{"product_id":"160ml-sand-hira-kyusu-with-tobikanna-decoration-ceramic-strainer-gyokko-kiln","title":"160ml Yakishime Hira-Kyusu with Bani \/ Tobikanna (飛び鉋) decoration \u0026 sesame filter [Gyokko Kiln]","description":"\u003cdiv itemprop=\"description\" class=\"product-description rte\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis beautiful hand crafted \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eYakishime Tokoname-yaki \u003cem\u003eHira- kyusu (\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e平急須) \u003c\/em\u003ewith\u003cem\u003e Bani \/ Tobikanna (飛び鉋)\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003edecoration\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u0026amp; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ebuilt in\u003cem\u003e sesame filter\u003c\/em\u003e is from the highly respected Gyokko kiln\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYakishime clay\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis coarser than the fine-grained, smooth shudei.  It is left completely unglazed and has an earthy rustic finish and touch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHira-kyusu\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003erefers to kyusu that have a low height compared to their width - a style that allows the leaf to expand, increases the surface area of leaf in contact with water \u0026amp; helps with water temperature control as water cools more quickly.  All factors that help extract the best possible flavour from high quality Sencha \u0026amp; Gyokuro\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTobikanna  (飛び鉋) \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ealso referred to as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBani\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003ein Tokoname is a decorative technique achieved by applying a metal tool to a slip-coated surface while the ceramic turns on the potter’s wheel, As the tool lightly bumps \u0026amp; skips across the clay, it cuts into the slip to create a repeated rhythmic pattern.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSasame filters\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eare a handcrafted ceramic mesh which are carefully pressed directly into the spout by hand.  They have many tiny holes so are less likely to clog if brewing finer leaf teas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSPECIFICATION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCapacity : 160ml \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Gyokko Kiln\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKiln :\u003c\/strong\u003e GYOKKO Kiln ( 玉光 窯 )\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eName of Master :\u003c\/strong\u003e Hirotaka UMEHARA ( 梅原 廣隆 )\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorn year and city :\u003c\/strong\u003e Born in 1946 in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEducation :\u003c\/strong\u003e After graduating from Tokoname High School Ceramics Department, he trained under his father, the predecessor Gyokko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignature style of tea pots :\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eThis highly respected kiln is manned by the\u003c\/span\u003e master potters of the Umehara family.  They make handmade pieces \u0026amp; by dividing work between multiple craftspeople they make consistent, beautiful work on a larger scale. On our last visit we were very honored to be invited by \u003cb\u003eHirotaka Umehara \u003c\/b\u003eto take a seat \u0026amp; watch him make a kyusu step by step. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe makes his pots using the “\u003ci\u003eTamabiki\u003c\/i\u003e” method where each piece is individually weighed and matched for weight before being thrown on the wheel. Hirotaka Umehara kindly demonstrates each step in making the beautiful kyusu this kiln is famous for. Each piece is carefully stamped to distinguish from imitations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHirotaka UMEHARA has independently developed new pottery clays such as white clay and green clay, as well as colorful liquid clays for painting teapots. He has several styles of teapots that are unique to him, such as flat teapots and large teapots and creates pottery in pursuit of what modern consumers truly want, which is reflected in his works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the showroom we see the prize certificate\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘awarded to those who have served in the public service of the national or local government or in public affairs for many years and have made outstanding achievements’\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotable Awards \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* The title holder of the Master of Traditional Crafts\u003cbr\u003e* Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Association Exhibition\u003cbr\u003e* Choza Prize at the Choza Prize Ceramics Exhibition\u003cbr\u003e* Chairman's Award : Ceramics Assn at the Ceramics Ind Promotion Exhibition\u003cbr\u003e* Received the Order of the Sacred Treasure Single Light\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAll about Tokoname\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eA short history :\u003c\/b\u003e The Tokoname region is considered the teaware capital of Japan. This area’s link with pottery dates back to 1100 and is believed to be the oldest in Japan. However, it wasn’t until the start of the Edo period (1603–1868) that this area became important. In early times it focused mostly on vases and jars, but this period also produced the early matcha bowls in the form of yama-chawans (mountain tea bowls). These were coarsely finished bowls with little refinement, but beautiful in their simplicity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe events that shaped Tokoname teaware  :\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday Tokoname is famous for its redware teapots (kyusu), introduced in the early 1860s. Other teapots for green tea had been produced from early in the nineteenth century in Tokoname, but this new style became very popular. Again it was influenced by China, whose own redware teapots were the typical teaware used at this time. The name comes from the deep red, iron-rich clay from which it is made. Its use in Japan had a big effect on Tokoname’s ceramic industry, with an influx of new potters who specialized in making redware teapots. This was helped by the visit of a Chinese potter called Jin Shi Heng who, in 1878, was invited to teach Chinese techniques for making teapots, greatly accelerating development and increasing quality. This, combined with a period of rapid industrialization, eventually meant mass-production hit Tokoname towards the end of the nineteenth century, with much small-scale domestic production replaced with industrial-scale manufacturing.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eTokoname Today : \u003c\/b\u003eToday Tokoname is a place of great diversity, incorporating both small and large-scale manufacture - something reflected in our selection of pieces.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is still best known for its iconic brick-red clay called shudei [\u003c\/span\u003e朱泥 - vermilion clay].  \u003cspan\u003eIt should be noted that \u003c\/span\u003ehonshudei (本朱泥 - real\/true shudei) the original clay - is now rare [as we have seen on our trips] - many potters use modern formulations that approximate its colour and effect on tea profile.  As well as shudei there are many other types of clay in use in modern day Tokoname including \u003ci\u003eKoudei\u003c\/i\u003e [yellow],  \u003ci\u003eRyokudei\u003c\/i\u003e [green] and \u003ci\u003eKokudei\u003c\/i\u003e [black]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy use a Tokoname Teapot? \u003c\/b\u003eThe vibrant colour of shudei comes from its rich iron content which is said to react chemically with the tannins in green tea resulting in a mellow cup. Tokoname ware is also unglazed \u0026amp; naturally porous - a characteristic which is said to enable absorption of impurities from water - making for a smoother cup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyles of Tokoname Teapot\u003c\/strong\u003e There are three possible forms of Tokoname teapots, categorized according to where the handle is sited. A yokode kyusu has it on the side, an ushirode kyusu has it at the back and an uwade kyusu has a handle on the top. The most typical modern type is the yokode kyusu, which is the one we use at Comins. This style can be traced back to the end of the Song dynasty (960–1279) in China for the preparation of powdered tea. It has been adapted perfectly over time to meet Japanese needs, incorporating a fine mesh to prevent the fine particles of tea from coming out. Each one is balanced according to the potter’s preferences. Customers often comment how simple yet effective their design is, not knowing that the concept has not really changed in 900 years!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Comins Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55752357413249,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1174\/3374\/files\/1A14A718-25D3-4ABC-9BA8-CE45CA8F73FD.jpg?v=1780332171","url":"https:\/\/cominstea.com\/products\/160ml-sand-hira-kyusu-with-tobikanna-decoration-ceramic-strainer-gyokko-kiln","provider":"Comins Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}