Hekisai Bowl – Kiyomizu Ware

Masterpiece in Blue Glaze

In the historic city of Kyoto, where temple bells echo across narrow streets and traditions run as deep as the Kamo River, there exists a ceramic tradition of remarkable grace: Kiyomizu-yaki. Among its contemporary expressions, the Hekisai Bowl by Tokodo stands as a testament to this enduring heritage. Handcrafted on the potter’s wheel, it carries within its form both the weight of centuries and the immediacy of the present.

The bowl’s surface is finished in a radiant blue glaze, a hue that evokes the boundless sky and the shifting depths of the sea. It is a color that speaks to calmness and clarity — qualities long cherished in Japanese aesthetics. Measuring 22.5 cm in diameter and 7 cm in height, the piece finds a balance between functionality and artistry. Its generous proportions make it versatile for a variety of dishes, while its quiet refinement ensures that each use feels like a small act of ceremony.

The Hekisai Bowl belongs to a lineage of Kiyomizu ware that dates back to the Momoyama period (1568–1600), an age of transformation when Japanese culture embraced bold new forms of artistic expression. The potters of that era, working in the hills near Kyoto’s famed Kiyomizu Temple, developed techniques that combined rustic strength with delicate refinement. Today, those same principles endure — every bowl shaped by the potter’s hands, every glaze the result of careful attention to kiln, flame, and mineral composition.

A Dialogue Between Past and Present

Kiyomizu ware has always been more than a vessel. It is a medium through which Japanese artisans express harmony with nature, reverence for craft, and sensitivity to the changing seasons. The Hekisai Bowl continues this dialogue. Its soft curvature, achieved through wheel-throwing, mirrors the natural contours of water basins found in Kyoto’s temple gardens. The glaze, a spectrum of blue, recalls the indigo-dyed textiles that once adorned the city’s merchant class.

Though grounded in tradition, this piece is distinctly suited for modern living. Its design is neither overly ornate nor rigidly minimal — instead, it strikes a quiet balance, offering a stage on which food becomes the centerpiece. Seasonal vegetables, a carefully prepared sashimi plate, or even something as simple as freshly cooked rice all find new resonance when placed within the depth of this blue glaze.

Craft and Individuality

No two bowls are ever alike. Because each Hekisai Bowl is handmade and hand-glazed, subtle variations occur in shape, size, and finish. These differences are not imperfections but rather signatures of authenticity — marks of the potter’s dialogue with clay and fire.

This individuality means that each piece carries its own character, a reminder that Kiyomizu ware is not produced but created. The glaze may pool slightly in one area, or the rim may reveal a faint trace of the potter’s hand. These details invite contemplation and reward close attention, enriching the experience of use.

Please note: The 22 cm plate in the same design is also available for those who wish to create a harmonious set.