Wash with warm water only. Do not use washing-up liquid or put in the dishwasher. After washing, allow to naturally dry in the air with the lid off. If tea leaves get trapped in the filter, brush away with a soft brush, such as a toothbrush.
Kyusu Tokoname
Kushime
Mizuno Hiroyuki
SKU
0534
Handcrafted by sixth-generation potter Mizuno Hiroyuki, this dashing Tokoname side-handled teapot is meticulously decorated with fine, wavy Kushime comb lines. Made from unglazed, iron-rich clay that fires to a warm grey-brown, this Kyusu naturally enhances the flavour profile and enjoyment of Japanese green teas.
| Item | Side-handle teapot |
|---|---|
| Artist | Mizuno Hiroyuki |
| Origin | Tokoname, Aichi, Japan |
| Colour | Grey-brown |
| Volume | 260ml |
| Dimensions | Ø9 x 6.5cm |
| Material | Unglazed black clay |
| Strainer | Ceramic ball filter |
| Artist mark | Seal below handle |
| Packaging | Cardboard box |
Each piece is handmade and unique, therefore colour, volume and dimensions may vary slightly
In stock
Mizuno Hiroyuki 水野博之
Born in Tokoname in 1979, Mizuno Hiroyuki is a sixth-generation potter and the son of renowned Kyusu artist, Mizuno Hiroshi (an apprentice to Jōzan Yamada III). Though a great lover of tea, for two decades after university, he worked as a salaryman. Driven by a sense of sadness that teapots were being phased out by bottled tea, in his late thirties he started to develop his skills as a potter, before leaving his corporate career in 2021 and enrolling in a ceramics course at the Nagoya Advanced Technical School in 2022. After graduating in 2023, he started making teapots under the guidance of his father, while also founding his own Japanese tea cafe, CHADEN, where visitors can experience the charm of tea brewed in a teapot. Mizuno's deep appreciation for teapots and his father's pottery techniques can clearly be witnessed in his work.
Kyusu 急須
The traditional Japanese teapot, Kyusu are typically made of ceramics with a side handle placed at a 90° angle to the spout for ease of pouring – however the handle can also be found over the top or in the back. Kyusu are perfect for preparing green teas and tend to be on the small side to prevent overbrewing. Depending on the size, shape and type of clay a Kyusu is made from will determine what type of tea is best prepared in it. There are many different regional styles as well as Kyusu made by certified Traditional Craftsmen, which are prized amongst collectors.
Tokoname Yaki 常滑焼
Pottery has been produced in the city of Tokoname, Aichi prefecture, as far back as the 12th century, and since 1976 has been protected as a Traditional Craft of Japan. Tokoname was the site of the largest and oldest of the legendary Rokkoyō: the “Six Ancient Kilns” of Japan, and is celebrated for its iron-rich Shudei "red clay" that turns a bright red after firing. When fired a second time in a reduction oven, the red Shudei turns black – another characteristic colour of Tokoname-yaki. High-fired at temperatures of around 1100°C and left unglazed (Yakishime), this allows tannins in the tea to interact with the iron in the clay body, which is said to reduce astringency and highlight the sweetness of green teas. Another key feature of these Kyusu are the perfectly fitting lids, which are ground into the clay body after firing in a technique known as Suriawase.
