Bizen Yohen Sake Bottle

This Bizen-yaki sake bottle (tokkuri) was created by the Living National Treasure, Yu Fujiwara, who expanded his vision not only within Japan but across the world to share the appeal of Bizen ware. This piece is well-fired, resulting in an "ash-covered" (haikaburi) kiln transformation that perfectly exemplifies the characteristics of Fujiwara’s kiln. The surface features a "sea cucumber" (namako) glaze-like texture that appears wet, creating a delightful contrast with the "nuke" (open/uncovered) area on the front. The back is scorched with fine, raised sesame-like (goma) ash deposits, offering a unique, textured tactile quality. The "nuke" area even displays gold-like hues, a flawless landscape that truly embodies the essence of kiln transformation. With original wooden box (shiho-zan).
Rim diameter 3.8cm × Body diameter 9.0cm × Body diameter 9.0cm × Height 12.7cm, Capacity approx. 380cc Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of the Living National Treasure, Kei Fujiwara. In his pottery, he followed the motto of "simple, clear, and bold," and became known as "Yu of the Jars" for the many jars and bowls he produced. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also highly skilled in creating tableware. Starting in 1972, he held themed series of exhibitions, including the "100 Jars," "Tokkuri (Sake Bottle)," "100 Flowers," and "100 Bowls" exhibitions. He also created numerous large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967, and in 1980, he was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he became the first person to follow in his parent's footsteps to be designated a nationally recognized Living National Treasure in the field of ceramics.
Major awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award and Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Grand Prize for Art and Culture, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.