Tatsumi Koishiwara Ceramic Bowl - Hakeme Brushed Slip

This well-balanced rice bowl decorated with white slip (liquid clay) using the technique of hakeme, where a brush is pressed against the slip-coated surface, leaving flowing, linear marks. These bowls are handcrafted by Tatsumigama, a kiln based in Fukuoka Prefecture, where particular care is put into sourcing local materials for producing ceramics from the Koishiwara area. The clay body is harvested from mountains native to the area; glaze ingredients are carefully selected from found rocks and minerals, including ash created from susuki (Japanese pampas grass). The pieces are fired in a wood-fired kiln, which, together with the handmade nature of each piece and the natural raw materials used, contributes to every piece having its own individual expression.

Kyūshū and Okinawa

This is Japan’s south-west region including the island of Kyūshū and the sub-tropical island chain of Okinawa. Kyūshū was an early centre of Japanese civilization, and offers many historic treasures, modern cities and volcanic natural beauty. It is home to the ports of Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Fukuoka, the porcelain manufacturing centre in Arita and the Tanegashima Space Center launch site.