Hello, this is Coco from TsuTsu UraUra.
When you know the story behind the matcha bowl, that familiar sip of tea can feel so much more flavorful and special.
In Japan, there are 31 styles of pottery that are officially designated as National Traditional Crafts, and many of them have evolved alongside the culture of the tea ceremony. So deep is the connection that in the world of tea, there is a famous saying: "Ichi-Raku, Ni-Hagi, San-Karatsu," which ranks the three most highly prized matcha bowls' pottary style.
In this journal, as a first step into the vast world of Japanese pottery, we will introduce the stories and charms of five representative styles, including the three celebrated in that classic phrase.
1. Raku Ware (楽焼) — A Bowl Made for the Hands
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Origin: Kyoto Prefecture
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Characteristics: Prized by tea masters since ancient times as "First Raku," this style is considered to be of a particularly high status among tea bowls. Its story begins with Sen no Rikyū, the master who perfected the wabi-sabi philosophy of tea, commissioning a tile maker named Chōjirō to create it. Uniquely, Raku ware is not thrown on a potter's wheel, but shaped entirely by hand and spatula. This creates a soft, warm texture that is surprisingly lightweight. The feeling of it fitting snugly and comfortably in your hands makes it truly "a bowl made for the hands," and it is said to be the purest reflection of Sen no Rikyū's spirit of tea.
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2. Hagi Ware (萩焼) — The Bowl That You Raise and Nurture
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Origin: Yamaguchi Prefecture
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Characteristics: Ranked as "Second Hagi," this style has been treasured next to Raku. Its history began when the local Mōri clan invited Korean potters to establish a kiln. Its unique warm colour palette is born from mixing different types of local clays. A distinctive feature is the small notch cut into the foot of the bowl. Because it is made from a soft, porous clay, the bowl's colour will gradually change over many years as the tea gently stains it. This ageing process, known as "Hagi's seven transformations" (nanabake), is a great charm of Hagi ware, enjoyed by users as an act of "raising a bowl" and loving the changing scenery of its surface.
3. Karatsu Ware (唐津焼) — A Harmony of Strength and Simplicity
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Origin: Saga Prefecture
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Characteristics: Praised alongside Hagi as "Third Karatsu," this style is beloved for its rustic yet powerful character, embodying the Japanese concept of yō no bi (the beauty of function). It has a healthy, unpretentious beauty that blends into daily life. Karatsu ware also shows a rich variety of expressions, from "E-Karatsu" with its underglaze paintings to "Chōsen-Karatsu" with its beautiful black and white glazes. There is a saying that Karatsu ware is "made 80% by the maker, and completed with the final 20% by the user," celebrating the idea that the bowl is only truly finished once it is used and loved.
4. Mino Ware (美濃焼) — The Freedom of Tradition and Innovation
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Origin: Gifu Prefecture
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Characteristics: This is a general term for pottery produced in the eastern Mino region of Gifu, an area blessed with high-quality clay. It is so diverse that it is often said that "having no single characteristic is its main characteristic." It was this very freedom that, in the 16th century, allowed the tea master Furuta Oribe to produce revolutionary tea bowls, such as the bold, deep green "Oribe" style and the warm, milky-white "Shino" style. Its charm lies in its depth—the ability to both preserve tradition while creating modern designs that suit contemporary lifestyles.
5. Seto Ware (瀬戸焼) — The Elegant Source of Japanese Ceramics
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Origin: Aichi Prefecture
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Characteristics: So foundational is Seto ware to the history of Japanese pottery that the generic word for ceramics in Japan is "setomono" (things from Seto). As one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, it was one of the first to produce authentic, glazed pottery, which developed as a domestic alternative to expensive Chinese ceramics. In the world of the tea ceremony, Seto's tea caddies (cha-ire) were prized as items of the highest class. Its elegant and graceful appearance lets us feel a dignity that can truly be called the royal road of Japanese ceramics.
How was this brief journey? We hope you could feel how each bowl reflects the earth of its land, its history, and the soul of its maker.
What matters most is not the rankings or the rules. The bowl that you find beautiful, the one that feels right in your hands—that is the perfect partner for you.
We hope this little story serves as a small guidepost on your journey to finding your one and only bowl.