Tokoname-yaki Kyusu by Miyoshi Shiori - Handmade Japanese Teapot | AWAI

A soft, contemporary expression of Tokoname-yaki, shaped through pale glaze, rounded form and playful proportion.

Handmade in Tokoname by ceramic artist Miyoshi Shiori(三好史織), this back-handled teapot brings a distinctly contemporary character to a region best known for its traditional kyusu.

Its softly rounded body is covered in a pale ivory glaze with subtle tonal variation, shifting gently between warm cream, off-white and faint grey-blue depending on the light. The surface has an almost luminous quality, allowing the glaze rather than the clay body to become the main visual focus.

What gives the teapot its strongest personality is the handle. A large circular loop is paired with a second rounded element beneath it, creating an unexpected sculptural rhythm beside the otherwise simple body. The result feels playful without losing its sense of balance.

The Artistry Behind the Teapot

• A Study in Form: The near-spherical body gives the teapot a strong sculptural presence while creating a generous internal chamber for tea leaves to open during infusion.
• Layered Glaze: Light blue, graphite and soft silver-grey tones move across the exterior, creating a subtle mottled finish that becomes more apparent as the teapot catches the light.
• Balanced Proportions: The rounded body is offset by a narrow spout and an elongated side handle, creating a visual balance between fullness and precision.
• Made by Fujita Tokuta: Fujita approaches Tokoname teaware from a background in contemporary ceramics, combining the technical requirements of a functional kyusu with a more individual exploration of form and surface

Designed Around the Tea

Beyond its sculptural appearance, the teapot remains firmly designed for brewing.

The rounded chamber gives loose leaves room to circulate freely in the water, while the traditional side handle allows the pot to be lifted and poured with a controlled movement of the wrist.

A built-in ceramic filter keeps the brewing space open without the need for a separate metal strainer, an approach commonly found in finely made Tokoname kyusu. Fujita’s other teapots also use integrated ceramic filters designed to support a clean, efficient pour. 

A Different Side of Tokoname

Tokoname-yaki is often associated with unglazed red or dark clay teapots, where the material itself is allowed to remain visible. Miyoshi approaches the tradition from another direction.

Her work places greater emphasis on glaze, colour and atmosphere, showing how Tokoname’s long history of teapot making can continue to evolve through a more contemporary visual language. Official profiles of her work specifically note the transparency and layered quality of her glazes as a defining characteristic.

This teapot reflects that approach particularly well. Its form remains functional and familiar, but its pale surface and sculptural handle give it a character that feels almost closer to an artwork than a conventional kyusu.

Product Details

+ Dimension: Approx. 120mm (Handle + Body + Spout) x H:90mm

+ Region: Tokoname, Aichi, Japan

+ Artist: Miyoshi Shiori(三好史織)

+ Capacity: Circa 160ml