Wednesday TeaDay 10/14/09 Where Japan teaware?

[Chip]

They have virtually always dominated my teaware. I have always leaned at least a bit towards the Japanese versus Chinese regarding teaware. This has certainly become clearer over time, and especially now. Also, I tend to feel odd if I am drinking Japanese tea in a Chinese cup and vice versa, and when I do, I feel acutely aware of this. So, since I drink mostly Japanese tea by a long shot ...

Kyusu-s (lots), Hagi (more than lots), Chawan (lots)(and all the Matcha accoutrements), teasets, and to stretch the teaware moniker, lots of Washi canisters (funny, they call them canisters, not tins).

Began the TD with a new Japanese tea, Fuji the Ultimate from Zencha, brewed in a kyusu, and enjoyed in a Hagi-Wan. Perfect together though eclectic. SweeTea approved of the all Japanese set up, while Fuji the Feline never noticed ...

[olivierco]

Began the TD with a new Japanese tea, Fuji the Ultimate from Zencha, brewed in a kyusu, and enjoyed in a Hagi-Wan.

Is it a fukamushi?

Himalaya gold this afternoon.

[Chip]

Is it a fukamushi?

Funny you should ask, I assumed it was fuka before opening, but as I poured the leaf out, it contained a lot of longer needles. But the very sweet dry leaf aroma screams out Fukamushi from Shizuoka.

So, with 87.683% degree of certainty, I would say fuka.

[Geekgirl]

Yes! I love Japanese teaware, and my collection is weighted towards these pieces. If you add in the chawan/yunomi made by our resident Hawaiian/Japanese trained artist (cory ) then you get a wide margin.

Not to step on any future polls, but my assessment of these 'wares is that there are many potters of Japanese descent and/or master training, who are producing chadogu in America or other parts of the world. I would still consider their work to be Japanese.

FTR, I did not count American made pottery that is influenced by Japanese pottery, but without the lineage or master training. And I have two pieces for which I don't have enough history to make that judgement. I'll have to ask Mr. Coffee-Rabbit.

[Janine]

Hello teachatters ... long time, no see

But I have returned from the land of non-blogging to say that I love the Japanese teaware that I own. Most recent purchase was two matching tea bowls from ChaMaGuDao in NJ. I *had* to have them.

Today I am drinking something called Singbulli Oolong, also from ChaMaGuDao (website: http://southsilkroad.com/cha-ma-gu-dao.php). The darjeeling taste coupled with a hint of peach in the touch of oolong is a lovely combination and suits me perfectly today.

(Somebody remind me how we make links here... ?)

[olivierco]

Hello teachatters ... long time, no see

But I have returned from the land of non-blogging to say that I love the Japanese teaware that I own. Most recent purchase was two matching tea bowls from ChaMaGuDao in NJ. I *had* to have them.

Today I am drinking something called Singbulli Oolong, also from ChaMaGuDao (website: http://southsilkroad.com/cha-ma-gu-dao.php). The darjeeling taste coupled with a hint of peach in the touch of oolong is a lovely combination and suits me perfectly today.

(Somebody remind me how we make links here... ?)

ChaMaGuDao

[*url=http://southsilkroad.com/cha-ma-gu-dao.php]ChaMaGuDao[/url]

without the "*"

[Janine]

merci, oliverco!

[brandon]

Today I visited Gibraltar. Had some breakfast and ordered tea.

I was surprised to see my tea delivered in this Japanese masterpiece.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28366671@N ... 9/sizes/l/

[Geekgirl]

ROTFL! I saw that on your flickr this morning and was like "WTH?"

[Drax]

Whoops... forgot I have a chawan for matcha. Very nice. I would buy more Japanese teaware, but I tend to buy Japanese books instead.

[Victoria]

In my cup this afternoon the last of my 2009 ALiShan oolong from Hou De.

Light drizzle on and off all day here.

[JBaymore]

Not to step on any future polls, but my assessment of these 'wares is that there are many potters of Japanese descent and/or master training, who are producing chadogu in America or other parts of the world. I would still consider their work to be Japanese.

A thought to throw into the mix/discussion here..........

I have spent a bit of time in Japan professionally in the "pottery context". When I am showing here in America, in the context of this environment and culture, my work often looks very "Japanese". However when I am showing over there, when immersed in that context, it becomes readily apparent that it is not "Japanese". The commonality to both views is a shared core aesthetic and the approach to materiality. But Americans tend to see it as "Japanese" and the Japanese tend to see it as "American". (This has been a very successful situation for me selling in Japan; it is seen there as "different" yet familiar. )

I have found that it was only thru the understanding gained by working in Japan a while that I gained the insight to maybe look back at American potters work whom I might once have thought looked totally Japanese, and see the differences.

This is of course all very nuanced.

Japanese ceramics has had a huge impact on American ceramics in many ways, particularly on potters of my generation. This is due in no small part to the educational situation in the immediate post-WWII period and the impact of Hamada Shoji's and Bernard Leach's writings and world-wide workshops at that time. American ceramics is still littered with terminology and techniques that are rooted solidly in Japanese tradition. It is hard to get too far away from the influences.

Some, of course, delve even deeper into it.

best,

..............john

[JBaymore]

I was surprised to see my tea delivered in this Japanese masterpiece.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28366671@N ... 9/sizes/l/

I believe that is the rare and prized "frogwan".

best,

...........john

[chamekke]

and to stretch the teaware moniker, lots of Washi canisters (funny, they call them canisters, not tins).

I tend to assume that a "canister" includes an internal lid or airproof seal to ensure that the contents stay fresh. A "tin" may not necessarily have anything more than a simple lid.

As for Japanese teawares ... blush ... I have far too many, especially for chanoyu. Seriously, it's become embarrassing. I'm trying to persuade my tea sensei to take some chawan for use in lessons. So far she's accepted two tenmokujawan

But - I'm still hanging onto the yunomi and kyuusu no matter what! My preciousssss....

[brad4419]

yes a good amount of it, at least considering my collection. I have a hagi yaki by Shibuya Deishi that I loves so much and a cheap but nice porceilan cylander cup. At first after I ordered I though"thats so expensive for a teacup" but after receiveing and using this cup all the time I don't know what I did without it, such a good value.

no tea today