Experience the timeless beauty of Bizen-yaki with this handcrafted rustic ceramic cup by renowned artisan Hirokazu SHIBAOKA. A perfect blend of tradition and contemporary form, this cup embodies the natural elegance and rustic charm that define Japan’s oldest pottery tradition.
 
🍵 Authentic Bizen Ware – As one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, Bizen pottery has been crafted for over a thousand years in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. Renowned for its unglazed, high-fired stoneware, Bizen-yaki is celebrated for its raw, earthy aesthetic and functional qualities that enhance the flavour of tea and sake.
 
🍵 Natural Clay & Fire Marks – This cup is shaped from iron-rich local clay, fired at high temperatures without glaze. The unique reddish-brown and ash-grey hues result from the natural reactions of flame and ash during wood firing, creating subtle, unrepeatable patterns and a warm, tactile surface.
 
🍵 Geometric Faceted Design – Standing tall at 10.7cm/4.2in, this cup features angular facets carefully hand-carved to create a bold, architectural look. The smooth, asymmetrical planes not only add visual depth but also enhance grip, making it comfortable to hold despite its height.
 
🍵 Versatile Capacity & Usage – With a volume of 290ml/9.8oz, this cup is perfect for serving water, iced tea, beer, or cold sake, offering a practical yet artistic touch to both casual and formal settings.
 
This Bizen-yaki rustic ceramic cup serves not only as a functional vessel but as a sculptural expression of wabi-sabi aesthetics, where imperfections are embraced as part of the creative process. Perfect for collectors, tea enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a piece of Japanese ceramic heritage, this cup beautifully combines tradition, practicality, and artistry.
 
<Specs>
📐 Size (DIA&H): ⌀7.6 x 10.7 cm / ⌀3 x 4.2 in
📐 Capacity (Water): 290 ml / 9.8 fl oz
📐 Colour: Brown
📐 Texture: Matt
📐 Weight: 210 g / 7.4 oz
📐 Quantity: 1
📐 Origin: Japan
 
<Notes>
📝 Please allow a 1-2 unit deviation due to the manual measurements.
📝 Colours may differ slightly from the photos, depending on lighting and screen settings.
📝 Handcrafted items are beautiful for their individual personalities, making each of them appear slightly different from the photos shown.
 
<About the Artisan>
 
Hirokazu SHIBAOKA
 
Born in 1978 as the eldest son of esteemed Bizen-Yaki ceramic artist Shusen SHIBAOKA, Hirokazu was destined to inherit and evolve one of Japan’s oldest pottery traditions.
 
After completing his studies at Kyushu Tokai University in 2001, Hirokazu refined his technical knowledge at the Okayama Prefectural Industrial Technology Center for Bizen Ceramics, graduating in 2002. Upon graduation, he entered the world of ceramic arts under the direct guidance of his father, immersing himself in the demanding practices of traditional Bizen-yaki.
 
Hirokazu’s skill and artistry have been widely recognised across Japan:
2005 – Selected for the 56th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition
2006 – Selected again for the 57th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition and the Issuikai Ceramic Exhibition, which spotlights emerging excellence in ceramic arts
2009 – Selected for the Issuikai Ceramic Exhibition (second time)
2010 – Exhibited at the 25th National Cultural Festival: Okayama Ceramic Art Showcase
2011 – Accepted into the 54th Japan Traditional Craft China Branch Exhibition and the 62nd Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition
 
In 2018, Shigaoka officially inherited the title of Second-Generation Kiln Master of the Shusen Kiln, continuing the family legacy with a blend of deep tradition and evolving aesthetic expression.
 
Hirokazu’s works continue this ancient legacy with a modern sensibility, embracing the raw, elemental beauty of fire and earth. His pieces are prized by collectors and tea practitioners alike for their quiet elegance, functional excellence, and deep connection to the land.