Hideki Yanashita is known for his modern takes on tradition raku wares. He began potting in the Iga tradition in the 1990’s, but upon meeting the acclaimed artist Sugimoto Sadamitsu, Yanashita turned to raku under Sadamitsu’s mentorship. The relationship between raku, tea, and Zen is fundamental, and Yanashita’s practice has grown to reflect this dialogue.

I was struck by the fresh and inventive colour of Yanashita's “hisui” sake cups. At first glance the bright green is a striking and modern addition to traditional raku colours. But in fact Yanashita’s inspiration leads us back to the first celadons of ancient China and their attempt to capture the magic of jade. 

While celadon has an ethereal beauty, Yanashita wanted to interpret that aesthetic through the austere and natural language of Japanese wabi-sabi. Japanese potters who pay tribute to celadon inevitably recall dynastic China. But, on the other hand, raku ware is perhaps associated with a natively Japanese ceramic tradition, tied to the spread of Zen Buddhism in Japan. These hisui cups manage to capture the "long tail” of celadon, translated over many centuries and miles, through a softer and organic Zen sensibility.

New from the artist’s studio. Comes with the signed, stamped, and titled wood box, stamped wrapping cloth, and CV.