Embodying the timeless elegance of Bizen-yaki pottery, this handcrafted tapered ceramic cup by master artisan Hirokazu SHIBAOKA combines traditional craftsmanship with a minimalist aesthetic. Its tapered form and natural, earthy texture make it both a functional piece and a statement of refined rusticity.
 
🍵 Authentic Bizen Ware – Crafted in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, Bizen-yaki has a legacy of over a thousand years. Known for its unglazed, high-fired surfaces, Bizen pottery gains its natural, earthy tones through a prolonged wood-firing process, where flame and ash interact with the iron-rich clay.
 
🍵 Natural Ash Glaze & Subtle Texture – The cup’s surface features a reddish-brown base with natural ash deposits, forming a subtle gradient from darker, almost smoky hues at the base to warm, rustic tones near the rim. This unique colouring is created through the high-temperature firing process, allowing the clay to develop its organic character.
 
🍵 Graceful Tapered Design – Standing at 13.5cm/5.3in, this cup features a gentle, flared silhouette that widens at the top, creating a balanced and elegant form. The wide rim enhances the drinking experience, allowing the full aroma and flavour of tea or sake to be appreciated.
 
🍵 Generous Capacity & Versatile Use – With a 370ml/12.5oz volume, this tall cup is perfect for tea, water, craft beer, or chilled sake. Its tactile surface and ergonomic shape offer a comfortable grip, whether used in tea ceremonies or for casual daily enjoyment.
 
This Bizen-yaki tapered ceramic cup not only reflects the aesthetic purity of Japanese ceramics but also serves as a functional vessel that enriches the experience of drinking tea, sake, or any cold beverage. Embrace the wabi-sabi philosophy of simplicity and natural beauty with every use.
 
<Specs>
📐 Size (DIA&H): ⌀8.7 x 13.5 cm / ⌀3.4 x 5.3 in
📐 Capacity (Water): 370 ml / 12.5 fl oz
📐 Colour: Brown
📐 Texture: Matt
📐 Weight: 292 g / 10.3 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.