Shigaraki-yaki Handmade Houhin Set | MORI

Made in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, this handmade tea set brings together the tactile character of one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions with the refined proportions of traditional Japanese sencha ware.

At the centre of the set is a Hōhin (宝瓶), a handleless teapot designed for brewing delicate Japanese green teas at lower temperatures. Its compact form allows the leaves to open gently while giving the brewer close control over each infusion.

Paired with a matching Yuzamashi (Water cooler), the set creates a complete brewing sequence, from cooling the water to steeping the leaves and sharing the finished tea.

Each piece carries subtle variations in form, texture and surface, allowing the character of the clay and hand-making process to remain visible.

The Beauty of the Hōhin

Unlike a conventional kyusu, a hōhin has no handle. It is held directly around the rim and body, making it especially suited to teas brewed with cooler water.

Its compact size encourages shorter, more concentrated infusions and allows high-quality leaves to reveal different layers of flavour over several steeps.

The interaction between hand, vessel and tea is part of what makes hōhin brewing distinctive. The process becomes more deliberate, with each movement focused on temperature, timing and the character of the leaves.

Why is it perfect for a Tea Lover

• Handmade in Shigaraki
  Shigaraki is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns and has a ceramic history stretching back centuries. Its pottery is closely associated with expressive clay, natural surface variation and forms that retain a strong sense of the hand.
• Designed for Fine Japanese Tea
  The handleless hōhin is particularly well suited to gyokuro, kabusecha & sencha, where lower water temperatures and controlled pouring help reveal sweetness, umami and aroma.
• A Complete Brewing Set
  The hōhin, yuzamashi and teacups work together as one brewing system, allowing water temperature and infusion to be managed with greater precision.
• A Tactile Expression of Shigaraki-yaki
  Rather than relying on elaborate decoration, the appeal of the set comes from its clay, proportion and surface. Small irregularities and tonal variations give each piece an individual character.

Product Details

+ Dimension:

• Houhin: Approx. 130mm (Body + Spout) x H:85mm
• Yuzamashi: 100mm (Body + Spout) x H:40mm
  

+ Region: Tokoname, Aichi, Japan

+ Material: Clay

Shigaraki, Shaped by Clay and Fire

Shigaraki-yaki (信楽焼) developed in present-day Shiga Prefecture and is recognised as one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns.

Historically, Shigaraki pottery was shaped by locally available clay and wood-fired kilns, producing surfaces valued for their earthy texture, natural ash deposits and irregular changes in colour. Contemporary Shigaraki encompasses a much wider range of expressions, but the relationship between material, firing and hand-made form remains central to its identity.

This set reflects that continuing tradition through teaware made not simply to be displayed, but to be handled and used as part of the tea ritual.