We, Hibiki-an have collaborated with Kyoshitsu Sasaki at Kirai Kiln which produces avantgarde and traditional Raku-yaki. Raku-yaki is regarded as the most prestigious and highest ranked earthenware in the tea ceremony. From the ultimate style of Matcha bowl that Sen no Rikyu, influenced by the spirit of ZEN, has pursued all his life, to avant-garde Matcha bowls that showcase the new possibilities of RAKU YAKI, we have prepared six masterpieces. We also continue to sell the seven traditional styles of RAKU YAKI Matcha bowl that are already on sale.

Whether it is the avant-garde RAKU YAKI that may become the standard 100 years from now, or the ultimate RAKU YAKI that Rikyu pursued all his life, both are masterpieces that will revolutionize your green moment.

Sen no Rikyu (1522 - 1591) is known as the founder of the CHANOYU tea ceremony. Born into an influential merchant family, he became familiar with the tea ceremony from a young age, and his talent blossomed. He pursued the spirit of ZEN throughout his life. WABI SABI in the spirit of ZEN is a philosophy that emphasizes that the ultimate beauty is what remains at the end of the pursuit of the minimum necessary, after eliminating all falsehoods.

Known for introducing the culture of tea to Japan, EISAI (1141 - 1215) was at the same time helping to spread the spirit of ZEN. The depth of ZEN is immeasurable, but one of its core principles is the idea of deep introspection of oneself. In understanding WABI SABI, which is said to have been influenced by the philosophy of ZEN, there are seven principles of beauty. These are very important to understand what kind of aesthetic sense Sen no Rikyu pursued.

The Seven Elements of ZEN

FUKANZEN (imperfection):
In ZEN, perfection has an end and imperfection has permanence. Beauty resides in such imperfection.

KANSO (simplicity):
ZEN does not favor complexity. ZEN emphasizes that life itself is simple.

KOKOH (inner nobility):
In the world of ZEN, we find value in beauty that is not apparent; for example, nobility that is not conceited, like that of a dead tree.

SHIZEN (naturalness):
Innocence and purity are important elements in ZEN, hence the emphasis on being natural.

YUGEN (lasting impression):
Contemplating the depths of things that do not appear on the outside. For example, when we look at a blooming flower, we not only admire the beauty that we see there, but we also find beauty in thinking about how it came to be and its fate as it fades away.

DATSUZOKU (free from worldliness):
To leave behind worldly cares and focus on one's own mind.

SEIJAKU (silence):
In Zen, it is believed that a quiet, passive mind is necessary to accept all things.

These aesthetics can be seen everywhere in Rikyu's beloved tea rooms, Matcha bowls, and in every aspect of tea ceremony style, but also in historic descriptions of Rikyu's conduct and mindset during his lifetime.

Sen no Rikyu created a tea house called TAIAN to express his own style of CHANOYU. Although now a national treasure, this tea room is only two tatami mats in size (about 39.26 sq. ft.), and the interior is extremely plain. Until then, it was considered common practice to adorn the tea ceremony room with lavish tea ceremony utensils and décor from mainland China, but Rikyu casually hung a simple KAKEJIKU scroll and arranged simple flowers in a bamboo vase. His attitude of eliminating superfluous embellishment and pursuing the minimum necessary can be seen in this work. In addition, to enter this tea room, it was necessary to pass through a small entrance called NIJIRIGUCHI, approximately 60 × 60 cm in size. To pass through this small entrance, even a person of the highest status must bow his head. Rikyu's style, in which he believed that one should shed one's worldly status and cares, and conduct the tea ceremony as an individual, is also expressed here.

He also left behind a famous phrase, ICHIGO ICHIE, to describe the mindset during tea ceremonies. At a tea ceremony held in the age of war, that tea ceremony could be the first and last chance to spend time with the guests. ICHIGO ICHIE means “treasure each encounter, for it may never reoccur.” In such situations, he expressed his mind to cherish the meeting at this moment and to entertain the guests as best he could. This mindset is characteristic of the WABI SABI style pursued by Sen no Rikyu in the spirit of ZEN.

Rikyu established the CHANOYU tea ceremony style based on the spirit of Zen, pursuing the ultimate beauty and state of mind. The WABI SABI style he arrived at is also called WABICHA, and is still respected by people as the ideal form of the tea ceremony.

Raku-yaki is one of the most famous types of earthenware in Japan. ICHI-RAKU, NI-HAGI, SAN-KARATSU has been said since many years ago, which means that Raku-yaki is first, Hagi-yaki is second, and Karatsu-yaki is third of all earthenware in Japan. In short, Raku-yaki is regarded as the most prestigious and highest ranked earthenware in the tea ceremony.

Raku-yaki has a long history and is thought to have been first made about 450 years ago by Chohjiroh, who is the founder of the Raku family. It is said that Sen no Rikyuh, who is the famous tea master in the 16th century and inventor of Wabi-cha, which became the origin of the modern tea ceremony, had Chohjiroh make Raku-yaki to create the most suitable Matcha bowl for the Wabi-cha tea ceremony.

Raku-yaki is a soft-type glazed ceramic ware and it is divided largely into two types: Kuro-raku is black Raku-yaki, and Aka-raku is red Raku-yaki. Kuro-raku is the earthenware which is changed to a black color in a kiln heated at over 1000C (1832F) since the color of the iron glaze changes by reduction firing. Aka-raku is the earthenware which is changed to a red color in a kiln heated at approximately 800C (1472F) since Aka-raku is made from the clay containing ocher which is changed to red color by reduction firing.

Raku-yaki is lighter in weight than it looks due to low density. Thermal conductivity is not so high and the hand feel and texture is very comfortable and soft. Its form and size also fit perfectly into both hands when drinking Matcha. For these reasons, Raku-yaki is very suitable for drinking Matcha and tea ceremony use.

Raku-yaki is also characterized by its forming method. Raku-yaki is formed only by hand and spatula with the clay on a pallet, while most earthenware is made using an electric potter's wheel or kicking potter's wheel. There is a limit to the depth that can be produced by hand (the hollow of the hand). You will be attracted to the originality and uniqueness of works produced in this limited cubic volume.