Special Japan Teawares 2024 - Raku Matcha Bowl

Raku-yaki is the highest grade matcha bowl used for the tea ceremony in Japan. Developed about 400 years ago in Kyoto, this unique ceramics technique is exclusively used for creating matcha bowls. Even today, it continues to be made in the same traditional manner. Raku-yaki is highly coveted by those who study the tea ceremony, leading to a desire to own it. Kuro-raku, meaning black Raku-yaki, and Aka-raku, meaning red Raku-yaki, are the two main types of Raku-yaki. This particular matcha bowl is black and therefore classified as Kuro-raku.

Raku-yaki's unique feature is its soft and warm feel when touched by hands or mouth. Despite being thick, it is lightweight due to its thick glaze coating. Through a shorter firing time and lower temperature (1,100C to 1,200C or 2,012F to 2,192F for about 10 minutes), Raku-yaki achieves its soft and warm texture. The black color of Kuro-raku is said to enhance the bright green of matcha. The bowl's shape, from the bottom to the top, reflects the artisan's careful consideration in creating a comfortable fit for your hands and mouth.

The front side features a classic Raku-yaki decorative style, displaying a subtle yet refined appearance in a traditional tea room "Chasitsu". Its distinctive reddish hue is achieved through the use of a special glaze, "Shinsya", which contains copper. By heating without oxygen in the kiln, known as reduction, the "Shinsya" glaze creates this unique color. In contrast, heating with oxygen produces a greenish hue.

The unique Raku Yaki clay displays a water-absorbing ability that subtly alters its surface aesthetic over time. This characteristic is a defining trait of Raku-yaki, evoking the traditional Japanese concept of WABI-SABI - embracing authenticity, simplicity, and imperfect beauty. Indulge in the serene ritual of matcha tea with our Kuro-raku, a historically significant and classic matcha bowl.

Dimensions: 4.72inch H x 3.54inch (standard matcha bowl size)

Handmade by Shohraku Kiln.

Shohraku Kiln, opened in 1903, is one of the most traditional Raku-yaki Kilns in Kyoto.