Tokonameware red clay pentagon teapot

This is a red clay teapot from Jinshu Touen. It features a pentagonal shape and a texture with a fine crack-like pattern. It has just the right volume for brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.

The technique called "Arashi Shibori" that creates the fine patterns on the surface is an original creation of Jinshu Touen's Mr. Ito Seiji. This teapot makes use of the texture of Tokoname clay and gives you a sense of Japanese nature and tradition. Mr. Ito is a modern master teapot craftsman who is highly regarded not only in Japan but also in China and Taiwan.

(Biography of Mr. Ito Seiji)

Born in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture in 1949

Started making pottery in 1970

Traditional craftsman certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Tokoname ware general category)

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for contributions to the traditional craft industry

Purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency

10th Chosan Award at the Chosan Award Ceramics Exhibition

Excellent Award at the 34th Banko Ceramic Competition 2020

Silver Award at the 1st World Ceramic Art Awards in Yixing, China (teapot competition)

Judges' Recommendation Award at the 6th Taiwan International Golden Ceramic Art Exhibition (teapot competition)

Numerous other awards

Tokoname red clay contains a lot of iron. According to a paper investigating Tokoname red clay (Mineralogy Journal, March 1961, by Takashi Sugimura, Nagoya Institute of Technology), the iron content of Tokoname red clay is about 5-6%.

The iron combines with tannins, which are the bitter taste components of tea. Therefore, tea brewed in a Tokoname red clay teapot has a smoother taste with less bitterness.

We once held a tasting event in Hong Kong using Tokoname ware teapots. Participants commented that when drinking Chinese tea such as rock tea and ripe Pu-erh tea, it is easy to tell the difference in taste. Since tastes vary from person to person, it is difficult to make a general statement, but it certainly feels like the taste becomes smoother.

The teapots made by Mr. Ito are tea utensils that are extremely easy to use. The water flows smoothly and drains very well. The contact surface between the lid and the body is carefully polished, and the lid fits snugly into the body. The angle of the handle, the overall weight balance, and other details are designed to be easy to use.

The tea strainer inside the teapot is also made from the same clay of Tokoname. The mesh tea strainer, which is made by hand, is a traditional Tokoname ware technique. This is a wonderful teapot that combines precise craftsmanship and bold design.

<Teapot> Made in Aichi Prefecture

Potter: Jinshu Touen (Tokoname ware)

Firing: Electric furnace

Size: Total length 12cm (including handle and spout), body (longest) 8cm, height 8.5cm

Capacity: 180ml

Weight: Approximately 130g

Packaging: Paper box

Notes: Handmade in Aichi Prefecture. Since it is handmade, each piece is slightly different.

The airtightness between the lid and the body is good. You can see how to pour water in the youtube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/77DsZ1rX4uA

*Tokoname ware

Tokoname ware is pottery made in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. It was the largest ceramic production area in Japan in the Middle Ages, and in addition to everyday items such as plates, bowls, and bowls, many large pottery vessels such as jars and pots were made.

From the end of the Edo period (around 1858), red clay tea and sake utensils were also made. From the mid-Showa period (1962), the technology of electric furnaces for red clay was established. Tokoname red clay teapots are fired at about 1100℃. Tokoname red clay is a clay that is compatible with electric furnaces, which have slightly lower temperatures, than wood-fired kilns, which reach high temperatures of 1200-1300℃.

 

Millions of years ago, the Tokoname region was at the bottom of a lake called Lake Tokai, and it is home to fine-grained clay such as red clay and black clay that is suitable for teapots. Tokoname is home to the techniques necessary for making teapots, such as advanced molding techniques and the technique of fitting the lid and body of the teapot together without any gaps, known as "rubbing". It is the largest teapot production area in Japan.