Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1946 and having blossomed his unique artistry in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture—a ceramic capital boasting over 400 years of proud tradition—Gaku Kuroda is a highly talented Hagi ware artist recognized as a prestigious Regular Member of the Hagi Ceramic Artists Association. Currently based at his Nanchi Kobo studio in Yamada, Hagi City, he continues his ceramic creation with a deep reverence and philosophy toward clay and fire, stating, "These are pieces fired during my days of wandering back and forth between the clay, the fire, and myself. The clay, which had been sleeping for hundreds of millions of years, might look a bit annoyed after facing such intense heat..." His overwhelming solo exhibition activities and works, which effortlessly leap over the boundaries of tradition, are extremely highly acclaimed as an exceptional presence by vessel collectors and discerning buyers across the country.
The greatest feature of this piece, and what has become Gaku Kuroda's signature, is the overwhelming texture of Oni-Hagi, which is meticulously controlled through his unique technique. Oni-Hagi is a traditional technique that possesses a highly rugged and dynamic texture, created by boldly mixing coarse sand into the traditional Hagi clay, such as Mishima clay, and then applying a straw ash glaze before firing. What deserves special mention is Kuroda's insatiable commitment to re-firing, a process where the vessel is fired again at a high temperature after its initial regular firing. This triggers a violent chemical reaction (yohen, or kiln mutation) inside the kiln, causing a diverse array of beautiful colors—such as gentle and soft cream, pink, and sometimes mysterious blue—to appear on the surface of the vessel like a painting. Furthermore, this thorough firing process completely overcomes the historical weakness of traditional Hagi ware, which is typically fired at lower temperatures and is somewhat fragile. He has successfully achieved both sufficient strength to withstand use as tableware and modern barware, and a layer of incredibly beautiful penetrations (crazing) in the slip at the same time.
We propose this vessel, which possesses both definitive authority and ultra-robust strength, as the ultimate rock glass for savoring Japanese whisky, scotch, or bourbon, allowing you to boldly float a large block of ice. Distinct from rugged unglazed yakishime ware that uses no glaze at all, the texture of the fine crazing on the firmly fired Oni-Hagi fits the palm of your hand with surprising comfort from the moment you hold it, bringing a gentle warmth and a pleasing sense of weight suitable for an executive. The noble amber color of the whisky resonates beautifully with the complex color gradations born from the kiln mutation and the powerful scorch marks visible in places, giving an overwhelming three-dimensional depth inside the glass. Furthermore, through the greatest charm of Hagi ware, known as the Seven Transformations of Hagi (Hagi no Nanabake), the sake slowly seeps into the cracks (crazing) of the vessel over years of use, allowing you to enjoy the moving experience of watching the color and texture of the vessel gradually deepen and evolve as a lifelong companion without worrying about its strength. It is truly a refined, one-of-a-kind, ultimate sake vessel that harmonizes with a contemporary lifestyle.
- Artist: Gaku Kuroda (1946- )
- Artist's Major Activities: A Hagi ware artist born in Nagano Prefecture in 1946. Established his Nanchi Kobo studio in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Evolved the traditional Hagi clay blending and established the Oni-Hagi method, which extracts powerful expressions and strength far surpassing regular Hagi ware by repeatedly firing the piece after its initial firing. His high level of technique and unique artistry have been publicly recognized, leading to his designation as a prestigious Regular Member of the Hagi Ceramic Artists Association. He expands his energetic solo exhibition activities centering on department stores and galleries nationwide, establishing a solid position in the contemporary Hagi ware world.
- Production Period: 1990s to 2000s (The mature period as a Regular Member of the Hagi Ceramic Artists Association) *This piece is a masterpiece symbolizing the golden era of his artistry, where his unique Oni-Hagi technique of repeatedly firing after the initial firing was perfected, beautifully fusing the ultimate yohen kiln mutation beauty where pinks and blues intricately intersect with a dignified structural beauty that powerfully tightens a modern table setting.
- Condition: Very good (no chips, no cracks)
- Accessories: Tomobako (Original signed wooden box), Ukon-nuno (Wrapping cloth)
- Material: Pottery (Hagi ware, Oni-Hagi, Yohen glazed color)
- Dimensions: Mouth diameter approx. 7 cm, Height approx. 7 cm (approximate guide)
- Note: All items offered by our store, even if new and unused, are from a very old production period and are listed as used. Items may have age-related damage, so please consider purchasing after understanding and checking.
