{"product_id":"p6371","title":"Bizen Ware Black Sake Cup","description":"This Bizen black sake cup (guinomi) is by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the world of Bizen ware with an inexhaustible creative power.\u003cbr\u003e\nFired in an anagama kiln for about ten days, the piece possesses an intense landscape where the black slip and vigorous natural ash glaze (goma) seem to clash on the surface.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBathed thoroughly in flames from the back, beautiful yellow goma created by high-quality pine firewood spills over to the front, forming a stunning bead-like pattern.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe sight is as if the black sake cup is being gently embraced by golden goma, and the solemn landscape of gold and black has a brilliance that is captivating no matter how many times you look at it.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece does not incorporate the distorted shapes characteristic of his signature style, and its simple design allows the beauty of the black to stand out even more.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile the overall piece has a deep luster from the slip, the bottom of the interior has a matte texture where the glaze has faded, creating an interesting reflection of the sake as if light were hitting the bottom of the water.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThere is slight instability due to the shape of the foot, but this does not affect its use.\n\nSigned wooden box to be provided at a later date (please note that it will take some time until shipping).\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.7cm x 6.6cm x Height 7.1cm\n\nJun Isezaki (1936–2026, born in Inbe, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was born as the second son of Bizen ware artist Yozan Isezaki, who specialized in elaborate crafted pieces.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe learned pottery techniques from his father from a young age, and after graduating from the Okayama University Faculty of Education's Special Art Course in 1959, he entered the path of pottery in earnest.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1962, together with his older brother Mitsuru Isezaki, he successfully restored and fired a medieval semi-underground anagama kiln.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn addition to traditional vessels such as flower vases, plates, and tea ceremony ceramics, he worked extensively on works that emphasize form, such as ceramic walls, reliefs, and objects.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn his production, he emphasized both shaping and firing, establishing a unique style overflowing with a contemporary sensibility that made the most of the characteristics of anagama, climbing kilns, and electric kilns.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, as a representative artist for Bizen ware ceramic walls and reliefs, he worked on numerous projects, mainly for public facilities.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966, and served as a lecturer at Okayama University's Faculty of Education Special Art Course from 1978 to 1987.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1998, he was designated as an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder alongside his brother Mitsuru Isezaki, and in the same year, he was appointed as a director of the Japan Kōgei Association and Secretary General of the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2002, he created a ceramic wall for the new Prime Minister's Official Residence.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2004, he was recognized as the fifth person to be designated as a nationally recognized Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2025, he was selected as a Person of Cultural Merit.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 2026.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards and honors: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Excellence Award at the Chanoyu Modeling Exhibition, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award, Okayama Prefecture Miki Memorial Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Person of Cultural Merit, etc.","brand":"伊勢崎 淳","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618050265185,"sku":"6371","price":120000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6371.jpg?v=1790231486","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6371","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}