Specifications

• Capacity: 240 ml
• Master: Tomohiro Sawada
• Origin: Tokoname, Aichi, Japan
• Glaze: ultra-thin metal glaze (Sawadin original)
• Technique: Tokoname-yaki

This handmade kyusu is signed by Tomohiro Sawada, a contemporary Japanese ceramist from Tokoname — one of Japan’s six historic ceramic centers. Born in 1975, Sawada graduated in ceramics from Tokoname in 1993 and represents the fourth generation of a family deeply rooted in this craft.

Sawada’s work combines tradition and modernity: she respects classic Tokonama techniques, but reinterprets them through modern, experimental glazes. He is especially known for developing an ultra-thin metal glaze that gives his teapots a distinctive, almost sculptural metallic sheen.

Its aesthetics emphasize form and functionality. Many of his kyusui, including this one, have a wider and flatter shape that allows for optimal extraction of umami notes from high-quality green teas. The precisely shaped spout, the perfectly fitted lid and the balanced ergonomics make it extremely comfortable to use.

Sawada’s family tradition further enriches this piece: his grandfather, Yoshiharu Sawada, was one of the most important researchers of Tokoname pottery and a key figure in the preservation of Ko-Tokonama’s heritage (1100–1500). It is this historical depth that can be seen in Sawada’s work — a blend of old and new, tradition and innovation.

This 240 ml kyusu is not just a teapot, but a collector’s piece for lovers of Japanese ceramics and anyone who wants authentic, handmade tea utensils.