October 4th is a Pottery Day in Japan- suggested by the city of Seto in Aichi (actually the origin of one of the ways we call ceramic ware in Japanese, "seto-mono", literally means products from Seto), in 1984.
"Touki", another way of calling a ceramic ware in Japanese used to be read "Toushi" back in Nara and Heian eras - 10 in Japanese can be read "toh", and 4 can be read "shi". Now you get it, it's a pun.
But hey, it's a good opportunity to appreciate and celebrate this timeless art form.
Ceramic ware plays a big role in our coffee and tea life at Kurasu- in today's blog, we share some of our favorites, as well as our exciting collaboration with Kintsugi artist, Chimahaga.
Our Favorites
1. "runatsu Ryokka Katakuchi" matcha bowl
Our barista, Runatsu is known for her kind personality and lovely smile that lights up Kurasu Ebisugawa.
Some may know that the flower vases we have at Ebisugawa are made by her actually- Runatsu is not only a trained barista, but also a talented professional potter.
This beautiful katakuchi bowl is hand made by Runatsu, and available to purchase at Kurasu Ebisugawa.
Learn more about her work, and her story here: Meet Your Barista: Runatsu
2. 39 Arita Mug
Traditional Arita-yaki ceramic ware meets practicality. This smooth, beautiful mug can hold up to good 0.5L of your favorite drink, from coffee to tea, to even beer!
If you find Japanese mugs a little too small, this is the one for you.
Comes in 4 beautiful colors.
3. Cera Filter
Also by the manufacturer 39 Arita, this dripper is perfect for brewing a delicious cup of coffee without the need for disposable filters. The body of the filter is made of porous ceramic using a 400 years old Arita-yaki technique.
With countless holes of several microns in diameter, it filters liquid through with the same level of filtration as that found in water purifiers.
The manufacturer, 39 Arita is a small independent company in Arita, Saga. Their creations are deeply rooted to their proud local art of Arita-yaki pottery, and their appreciations for it shines through the quality of their products.
Available in 2 sizes:
Cera Filter 002 (comes with a base and a tray)
Repair to Love: Kintsugi
Have you seen a cup or a bowl we use at Kurasu cafes, that has this unique streak of gold?
These were chipped or cracked, and mended using a technique called "Kintsugi"- literally translates as "bound/mended with gold."
Kintsugi is an age-old craft passed down as a way to not only cherish the daily ware by mending to extend its life, but also elevating the item to a pice of art.
The crack/chip is first bonded with urushi (laquer), and coated with gold powder. Some finish it with colored urushi, some uses silver, and some adds textures and patterns on their small canvas of gold.
Each cracks and chips are unique, so does the pattern becomes.
Kintsugi is a way to love and cherish your favorite ceramic wares for longer, and makes the item even more special and personal.
To celebrate the Pottery Day, we are collaborating with Kintsugi artist, Chimahaga.
We will have their self kintsugi kit at cafes and online available to purchase, and for those who purchased ceramic wares from our online shop, Chimahaga offers 5% off of their repair service.
Basic Kintsugi Repair Kit
Check out their website, or submit to have your favorite mugs repaired from the form below.
