part of the artisan signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎨 Why this is Yoshidaya (吉田屋) Kutani\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e吉田屋 was an early-19th-century Kutani revival kiln (1824–1831) founded by Yoshidaya Den'emon in Yamashiro hot-spring town, Ishikawa. Its short seven-year life produced some of the most recognisable Kutani decoration in the 古九谷 (ko-kutani \/ “Old Kutani”) tradition — saturated overglaze enamels on earthenware\/stoneware bodies, with the signature yellow ground (黄釉 ki-yū) as the palette identifier. Today the “Yoshidaya-style” continues as a living school in Kutani-yaki, and this yunomi is painted in that lineage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🍵 How to use a yunomi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe yunomi is the traditional Japanese tea cup — handle-less, sized to be held in both hands or cradled in one. Use it for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen tea (sencha, hōjicha, gyokuro, kukicha) — the classical pairing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenmai-cha (brown rice tea)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarm water or barley tea (mugi-cha) in summer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA small matcha-style break (no whisking — just hot water + powdered tea)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairs with a small wagashi or seasonal sweet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎁 Gift-ready\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArrives in a protective paper box (紙箱) — message at checkout if you would like extra gift-wrapping. A thoughtful gift for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTea ritualists (sencha, hōjicha, matcha lovers)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapanese pottery and Kutani-ware collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBird-watchers and nature lovers (the painted bird makes this a niche-perfect “bird-lover” gift)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCherry-blossom enthusiasts and seasonal-decor curators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHostess, housewarming, wedding, anniversary, Father’s Day occasions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🔗 Same painter’s series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same painter’s “山桜に鳥” motif is also produced as a \u003ca href=\"\/en-gb\/products\/kutani-yoshidaya-bird-mug\"\u003ehandled mug\u003c\/a\u003e — pair the yunomi (handle-less, traditional) with the mug (handled, daily) for a complete table setting, or gift as a sister-pair.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487586828518,"sku":"ZK-YUNOMI-TOJUDO-K9-708","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/il_fullxfull.7549111829_cgxu.jpg?v=1774622236","url":"https:\/\/zen-kiln.com\/en-gb\/products\/kutani-yoshidaya-yunomi-tea-cup","provider":"ZenKiln","version":"1.0","type":"link"}