YOMOGIU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl)

diameter: 4.72inch (12cm) height: 3.15inch (8.0cm), standard matcha bowl size
Sophisticated Kyo Yaki (Kyoto Style)
Made by Zenshoh Yamaoka at Zenshoh Kiln

(Please note: Because this item is made-to-order, it takes approximately 3 weeks from the time you order this item until the date it is shipped from Kyoto, Japan. Once ordered, any order change or cancel can NOT be accepted. If you order this item with other items, they will be shipped together.)

The Tale of Genji is one of the oldest novels in the world. Written by noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu of the Japanese Imperial Court, this novel is composed of 54 stories and more than 800 WAKA Japanese poems.
The work recounts the life of Hikaru Genji, from his birth to death, and afterward. Through the book, Murasaki describes the life of aristocracy, romance in the Imperial Court, and political disputes. She expertly portrays the internal emotion and expression of each character of her novel.
We, Hibiki-an have collaborated with Zenshoh Yamaoka, who is the leading expert of paintings derived from masterpieces in the middle ages and acclaimed Kyo Yaki artisan, to release a series of Matcha bowls featuring the Tale of Genji. Zenshoh Yamaoka selected 12 stories out of 54, one suitable for each month of the year, arranged by season. (Tale of Genji - Matcha Bowl page)

Zenshoh Yamaoka expresses luxury and elegance in the palace, the secrets of human nature in each scene, and WABI-SABI aesthetic during this time, by making full use of various techniques. For example, in order to portray the gorgeous scenes of the Imperial Court, he uses luxurious gold to paint clouds, Japanese traditional cloth KIMONO, auspicious ornaments and so forth. This effect characterizes the affluent lifestyle of the Japanese Imperial Court during this period and makes the Matcha bowl brilliant. Clouds are one of the key features of the bowl. Clouds are frequently used in Japanese traditional painting to separate and define space and time. The use of golden clouds makes this Matcha bowl bright and luxurious.

YOMOGIU is the story after Hikaru Genji came back to the Imperial Palace. Suetsumu Hana, who loved Hikaru Genji, had no financial support due to his withdrawal. Some of her maids asked her to live in another place, but she did not want to leave the place where she had many memories, such as the time with her parents and the days that she spent with Genji. Her house had fallen into disrepair, and mugwort grasses grew thickly in her garden. When he came back to the Court and happened to pass by her house, he remembered her and entered her house. He felt her deep love, and decided to support her throughout his life.

YOMOGI means mugwort, and U means growing thickly in Japanese. The painting on the bowl focuses on Suetsumu Hana whose garden was full of mugwort grasses, and her reunion with Hikaru Genji, whom she had loved faithfully for a long time. The use of golden clouds has a luxurious effect even though this story is quite melancholy. These clouds also bring to mind the scene when Hikaru Genji met Suetsumu Hana. Zensho Yamaoka does not draw the whole picture of the ox-drawn carriage, but hides some parts. This effect raises the question of what Hikaru Genji was actually like. Many scenes from the Tale of Genji have been presented by Japanese artists over the years, but truly, the picture can only be completed by our own imagination.

Adding to golden clouds, the contrast between golden and bright green color of pine leaves attracts our attention. Normally, it is very difficult to paint it brightly on the bowl, and needs a great deal of time and effort. Green color is glazed and fired, and golden color is painted over the green color, and fired again. This elaborate process makes each color pure and bright. White and pink color of Japanese wisteria also adds subtle but sharp accent to this bowl. The story is more desolate in fact, but the vivid color and composition, such as pine and Japanese wisteria provides brilliance on the bowl, and also expresses the sincerity of Hikaru Genji, who supported many women in terms of finance and living throughout his life.

Zensho Yamaoka has also painted the inside of the bowl, telling a part of the story where the moon emerges from behind the clouds. This painting not only has an effect of depth perception on the bowl but also arises the fascinating image of an encounter on a moonlit night.
We are certain that imagining the tale of their encounter, the taste of Matcha is quite remarkable.