Beneath the Kiln: A Legacy of Shigaraki Craftsmanship
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Shigaraki ware belongs to one of Japan’s revered “Six Ancient Kilns,” and with this Blue Glaze Divided Oval Bowl, its enduring story finds new life. Evidence of Shigaraki’s pottery tradition reaches back to the Kamakura period (1192–1333), though legend ties its earliest fires to as far back as the year 742. From its hillside kilns in Shiga Prefecture, Shigaraki has long shaped works of quiet strength and natural elegance — vessels that merge the raw power of clay with the subtlety of refined glaze.
This particular oval bowl reflects that dual character with striking clarity. Its turquoise glaze, luminous yet calming, is softened with gentle washes of yellow that seem to shift in the light. The surface holds depth, evoking rivers glinting beneath sunlight or the fleeting colors of dawn. Unlike uniform industrial ceramics, each Shigaraki piece carries the variations of fire, ash, and human hand — ensuring that no two bowls are identical.
The oval form is more than aesthetic. It is divided with discreet precision, allowing foods to be presented with elegance and distinction. In a single vessel, contrasts can be staged: a pairing of appetizers, a composition of colors, or a balance of textures. The bowl thus becomes not just a container, but a stage upon which cuisine unfolds.
To hold this piece is to experience the living spirit of Shigaraki ware — rustic yet sophisticated, ancient yet persistently relevant. It embodies a truth long known in Japan: that dining is not merely nourishment but an encounter with beauty.
TOKODO – Blue Glaze Divided Oval Bowl, Shigaraki Ware
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Shigaraki Ware: A Cultural Treasure
Few ceramic traditions balance rusticity and refinement as gracefully as Shigaraki. The ware’s hallmark lies in its tactile surfaces, often bearing the faint imprints of feldspar and the traces of ash that the kiln naturally deposits. Even in pieces glazed with modern hues such as this turquoise, that spirit remains present. The bowl feels alive in the hand, its slightly varied rim and its grounding weight reminding the user of the clay’s earthly origin.
Historically, Shigaraki vessels were prized for their robust utility — water jars, tea utensils, and tableware that endured through generations. Over time, their unadorned beauty captured the attention of tea masters, Zen practitioners, and collectors who admired imperfection as a higher form of beauty: wabi-sabi. The Blue Glaze Divided Oval Bowl, while distinctly contemporary in color, continues that philosophy. It is a piece that does not demand attention but rewards it — subtle, shifting, enduring.
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TOKODO: The House of Ceramics
Since 1936, Tokodo has carried forward the vision of its founder, Sumio Yoshioka (吉岡澄雄) — a man of artistic sensibility whose eye for beauty led him to become a discerning dealer of fine ceramics. His philosophy, “Enjoy the appearance of ceramics with your eyes, its texture with your hands, and its spirit with your heart,” remains the foundation of the house.
Awarded a Royal Warrant in 1949, Tokodo has long been recognized for its uncompromising quality. Today, the legacy continues under the stewardship of Yoshioka’s grandsons, Soichiro and Hayato, ensuring that each piece resonates with both artistry and function.
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TOKODO
For nearly a century, Tokodo has curated Japan’s finest ceramics — works that elevate daily meals into moments of quiet refinement. Trusted by households, professional kitchens, and even the Imperial Palace, Tokodo’s selection is known for harmonizing aesthetic beauty with practical use.
From daily dining to special occasions, each vessel is designed to enhance both food and atmosphere. With every piece, Tokodo brings forward its mission: to create harmony at the table through the enduring art of Japanese ceramics.
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