Sanpouen Kiln Handmade Crazing Glaze Spouted Matcha Bowl - Yellow Seto / 片口碗 黄瀬戸

In the Akazu (赤津) district of Seto lies Sanpouen Kiln (三峰園窯), a workshop that has carried its craft through six generations. Today it is led by Kato Tatsunobu, who studied both material engineering and pottery before returning to his family kiln in 2008. At first encounter, his matcha bowls stand out with a quiet strength and refinement — their balance, surface, and depth of glaze reveal a mastery that feels rare in today’s world. But as we came to know his work more closely, we discovered a story that runs deeper than appearance, one that speaks of memory, risk, and inheritance.

When he was a boy, Kato san would help his family by buying and mixing clays — a task so ordinary he never questioned it. Years later, he realised that few others worked this way. Where most kilns rely on industrially prepared clays, Sanpouen has always blended Seto’s fine white soil with the rough, iron-rich earth of Mino, creating a foundation that is both durable and warm. This choice alone makes his bowls unique, but it is only the beginning. He refuses the safer path of bisque firing, trusting in Seto’s clay to withstand the fire. It is a risk that demands skill and brings stress, yet it also allows glazes to flow more vividly, brushstrokes to carry greater life, and vessels to endure for decades.

The glazes themselves tell another story of scarcity. Some are made in-house from simple, humble ingredients; others depend on rare metals or stones that have nearly vanished from Japan. Every firing carries uncertainty — yet what emerges are bowls alive with fine crackles, colours that shift with light, and textures that harmonise with tea. Kato san describes true matcha bowl makers as an endangered species. Few remain who can work entirely by hand, honour bulk orders, and still remain faithful to tradition. To hold one of his bowls, then, is to touch more than clay and glaze. It is to share in survival, to inherit generations of quiet knowledge, and to feel the defiance of a maker who has never stopped believing in the beauty of risk.

And today, we are honoured to present his craft to you. May you notice the difference, embrace the warmth of these bowls, and carry their beauty into your daily life for decades to come.

All Sanpouen Kiln products are wholly handmade. 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

◾What's included? One (1) Matcha Bowl in a gift box.

◾ NOT Suitable for Microwave OR Dishwasher

◾ Material: Pottery

◾ Size: Approx. 13.3 cm Diameter (Max) x 7.0 cm Height

◾ Comes with a gift box. Great as a gift.