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煎茶 中国茶 台湾茶向け 日本製急須/茶壺専門店 東山堂

Tokonameware white seaweed teapot

Tokonameware white seaweed teapot

Regular price ¥17,600 JPY
Regular price Sale price ¥17,600 JPY
Sale Sold out
This is a white seaweed teapot from Jinshu Touen. It features a long, vertical shape and a pattern made using the seaweed pattern technique. It has just the right capacity for brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.

Mr. Ito of Jinshu Touen is a Tokoname ware craftsman who has been making tea utensils for about 50 years. In addition to making tea utensils, he drinks Chinese and Taiwanese tea on a daily basis and has a deep knowledge of tea. Mr. Ito is a modern master craftsman of teapots, 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

"Seaweed pattern" is a traditional Tokoname ware technique. It is said to have been developed by a Tokoname potter about 200 years ago. A seaweed called Koamamo, which is harvested in the Chita Peninsula, is attached to the surface of the teapot, and after firing, the minerals in the seaweed remain as a pattern.

The clay used for the teapot is light brown, and only the outside of the teapot is covered with a white glaze. The small minerals contained in the clay are visible as black spots. The countless small black spots and the linear patterns created by the seaweed look like constellations floating in the starry sky.

The teapots made by Mr. Ito are tea utensils that are extremely easy to use. The water flows smoothly and does not drop from the spout. The contact surface between the lid and the body is carefully polished, so 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 vertical lines on the side of the teapot are made from a spatula from bottom to top while the teapot is turned on a potter's wheel. It is important that the shoulder lines of the teapot are aligned. The shoulders of the teapot are properly shaped, resulting in a beautiful, well-defined shape.

The tea strainer inside the teapot is also made from the same clay of Tokoname. The handmade mesh tea strainer is a traditional Tokoname ware technique. This is a wonderful teapot that combines precision craftsmanship and artistic design. This teapot makes use of the texture of Tokoname clay and the sea of ​​the Chita Peninsula, allowing you to feel the Japanese nature and tradition.

<Teapot> Made in Aichi Prefecture

Potter: Jinshu Touen (Tokoname ware)

Firing: Electric furnace

Size: Total length 12 cm (including handle and spout), body diameter 7 cm, height 8.5 cm

Capacity: 150 ml

Weight: Approximately 130 g

Packing: Paper box

Notes: Since this is handmade, there are slight differences between each piece.

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



* 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 pots, 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. Since the mid-Showa period (1962 AD), the technology for electric furnaces for red clay has been established. Tokoname teapots are fired at about 1100°C. Tokoname 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 to 1300°C.

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 the techniques necessary for making teapots, including advanced molding techniques and the technique of fitting the lid and body of the teapot together without any gaps, known as "suriawase." It is the largest teapot production area in Japan.

Low stock: 8 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.