The Kohiki style developed in Korea at the beginning of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) and is where a dark, iron-rich clay body is dipped into a white porcelain slip, over which after drying, a thin layer of translucent feldspar or ash glaze is applied. The name Kohiki means “ground powder” and alludes to the fine powdery coating of the glaze. The more Kohiki ware is used, the more it develops its character: the colour may grow a little darker and develop tiny crackles – these natural changes are appreciated as Keshiki (literally “scenery”) by pottery lovers.
Teacup Pair
Hon-Kohiki
Yanagi
SKU
1586
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
A pair of his and hers Yunomi teacups with a classic off-white Kohiki ash glaze. Handcrafted at the Yanagi kiln in Kyoto, these thick-walled, handle-free cups are particularly suited for teas brewed at higher temperatures, like Hojicha and Genmaicha. Perfect as wedding presents.
| Product | Teacup pair set |
| Ceramic Style | Kyo-yaki |
| Origin | Kyoto, Japan |
| Studio | Yanagi-gama 柳窯 |
| Volume | 175ml, 230ml |
| Dimensions | Ø7.1 x 8.5cm, Ø7.3 x 9.2cm |
| Weight | 150g, 160g |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Glaze | Kohiki (粉引) ash glaze |
| Artist's mark | Studio stamp on base |
| Packaging | Cardboard box |
Each piece is handmade and unique, therefore size and finish may vary slightly
Yanagi-gama 柳窯
Hideki Nishijima (西嶋秀樹) was born in 1948 in Kumamoto prefecture, moving to Kameoka City in the Kyoto prefecture as a child. In 1968 he graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training Centre and started to apprentice under Ōno Hatoyuki (大野鳩行). Come 1982 he would open his own independent kiln, Yanagi-gama ("willow kiln") and in 2000 he was made a member of the Kogei Association: a non-profit, government-affiliated association dedicated to the protection and development of traditional Japanese crafts.
Meoto Yunomi 夫婦 湯のみ
Popular wedding gifts, Meoto or “husband and wife” Yunomi are a pair of matching Japanese teacups where one is often smaller that the other and/or has a different colour scheme of the same design. The tall, cylindrical Yunomi is typically made of ceramic and without a handle, ideal for daily, casual drinking of all types of tea (with the exception of matcha, which is best served in a Chawan tea bowl). Please use both hands when drinking from a Yunomi: one hand around the cup to hold it, and the other underneath to support. Since Japanese teas are served at temperatures below 80°C (175°F), the Yunomi should not be too hot to handle, and will provide extra warmth to the hands during the colder months. For this reason, Japanese teas that are served at higher temperatures, such as Hojicha, Genmaicha, and Bancha are particularly recommended for Yunomi.
Kyo-yaki 京焼
Both Kyo- and Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) are general terms, often used together or interchangeably, to refer to pottery produced in Kyoto, covering a variety of different styles. Historically Kiyomizu-yaki exclusively referred to pottery made on the road leading up to the ancient Kiyomizu Temple – now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Typical Kyoto wares are decorated with colourful hand-painted motifs using overglaze enamel pigments: a technique that appeared in the 17th century and is still a hallmark of Kyo-yaki today. From 794 to 1603 Kyoto was the imperial capital, attracting the most skilled artisans across the country. Even after the seat of government moved to Edo, present day Tokyo, Kyoto continued to be the cultural and spiritual centre of Japan.
