Bizen Sake Cup

This Bizen sake cup is the work of Kenji Takenaka, who transitioned from jewelry design to ceramics and studied under the Living National Treasure, Jun Isezaki. The piece features a unique "surface-joining" technique—a twist on chamfering—where faces interlock like stones in a fortress wall, creating a visually striking form. The raised surfaces and incised lines add dynamic movement to the thick layer of "goma" (ash glaze), resulting in a complex aesthetic landscape. Inside the cup, the crackle pattern within the ash glaze catches the light like a prism, evoking the charm of a kaleidoscope. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 6.4cm × Height 5.3cm Captivated by the medium of clay, Kenji Takenaka transitioned into ceramics after a career as a jewelry designer. After completing his studies at the Bizen Pottery Center in 1986, he served there as an instructor for two years. In 1988, he began his apprenticeship under Jun Isezaki and became independent in 1994. He creates both traditional works—including tea ceramics, sake vessels, tableware, and flower vases—as well as highly innovative pieces. Utilizing oxidation and reduction firing in an anagama kiln, he produces a diverse range of expressions through variations in red, white, and black tones and the texture of the clay. His work has been selected for numerous exhibitions, winning accolades such as the Okayama City Mayor’s Award and the Prefectural Exhibition Award at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, as well as the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts Branch Exhibition. He has held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Okayama, Kurashiki, and elsewhere.