Chawan Hagi Ware by Artist: Kunisuke Nakahara

HAGI WARE

Hagi-yaki (萩焼), or Hagi ware, is a regional style of Japanese ceramics that comes from the area around the town of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, for which it is named. Since its development over 400 years ago, Hagi-yaki remains highly valued within the traditional aesthetics of practically all tea ceremony schools, with some of the oldest Hagi-yaki pieces declared National Treasures of Japan. While it is most well known for its production of teaware and tea ceremony utensils, Hagi potters also produce tableware and sakeware for daily use, and more recently, sculptural art.

ARTIST

Kunisuke Nakahara (1948) A Kyoto-based artist who once dreamed of becoming a pro bowler found his true path in ceramics. Inspired by the plum blossom bark glaze of old tea bowls, he dove into pottery aiming to create natural, expressive pieces. In his 70's he continues to study pottery to keep improving from the knowledge of ancestors. He likes to say "Today I am, tomorrow I will win".