This is a "Mogake" teapot from Jinshu Touen. It is characterized by its vertical shape and the patterns created by the "Mogake" technique. It has a suitable capacity for brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.
Mr. Ito of Jinshu Touen is a Tokoname ware craftsman who has been making teapots for about 50 years. He not only makes teapots but also drinks Chinese and Taiwanese tea daily, possessing deep knowledge of tea. Mr. Ito is a contemporary master craftsman in teapot making, highly regarded not only in Japan but also in China and Taiwan.
(Brief Biography of Mr. Seiji Ito)
Born in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture in 1949
Began pottery activities in 1970
Certified Traditional Craftsman by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Tokoname Ware, General Category)
Awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for Distinguished Service in the Traditional Crafts Industry
Purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency
Winner of the Chozan Prize at the Chozan Pottery Exhibition 10 times
Winner of the Excellence Award at the 34th Banko Ceramics Competition 2020
Silver Prize at the 1st World Teapot Art Grand Prize in Yixing, China (*teapot competition)
Awarded the Judge's Recommendation Prize at the 6th Taiwan International Golden Teapot Ceramic Exhibition (*teapot competition)
Numerous other awards
"Mogake" is a traditional technique of Tokoname ware. It is said to have been developed by a Tokoname potter about 200 years ago. Seaweed called "Kouamamo," harvested from the Chita Peninsula, is applied to the surface of the teapot. After firing, the mineral components within the seaweed remain as a pattern.
The clay used for the teapot is light brown, and a white glaze is applied only to the outside. Small minerals contained in this clay appear as black dots. The countless small black dots and the linear patterns from the "Mogake" technique resemble constellations floating in the night sky.
The teapots made by Mr. Ito are tea utensils perfected for ease of use. The pouring flow is smooth, and the tea drains very well. The contact surfaces of the lid and body are carefully polished, so the lid fits snugly onto the body without any gaps. The angle of the handle and the overall weight balance are designed in detail for comfortable use.
The vertical lines on the side of the teapot are created by applying a pattern from bottom to top with a spatula while the teapot is on the potter's wheel. A key point is the alignment of the teapot's shoulder line. When the teapot's shoulder is properly formed, it results in a sharp and beautiful shape.
The tea strainer inside the teapot is also made from the same Tokoname clay. The handmade mesh strainer is a traditional technique of Tokoname ware. This is a wonderful teapot where meticulous craftsmanship and artistic design coexist. It is a teapot that allows you to feel the Japanese climate and tradition, utilizing the texture of Tokoname clay and the sea of the Chita Peninsula.
Potter: Jinshu Touen (Tokoname Ware)
Firing: Electric kiln
Size: Total length 12cm (including handle and spout), body diameter 7cm, height 8.5cm
Capacity: 150ml
Weight: Approximately 130g
Packaging: Paper box
Notes: Due to being handmade, there are slight individual differences. The seal between the lid and the body is good.
*Tokoname Ware
Tokoname ware is pottery produced in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. It was the largest ceramics production area in Japan during the medieval period, producing not only daily necessities such as plates, bowls, and pots, but also large ceramic vessels like jars and urns.
Since the end of the Edo period (around 1858 AD), red clay teapots and sake cups have also been produced. After the mid-Showa period (1962 AD), the technology for electric kilns for red clay was established. Tokoname teapots are fired at approximately 1100°C. Tokoname clay is a fine-grained clay suitable for electric kilns, which operate at slightly lower temperatures than the high-temperature wood-fired kilns (1200-1300°C).
In the Tokoname region, which was the bottom of a lake called the Tokai Lake millions of years ago, there are fine-grained clays suitable for teapots, such as red clay and black clay. Tokoname has accumulated the necessary techniques for teapot making, including high molding techniques and the "suriawase" technique, which ensures a gap-free fit between the teapot lid and body. It is the largest teapot production area in Japan.