The beauty of Bizen ware is that it simply represents the blessing of clay

I fell in love with this Japanese teapot the first time I saw it.

Though it was out of my price range, I bought it.

This beautiful Japanese teapot is known as Bizen ware.

Bizen ware is a traditional Japanese pottery that was made in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.

The clay that is used for Bizen ware is incompatible with glaze.

So, no glaze is used.

The beauty of Bizen ware is that it simply represents the blessing of clay.

It has a metallic, reddish-brown color with an uneven hue.

I’m feeling a Japanese sense of beauty called, Wabi or Sabi from that hue.

Bizen ware is really tasteful.

Bizen ware has a history of over 1,000 years.

Bizen ware is not only beautiful but also practical.

Bizen ware is unglazed, so it has a high water permeability.

That’s why the water in Bizen ware stays so fresh, and it takes longer to go bad.

Bizen ware is ideal for water containers, such as a cup or flower vase.

Sen no Rikyu, who is famous in history as the master of the tea ceremony, cherished a Bizen ware water jug and flower vase.

Bizen ware was loved by the tea masters long ago.

In addition, Bizen ware is very hard, like metal.

There is one episode that emphasizes this point.

Toward the end of the Pacific War, Japan ran short of metal.

The Japanese military had their eyes on Bizen ware as a replacement for metal, and they asked the potters to make hand grenades with Bizen ware.

The Japanese teapot that I bought is also solid.

If I had to mention Bizen ware’s weak point, I would say that it cracks easily with sudden temperature changes.

But you don’t have to worry too much.