Tea Cup - Hagi Ware - Blue Glaze
A Hagi ware senchawan tea cup by Tsubaki Kiln Tenpozan, made in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. One of a kind. Certified Traditional Craft of Japan.
The cup is glazed in the Ao-Hagi (青萩, Blue Hagi) style - a soft, blue-lavender with wispy variation across the surface, produced when the iron in the clay and the iron in the straw ash glaze interact during firing. The glaze thins to a rust-brown at the rim where it pulls back from the lip, and the foot is left unglazed in the characteristic Hagi tradition, revealing the sandy local clay beneath. The finely crazed surface - the kannyu crazing - will deepen in character over time as tea seeps gradually into the fine cracks.
The foot carries a deliberate triangular notch - the kiri-koudai (切り高台) - which is one of the defining features of Hagi ware. The exact origin of this practice is unknown, though one widely held theory is that the original Hagi potters cut these notches to make pieces ungiftable as tribute to the Mori clan, allowing them to sell the ware freely at market. Whatever its origin, the notched foot has remained a feature of Hagi ware for four centuries.
- Made by: Tsubaki Kiln Tenpozan (椿窯天鵬山), Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
- Glaze: Ao-Hagi (青萩) — blue Hagi ware style, straw ash glaze
- Certified: Traditional Craft of Japan (伝統工芸品)
- Dimensions: approx. 70mm wide × 50mm tall
- Suitable for: Sencha, gyokuro, any loose leaf tea
Please note: The image is illustrative. As hand-made Hagi ware, each cup carries its own subtle character - glaze depth, surface variation and colour will differ slightly from piece to piece. Stock is limited.
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Tsubaki Kiln Tenpozan (椿窯天鵬山) is based in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the birthplace of Hagi ware. The kiln was established by Hirose Tanga (b. 1939), who trained under master potters in Hagi and went on to develop Tenpozan's reputation across the full range of Hagi styles, including Oni-Hagi and Ao-Hagi. The kiln operates under the Tenpozan Hon Kiln designation for its principal works, and holds a registered trademark for its wares. Its pieces carry the certified Traditional Craft of Japan designation (伝統工芸品), confirming adherence to the production methods, materials, and standards that define authentic Hagi ware.
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Hagi ware (萩焼, Hagi-yaki) is a traditional form of Japanese pottery originating from Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, during the early 17th century. It was developed by Korean potters brought to Japan by the Mori clan after the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598).
Hagi ware is made primarily from local Hagi clay, which is rich in iron and gives the pottery its characteristic soft and porous texture. Warabai (straw ash) glaze or a combination of feldspar and ash are used to create a translucent, crackled effect. It is fired at relatively low temperatures, allowing the clay's natural warmth and subtle colours to emerge. The famous "seven transformations" (nanabake) refer to how the glaze changes in texture and colour with prolonged use, as tea seeps into the cracks over time. Because of its slightly porous nature, some people choose to dedicate their Hagi ware to one type of tea, to avoid other aromas seeping into the clay.
In terms of style, Hagi ware is typically earthy, understated, and rustic, embodying wabi-sabi aesthetics - a beauty found in imperfection and transience. Tea bowls and tea cups are the most renowned form, highly prized in Japanese tea ceremony. Hagi ware remains a revered form of Japanese ceramics, valued for both its historical significance and its evolving beauty over time.