煎茶中国茶台湾茶向け日本の急須/茶壺専門店　東山堂

Tokoname red clay pentagonal teapot gift package

Name: Tokoname red clay pentagonal teapot gift package
Brand: 煎茶 中国茶 台湾茶向け 日本の急須/茶壺専門店 東山堂
SKU: 49468303180057
Availability: InStock

¥44,000 JPY

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This is a red clay teapot from Jinshu atelier. 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. It is packaged as a gift, combining Echizen lacquerware and a furoshiki wrapping cloth.

The technique called "Arashi Shibori", which creates a fine crack-like pattern on the surface, is an original creation of Mr. Ito Seiji of Jinshu atelier. This teapot makes use of the texture of Tokoname clay and gives a sense of Japanese culture and tradition. Mr. Ito is a modern master craftsman of teapots, highly regarded not only in Japan but also in China and Taiwan.

(Biography of 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 smooth taste with little bitterness.

We once held a tasting event using Tokoname teapots in Hong Kong. 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 I feel that it certainly results in a smooth taste.

The teapots made by Mr. Ito are tea utensils that are extremely easy to use. You can pour water smoothly without dripping from the spout. 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 from Tokoname. The mesh tea strainer, which is made by hand, is a traditional Tokoname ware technique. This is a wonderful teapot that combines sophisticated craftsmanship and bold design.

A lacquered box was custom ordered from Ootoshi lacquerware studio, a long-established Echizen lacquerware studio that has been in business for four generations, to store the teapot. It is made using real lacquer and the traditional process of Echizen lacquerware. Each piece is made by hand, so it takes three months to complete.

The surface of the lacquered box has a soft thickness and subtle luster that is unique to lacquer. The lacquered box is not only useful for storing teapots, but is also a beautiful piece of art and can be used as interior decoration for a room. Wrapping it in a furoshiki cloth with a traditional design gives it an even more Japanese and cultural look.

<Teapot> Made in Aichi Prefecture

Potter: Jinshu atelier (Tokoname ware)

Firing: Electric furnace

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

Capacity: 180ml

Weight: Approximately 130g

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

Maker: Ootoshi Lacquerware studio (Echizen Lacquerware)

Size: Length 10.8cm Width 10.8cm Height 11.5cm

Weight: 230-260g

Materials: Lid - Shina plywood / Body - Hiba wood / Paint - Natural lacquer

Notes: Handmade in Fukui Prefecture. Only the bottom surface is coated black, the rest is coated vermilion.

Maker: Miyai Co., Ltd.

Material: 100% cotton

Weight: Approximately 50g

Notes: Made in Kyoto Prefecture. You can choose the color of the furoshiki to be green or brown.

*Tokoname Ware

Tokoname ware is pottery made in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. In the Middle Ages, it was the largest ceramic production area in Japan, 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 AD), red clay tea utensils and sake utensils were also made. From the mid-Showa period (1962 AD), 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 more compatible with electric furnaces, which have a slightly lower temperature than wood-fired kilns, which reach high temperatures of 1200 to 1300℃.

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

* Echizen lacquerware

The origins of Echizen lacquerware date back about 1500 years. Before Emperor Keitai, the 26th Emperor of Japan, ascended to the throne, he ordered a lacquer craftsman from Echizen to repair his crown. The lacquer craftsman repaired the crown with lacquer and presented him with a lacquered bowl. The production of lacquerware was encouraged, and lacquerware production began in Katayama village, Sabae city, Fukui prefecture.

Echizen has many lacquer trees, and it is said that at its peak it produced half of the lacquer in Japan. When Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi prefecture was being built, the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered lacquer craftsmen in Echizen to collect lacquer.

Since the Muromachi period, lacquered bowls have been widely used for Buddhist ceremonies. At the end of the Edo period, lacquer artisans were invited from Kyoto to introduce the technique of lacquerware. The technique of chinkin was adopted from Wajima in Noto, and Echizen lacquerware became decorative in addition to its robustness.

Since the middle of the Meiji period, trays and stacked boxes called kakumono (square items) have also been made. The square bowls used for zaru soba and sushi geta (wooden clogs) are also square items. By the way, bowls are called round items. Compared to round objects, square objects require more lacquering processes, and it is difficult to achieve a smooth, beautiful lacquer surface because the lacquer tends to accumulate at the corners. Ootoshi Lacquerware is a studio that specializes in square objects and has been in business for four generations.

風呂敷の色: green

Quantity

Low stock: 1 left

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FAQ

Which type of of tea can I brew with the teapot?

It can be used for any type of tea. However, unglazed pottery is more likely to absorb the flavor of the tea leaves. By using different tea utensils for each type of tea, you can enjoy the flavor of the tea to the fullest.

For example, in the case of Japanese tea, sencha, fukamushicha, genmaicha, and gyokuro are all in the same family, but since hojicha has a strong roasted aroma, we recommend using a different tea utensil.

However, glazed pottery or porcelain tea utensils do not absorb the flavor of the tea leaves, so they are suitable for brewing various types of tea.

How do you wash a teapot?

Please wash the teapot with water, without using detergent. Ceramic teapots easily absorb detergent ingredients, which can affect the flavor of the tea.

Tea leaves remaining in the teapot are the main cause of tea stains. After brewing tea, we recommend removing the tea leaves once they have cooled and rinsing them with water.

Moisture remaining in the teapot can cause mold. Turning the teapot upside down will help it dry faster.

We do not recommend washing it in the dishwasher. Please wash by hand.

Can I remove tea stains from a teapot?

Here's how to remove tea stains.

1. In a bowl or pot, mix 24g of baking soda with 1 liter of water at 30-40°C.

*Do not use aluminum or Teflon-coated pots as they will react with baking soda.

2. Leave the teapot in the water mentioned in step 1 for 30-60 minutes.

3. Wipe off the tea stains with a soft sponge or cotton swab. Do not use hard sponges or brushes.

4. Rinse the teapot with water.

5. Thoroughly dry the teapot.

*Baking soda water may irritate your hands, so wear rubber gloves.

Can I return the product?

We do not accept returns unless the product is damaged when the package arrives.

Each tea utensil is slightly different and may have slight distortions or scratches. Please check the images posted on our online shop in advance.

If you have any questions about the detailed condition of the product, please feel free to contact us. We can send you additional images and videos of the product.

Do you ship internationally?

We can ship to the following countries:

China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines

Are the goods antiques or second-hand goods?

All the products in the shop are new. We sell products produced by potters and kilns in Japan.

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Tokoname red clay pentagonal teapot gift package