diameter: 4.72inch (12cm) height: 3.35inch (8.5cm), standard Matcha bowl size
Sophisticated Kyo Yaki (Kyoto Style)
Made by Zenshoh Yamaoka at Zenshoh Kiln

KIYOMIZU DERA temple is one of the most admired sights in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and SAKURA GESHIKI means cherry blossom landscape in Japanese. This Matcha bowl features the magnificent traditional wooden building between gorgeous cherry blossom patterns, as well as the ancient townscape of Kyoto.

KIYOMIZU Temple is well-known for its wooden stage, built using 139 pieces of zelkova pillars around the 11th century. At the stage, SHINTO ceremonies and NOH plays are held. At the left lower side of this Matcha bowl, the ancient townscape of Kyoto is painted, which modestly adds depth to the composition.

The white and pink cherry blossom patterns, carefully drawn one brush stroke at a time, bring a beautiful three-dimensional effect to this Matcha bowl. The five-story pagoda towering majestically can be seen beyond these beautiful flowers. The gold painting called KINSAI gorgeously illustrates the view of distant cherry blossoms in a cloud of mist. This kind of scenery is called HANAGASUMI, and is so elegant that it is used in HAIKU poetry as a seasonal term for spring.

The season for viewing cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Japan is actually very short. Furthermore, there are very few places where you can see the breathtaking combination of the five-story pagoda and cherry blossoms as painted on this Matcha bowl. This Matcha bowl, which captures such precious time and space, is reasonably priced for its many highlights.

Colorful patches of orange are called GOHONDE, a traditional technique that adds warmth to the atmosphere of the work. The warm colors are created by iron constituents in the clay. The reduction firing of these iron constituents is easily affected by the conditions of temperature in the kiln, firing time of each temperature, cool down time and so on. It is said that it is impossible to fully control the contrasting density of GOHONDE even for the proficient artisan, so GOHONDE is a little different in each work. It is also said that it is a part of WABI SABI which pattern GOHONDE you encounter. The GOHONDE orange patches bring to mind the morning sun, calmness, beauty, serenity and power of the rising sun. It is the reason why some generations of tea ceremony masters have loved GOHONDE.

We are able to feel the great techniques of Zenshoh Yamaoka from this Matcha bowl. When you pour Matcha into this bowl, the gentle cherry blossom scenery will envelop the Matcha with soft warmth and enrich its flavor.

Specially packaged in a carton box.
Lead-free. Made in Japan.
(Please note that there are individual differences in each piece and each piece is unique, due to the features of this work.)