ISHIDA Kazuya Abyss Sake Cup A

Description

The Abyss sake bowl by Ishida Kazuya is part of his innovative Abyss series. His recent focus has turned to porcelain — an unusual choice in Bizen, a region traditionally known for rustic, unglazed stoneware fired in wood kilns. The porcelain used for this work also originates from Bizen.

For this cup, the clay is finely sieved to achieve a smooth, fluid surface and marbled with cobalt. Light ash deposits from the anagama wood firing create complex, almost landscape-like formations.

The form is not created on the potter’s wheel, but through the centuries-old technique of clay wedging (kikuneri, 菊練り), in which the clay is prepared into a chrysanthemum-like pattern before being skillfully shaped by hand.

Each Abyss sake bowl is a unique piece, and slight variations in form and surface pattern naturally occur due to its handmade production. This is Bowl A, which appears somewhat more matte and bluer in tone than Bowl B.

Capacity: approx. 30–40 ml

ISHIDA KAZUYA

Spirals and Waves: A Portrait of Nature in the Bizen Style

Ishida Kazuya comes from a family of potters in Bizen. Bizen is one of Japan’s most important ceramic regions and is renowned for its unglazed, high-fired pottery.

For four years, Ishida Kazuya studied under Isezaki Jun, Bizen’s current Living National Treasure. His experience in the United Kingdom, where he worked with slip and slipware techniques, has also had a strong influence on his work. Ishida Kazuya developed a distinctive interpretation of the Bizen style, which he calls Rahō (螺法). The name is derived from spiral-shaped shells.

Indeed, his creations are deeply inspired by nature. Ishida-san is fascinated by the dynamic forms and movements found in ancient rocks and spiralling seashells, and he seeks to capture these patterns in his work. Firing in a traditional noborigama or anagama kiln adds further layers of complexity to each piece through the effects of flame and the natural deposition of wood ash.