Inbe Guinomi

This Ibe sake cup was created by Arihisa Kaneshige, an artist who, despite being part of the esteemed Kaneshige lineage, constantly questions himself and strives to create works not merely as "Kaneshige Arihisa," but simply as the potter, "Arihisa." In order to pursue his lifelong dream of creating works as a potter in his own right, he ceased operations at the Ushigamishita kiln—originally built by his father, Sozan—following the winter firing of 2018. Consequently, this *yohen* (kiln-transmuted) sake cup stands as one of the final pieces ever fired in the Ibe Ushigamishita kiln. This *yohen* work represents the culmination of Arihisa’s efforts, having spent nearly 15 years away from the traditional Kaneshige Bizen style to experiment with various clays and refine his craft. It is a magnificent piece of kiln-transmutation, fired by a man who has dedicated more than half his life to ceramics, through which he has overcome profound struggle and anguish. He truly achieves what can be described not as a metaphor, but as "listening to the voice of the clay." Even in the extremely difficult *haikaburi yohen* (ash-covered kiln-transmutation) firing process, he has perfectly balanced the beautiful hues of the ash glaze with the finest colors inherent to the clay itself. Not only is the post-firing care meticulous, but he also applied fine adjustments during the drying stage after throwing on the wheel, resulting in a piece with outstanding texture to match its color and form. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included.
Diameter 6.7cm x 6.3cm, Height 5.1cm Arihisa Kaneshige was born the third son of Intangible Cultural Property holder Sozan Kaneshige. He began learning ceramic techniques under his father in 1975. He became independent in 1980 and held his first solo exhibition in Okayama. He creates tableware, focusing primarily on tea ceremony wares such as tea bowls, water jars, and flower vases. With tea bowls in particular, he prioritizes the interior form (mikomi) while pursuing a perfect balance on the exterior. He has received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Encouragement Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Form, and the Encouragement Award at the Tanko Biennale. In 2003, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award. He is also dedicated to his solo exhibitions, which are held at various locations.