Isao Kimura Tokkuri: Sakurasou

Traditional in shape, this piece could be used as a tokkuri 徳利, a Japanese sake or water jug, or as an ichirinzashi 一輪挿, a vase for a single or a few stems.

The piece has been crafted for us by Japanese ceramicist Isao Kimura of the Rising Kiln. Based in a mountain pottery overlooking the forests of Saitama, Isao's work is inspired by the earth and sea, fire and sky.

Veteran potter Isao is renowned for his innovative glazes, working in the Oribe style and embracing eccentricity. Organic shapes and unusual piercing of the glaze characterise the work.

Isao ash-fires his ceramics in a wood kiln. It’s a process which takes days and further adds to the unique quality of every piece. The resulting colouration is the result of chance reactions between the glaze and the ash, the pottery reflecting the earth and fire from which it is created. This technique of using ash from burnt wood has been used to glaze pots for over 3500 years.

The glaze is reminiscent of ‘sakurasou’: pretty Japanese blooms peeping through verdant foliage.

Individually handcrafted, each piece is absolutely one-of-a-kind.