jincup ceramics_BR L

The "jincup ceramic" is a porcelain cup crafted in the historic pottery region of Hasami, shaped using the traditional "drain slip casting" (haide-ikomi) technique and finished with a rare, natural yusubai (wood ash) glaze.

Forming Technique: Drain Slip Casting (Haide-ikomi)

Liquid porcelain slip is poured into a mold, left to set until a layer forms, and then the excess is drained away to create the cup's body. The artisan's timing and technique when pouring off the slip produce subtle variations in wall thickness and inner contours, imbuing each individual piece with its own natural character.

Glaze: Natural Yusubai (Isu Wood Ash) Glaze

The glassy surface is coated with traditional yusubai glaze made from the burned ash of the isu (distylium) tree. While synthetic ash with chemically stabilized compositions is standard today, this project uses rare, vintage natural ash uncovered in the archives of a long-established materials supplier in Hasami. Interpreted through a woodworker’s lens—viewing glaze as an extension of the wood itself, or "neo-woodworking"—it brings out a distinctive, organic texture and depth of color.

Akihiro Woodworks 

A woodworker based in Kagoshima, Japan. His wide-ranging activities include custom-made furniture, original products, and store and home interiors. The drying period of the wood used for materials varies depending on the thickness and species, but it takes 3 to 5 years until it's dry enough for carving. Although nowadays it's possible to obtain high-quality timber from all over the world, we create our products by learning about the cycles of forests and timber around the neighborhood, and pursuing shapes that suit the character of the timber we use. 

Artist : Jin Akihiro

From straight lines to curves, from curves to surfaces, his powerful three-dimensional construction draws the user into the work. He is an alien who considers the development of original products as an"installation work". The market is like a canvas on which he dances wildly. “If I make good products, more people will use them, and to carry on this cycle is one thing we can do for a better future. We are on a journey to find a standard of good quality, for ourselves and for you.”