Handcrafted by Yamashita-san, the surfer-potter from Kyushu
A stoneware bowl with soft reflections and a brilliant glaze, created in the mythical region of Karatsu, birthplace of some of Japan's oldest pottery.
Each bowl is conceived, shaped, and glazed entirely by hand by Yamashita-san, a passionate artisan for over 30 years.
🧑🎨 Yamashita-san's Story
He discovered pottery through his father-in-law, a researcher at a specialized institute. Since then, he has perfected a gesture that has become meditative:
"When I work, I clear my mind. I don't think about anything."
His dearest wish: for his pottery to be used daily, not kept as display objects. That's why he keeps his prices accessible, despite entirely handmade work.
He extracts his own clay near the workshop, cleans it, sifts it, kneads it, and transforms this raw material into elegant pieces that carry the soul of Karatsu.
🏺 The Manufacturing Process — Ancient Craftsmanship
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Clay extraction and cleaning: diluted in water to remove pebbles and impurities.
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Kneading: to remove air bubbles and homogenize the clay.
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Throwing on the potter's wheel.
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Turning: after a day of drying, he shapes the base of the bowl.
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First firing: 800 °C for 8 hours (the bowl shrinks by about 20%).
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Glazing: traditional mixture of straw ash, charcoal, and feldspar.
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Second firing: 1260 °C for 7 hours.
Two types of firing exist:
• Oxidizing: oxygen enters the kiln.
• Reducing: no oxygenation, flames chemically alter the glaze.
It is this alliance of science, chance, and human touch that gives each piece its unique signature.
🏯 Karatsu-yaki — one of Japan's most famous potteries
A port city in southern Japan, Karatsu was influenced by China and Korea from ancient times. It was here that Japan's first brilliant glaze was born.
At the end of the 16th century, Karatsu tea bowls were among the three most prestigious styles, along with:
• Raku (楽焼)
• Hagi (萩焼)
• Karatsu (唐津焼)
Even today, tea masters consider them essential.
🌱 Yamashita-san's Aesthetic Philosophy
Japanese pottery embraces a degree of unpredictability:
• temperature variations in the kiln
• natural glaze drips
• throwing irregularities
• traces of the human hand
This is wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection.
Each bowl has its own life, its own character, its own personality.
The swirling bottom designed by Yamashita-san collects the last suspended drops of matcha — a more concentrated and delicious final sip, the artisan's signature.
⚪ Aesthetics & Sensations
This bowl features:
• an off-white glaze, shiny, smooth, minimalist
• an unglazed foot, raw, rough, earth-colored
• an open shape, ideal in summer as it allows heat to dissipate
• a perfect capacity for 80–100 mL of matcha
Holding this bowl in your hand means feeling all the Japanese sensibility for texture, warmth, and the art of tea.
🔧 Yamashita-san's Usage Tips
• Before first use: immerse the bowl for 5 hours in water + 1–2 spoons of flour. The starch acts as a natural protective varnish.
• Over time, the bowl will develop a patina and slight crazing: this is normal, and it is beautiful. Take care of it: it will become even more unique.
🌿 A Rare Piece
Yamashita-san's clay vein is almost exhausted. He showed me the last reserve near his workshop, saying:
"I have enough to work until I retire... then it will be over."
Each series is therefore limited, with natural color variations.
If this bowl resonates with you, I advise you to adopt it while it is available.
🍵 For Your Matcha Ritual
Deliberately leave part of the bowl empty to admire the color of the matcha, its reflections, its texture. The bowl accompanies the ceremony, it enhances it.
💛 An Honor to Present It to You
I am very proud that Yamashita-san is one of our artisan partners.
We sincerely hope that it will accompany your daily ritual with as much gentleness as it accompanied our encounter.
On behalf of Yamashita-san and myself:
enjoy your tasting, and welcome to the world of Karatsu.
