Minimalist yet deeply expressive, this handcrafted Bizen-yaki ceramic cup by acclaimed artisan Hirokazu SHIBAOKA embodies the quiet power of Japan’s oldest pottery tradition. Both sculptural and functional, this cup is ideal for water, tea, or sake, inviting a moment of grounded reflection with every use.
 
🍵 Bizen-yaki Tradition – Made in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, Bizen-yaki is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns with a continuous history dating back over 1,000 years. Characterised by unglazed, high-fired stoneware, Bizen pieces gain their distinctive surface patterns through natural kiln effects rather than applied glazes.
 
🍵 Natural Clay & Fire Marks – Formed from iron-rich clay sourced from local rice fields, this cup reveals subtle gradients of reddish-brown and ash-grey, created during a long, wood-fired kiln process. Each piece is unique, with textures shaped by flame, ash, and the placement in the kiln.
 
🍵 Geometric Faceted Design – The cup’s hand-carved, faceted body gives it a bold, architectural presence. The interplay of angled planes creates depth and light contrast, emphasising the natural marbling and clay textures that emerge through firing.
 
This Bizen-yaki ceramic cup is not only a drinking vessel, but a tactile expression of one of Japan’s most revered ceramic traditions – where fire, earth, and time shape every unique detail.
 
<Specs>
📐 Size (DIA&H): ⌀7.4 x 7.7 cm / ⌀2.9 x 3 in
📐 Capacity (Water): 235 ml / 7.9 fl oz
📐 Colour: Brown
📐 Texture: Matt
📐 Weight: 209 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.