{"product_id":"japanese-kyusu-teapot-suigetsu-iii-moonlit-sakura-and-maple-banko-yaki-teapot-350ml","title":"Banko-Yaki Kyusu Teapot - Suigetsu III - Moonlit Sakura and Maple - 350ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eCherry blossoms by moonlight. Across the smoky, dark clay of this Suigetsu III kyusu, sakura and maple emerge in soft, pale tones, the bloom of spring and the leaves of autumn caught together as if under a quiet moon. The design is drawn entirely from the clay itself, no paint and no print, only the artist's carving and sandblasting coaxing pale grays from the purple body, so the light shifts gently as you turn the pot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sakura and momiji are hand-carved and sandblasted directly into the clay, the surface worked at different depths to reveal its natural range of tones, so the blossoms feel raised and tactile against the darker ground.\u003cbr\u003eBeneath the artistry it is a serious tea tool. Thrown from iron-rich Banko shidei clay and fitted with a built-in ceramic strainer, the kyusu pours cleanly from its tapered spout, while the side handle sits naturally in the hand for smooth, controlled one-handed pouring, ideal for fine Japanese green tea such as sencha and gyokuro. The shidei clay is prized for gently softening the astringency of green tea, for a rounder, sweeter cup.\u003cbr\u003eA piece made to be used and admired in equal measure, a centerpiece for the tea table and a small work of art in clay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout the artist:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This kyusu is the work of Suigetsu III, the third-generation master (born 1944) kiln head of the Suigetsu kiln, the celebrated Banko-ware pottery founded in 1900 in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, and devoted to the kyusu for over a century. Hiroshi is renowned for his sandblasting technique: by scraping the iron-rich purple clay at different depths he draws out three distinct tones (purple, black, and gray), and it is this tonal contrast alone, no glaze and no metal, that forms the design. The result is delicate, elegant, and unmistakably his own. A holder of Yokkaichi City Intangible Cultural Property for Banko shidei kyusu and a recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government, Suigetsu is among the most decorated living masters of Banko ware.\u003cbr\u003eAwards and recognition (Shimizu Hiroshi, 3rd-generation Suigetsu):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHolder of Yokkaichi City Designated Intangible Cultural Property (craft technique) for Banko-yaki shidei kyusu, designated February 2025\u003cbr\u003eRecipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays (Zuiho Tanko-sho), conferred by the Japanese government in 2021\u003cbr\u003eCertified Traditional Craftsman (Dento Kogeishi) and full member of the Japan Kogei Association (Tokai branch)\u003cbr\u003eRecipient of the Mie Prefecture Cultural Award and the Yokkaichi City Distinguished Service Awards for Culture and for Industry\u003cbr\u003eWorks presented to the Japanese Imperial family\u003cbr\u003eThird-generation master of the historic Suigetsu Toen kiln, a name central to Yokkaichi Banko-yaki\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDETAILS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDetails:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: Shimizu Hiroshi, third-generation Suigetsu\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan\u003cbr\u003eWare: Banko-yaki (unglazed shidei purple clay)\u003cbr\u003eTechnique: Signature sandblasted sakura and maple motif in the clay's natural tones \u003cbr\u003eForm: Kyusu (side-handle teapot) with built-in ceramic strainer\u003cbr\u003eIncludes: Original signed wooden box (tomobako) and documentation\u003cbr\u003eCapacity: approx. 350ml\u003cbr\u003eCare: hand-wash with water only, no soap, and air-dry to protect the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Artisanal Japan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45150093901939,"sku":null,"price":820.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0701\/2286\/4755\/files\/suigetsusakurasilvercopy.png?v=1783054007","url":"https:\/\/artisanaljapan.com\/products\/japanese-kyusu-teapot-suigetsu-iii-moonlit-sakura-and-maple-banko-yaki-teapot-350ml","provider":"Artisanal Japan","version":"1.0","type":"link"}