INOME Heart Handmade Matcha Bowl - The First Red : 創世の赤 / 小野 穣 猪目茶碗

Yutaka Ono 小野穣 (b.1968, Fukuoka) is an adventurous ceramic artist whose work bridges tradition and imagination. Trained in sculpture at the Nagoya University of Arts, he turned his creative focus to clay, where he discovered endless possibilities of form and surface. From this journey emerged his most iconic creation — the Inome Chawan, a heart-shaped matcha bowl that has become his signature.

The inome motif has been cherished in Japan for centuries as a symbol of protection, love, and good fortune. Found in the architecture of shrines and temples, it is linked to the heart-shaped leaves of the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Ono san breathes new life into this ancient design, reimagining it in clay as a vessel for the tea ceremony — a space where hearts gather and serenity unfolds.

Each piece is entirely handcrafted on the potter’s wheel, ensuring that no two bowls are ever the same. What sets Ono san’s work apart is his fearless approach to experimentation. He works with a wide range of clays and glazes — from soft, textured bodies that reveal feldspar grains during firing, to dark, heavy clays that invite bold crystallisation. Every bowl carries the balance of weight, touch, and colour that he believes should “fit comfortably in the palm.” His palette is equally diverse: vivid reds, delicate celadons, calming greys, and playful cobalt patterns, each born of careful research and the courage to embrace the unpredictability of the kiln.

To preserve their beauty in use, the bowls are finished with a subtle water-repellent coating that helps minimise tea staining, making them more resistant than ordinary ceramic tea bowls.

For Ono san, the heart shape is more than a form. It is a vessel of meaning — echoing the peach as a symbol of fertility and joy, the butterfly as a collector of happiness, and the Bodhi leaf as a blessing for health and protection. Every bowl is entirely handmade, one of a kind, and imbued with his vision of ceramics as both artwork and companion to daily life.

To hold one of his tea bowls is to encounter not only Japanese tradition, but also Ono san’s spirit of adventure — a desire to create pieces that bring happiness, tranquillity, and beauty into the hands of those who use them.

「The First Red / 創生の赤」

Named for its place as the very first perfected colour in Ono san’s series, this bowl represents the origin of his heart-shaped creations. Finished in a lustrous crimson glaze that glows vividly against the white of semi-porcelain clay, its interior is adorned with radiating lines carved using the traditional tobikanna (chattering) technique, spreading like gentle rays and adding quiet movement. With its vivid harmony of colour, refined form, and subtle detail, The First Red has become an iconic piece — a symbol of vitality, brightness, and auspicious beginnings, shining in radiant contrast to the green of matcha.

All matcha bowls from our artisan Yutaka Ono are wholly handmade. Only one is available. There is no identical piece offering. Irregularities in size, glaze, colour and texture may occur and reflect the artisan nature of the product and should be embraced.

◾ Hand-Made In Japan

◾ NOT Suitable for Microwave OR Dishwasher

◾ Material: Pottery

◾ Size (Bowl): 12.1 cm x 11.2 cm x 6.7 cm height

◾ Each purchase includes one bowl. Comes with a gift box. Great as a gift.