Elevate your tea or beer experience with this Bizen-yaki tapered ceramic cup, handcrafted by master potter Hirokazu SHIBAOKA. Combining traditional Bizen aesthetics with a modern, graceful form, this cup embodies the organic beauty and wabi-sabi spirit of Japan’s oldest pottery tradition.
 
🍵 Authentic Bizen Ware – Originating from Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, Bizen-yaki is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, celebrated for its natural, unglazed surfaces and rich, earthy tones. Fired at high temperatures over several days, each piece develops unique textures and hues as flames and ash interact with the iron-rich clay.
 
🍵 Natural Ash Glaze & Earthy Tones – This cup’s warm, reddish-brown body showcases the hallmark hidasuki (fire cord marks) and ash deposits, characteristic of high-quality Bizen ware. The gradual colour transitions and subtle ash patterns reflect the unpredictable beauty of wood firing, giving the piece a distinct, unrepeatable character.
 
🍵 Elegant Tapered Design – Standing tall at 13.2cm/5.2in, this cup features a tapered, slightly flared shape, offering a balanced and comfortable grip. The broad 8.5cm/3.3in diameter at the rim enhances the drinking experience, allowing for easy sipping and fuller aromas when used for beverages.
 
🍵 Versatile & Generous Capacity – With a 370ml/12.5oz volume, this cup is ideal for beer, iced tea, water, or sake. Its size and shape also make it suitable for serving seasonal drinks or as a stunning display piece in your collection.
 
This Bizen-yaki tapered ceramic cup is more than a functional vessel – it’s a sculptural representation of elemental beauty, where clay and fire converge. Whether used for tea ceremonies or as a statement piece, it carries the timeless essence of Japanese craftsmanship into your everyday rituals.
 
<Specs>
📐 Size (DIA&H): ⌀8.5 x 13.2 cm / ⌀3.3 x 5.2 in
📐 Capacity (Water): 370 ml / 12.5 fl oz
📐 Colour: Brown
📐 Texture: Matt
📐 Weight: 283 g / 10 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.