This is a Houhin (handleless teapot) from Sotoen.
Sotoen is a Shigaraki ware pottery studio that crafts each piece individually on a potter's wheel and fires them in a traditional wood-fired kiln. Inheriting an Edo-period wood-fired kiln from the Ueda Naokata family, a prestigious lineage in Shigaraki ware, they continue to create vessels that convey the texture of Shigaraki clay and the rich expressions achieved through wood-firing.
Shigaraki is a region with deep ties to tea. Many tea masters have favored Shigaraki ware. From the 1600s onwards, it became common for the Tokugawa Shogunate and various daimyo families to gift Uji tea inside Shigaraki tea jars. Tea utensils such as matcha bowls and teapots are also produced in Shigaraki, and it is known as a flourishing region for tea ceramics.
Shigaraki clay is coarse and has an earthy feel. By firing Shigaraki clay with the intense flames of a wood-fired kiln, it takes on the brownish color unique to Shigaraki ware. The primary fuel for the wood-fired kiln is red pine. The firing period lasts about one week, with temperatures rising to 1300–1500°C. Incidentally, the wood-fired kiln itself is also made of Shigaraki clay (see the second-to-last image of the clay).
Since each piece is handmade by wheel-throwing, there are wheel marks on the sides of the Houhin. It has a pleasant texture that allows you to truly feel the earthiness. Small minerals contained in the clay sparkle slightly when exposed to light. One can see that Shigaraki ware is pottery created by the nature of Shigaraki.
A Houhin is a handleless teapot that is easy to use. Because the interior is glazed, it absorbs little of the tea's aroma, making it suitable for various types of tea. Lines for pouring water are carved near the spout. It has a simple structure that makes it easy to remove tea leaves and wash.
Houhin are often used for brewing green tea, but they can also be used for Chinese teas such as rock tea and oolong tea, as well as Taiwanese tea. The appeal of the Houhin lies in its ease of use and the fact that it takes up less storage space than a typical side-handled teapot.
Pottery: Sotoen (Shiga)
Forming: Wheel-thrown
Firing: Wood-fired kiln
Type: Pottery
Size: Total length approx. 12cm, base diameter approx. 5.3cm, height approx. 8.5cm
Capacity: Full 200ml, Practical 150-160ml
Weight: Approx. 235g
Packaging: Paper box
Notes: As it is handmade, there are slight differences between each piece. The exterior is unglazed, and the interior is glazed.
If filled to the brim with hot water, the rim of the tea vessel will become hot. It is recommended to use it at about 70% of its full capacity.