Banko Incense Burner
Kōro 香炉

Masaki 正規

Certified Traditional Craftsman Masaki Tachi is considered one of the top Banko Kyusu artisans of his time, having been awarded a Minister’s Prize at the tender age of 21 and subsequently recognised as an Intangible Cultural Property of the city of Yokkaichi – accolades made ever more noteworthy as a first generation potter. Having learned under a master craftsman from the very beginning (rather than taking a more typical arts school route), Masaki's fluency of the potter’s wheel enables him to work at phenomenal speed: and offer exquisite works at affordable prices, which he hopes ensures they get used! As a kyusu craftsman who believes in functional beauty, for him, the highest compliment is for people to enjoy delicious tea brewed in a kyusu. Needless to say he is a favourite among teaware enthusiasts.

Yokkaichi Banko-yaki 四日市萬古焼

Yokkaichi Banko-yaki 四日市萬古焼

Merchant and passionate chajin (“tea person”) Nunami Rozan is credited as the founding father of Banko-yaki. Back in the 18th century he opened a kiln in what is now Asahi-machi, Mie prefecture, and would stamp his wares with 萬古不易 – banko-fueki: “eternally unchanging” – in the hope that his ceramics would be passed down across generations forever. Today Banko-yaki is still produced in the Mie prefecture, primarily in the city of Yokkaichi, and is a protected traditional craft of Japan. Synonymous with Banko is the local, iron-rich shidei "purple clay", which when baked in a high-temperature reduction furnace becomes very heat resistant and turns into the characteristic deep violet-brown of Banko-yaki, with an almost metallic sheen.