Masaaki Kobashi
Bizen is one of Japan's oldest ceramic regions, celebrated for its rustic Wabi Sabi style. Its distinct characteristic is the natural effect created by high-temperature (up to 1300°C) wood-fired stoneware. The process demands a significant amount of time and dense wood, so most artists fire their pieces only once or twice a year. Masaaki Kobashi specializes in making Bizen teapots, which is rare in this region. His skill and dedication to the craft have produced an exceptional teapot with striking ash and fire-scorching details that highlight Bizen's long history.
Masaaki Kobashi has skillfully utilized the power of fire to craft a variety of Japanese side-handle kyusu and traditional back handle teapots, each showcasing a stunning blend of Bizen techniques such as Hidasuki straw markings, Sangiri colors, Goma sesame-like glaze, Aobizen blue, and Haikaburi melted ash. Bizen is famous for its challenging, iron-rich clay, which produces durable pottery with high shrinkage. His teapots possess an ethereal quality, inviting admiration for their sublime beauty.
