Dark Red Tea Pot and Cup by Hiroshi Otsu

This teapot and cup is made at the family pottery business of Hiroshi Otsu, in the town of Kasama.

With a tradition dating back several centuries, to when its farmers converted themselves into potters to supply the needs for utensils of the expanding city of Tokyo to the south - Kasama remains home to a lively ceramics scene.

At the centre of his work is the skill of the craftsperson. While there is talk of designers, and adapting to new consumer trends, working by hand, and with quality are non-negotiable in Otsu’s world.

An ability to make kyusu (Japanese teapots) is important in the repertoire of any traditional ceramic craftsperson in Japan. The handle, spout, lid and body are made separately on the wheel, and the balance in bringing the elements together is a location to demonstrate the potter’s skill.

Otsu here makes a western style teapot form, made by a ceramic shokunin (craftsperson), and combines it with the peach coloured glaze that he spent many years to perfect

Size: Pot 17.3cm x10.1cm  Cup 9.3cm diameter x 9.7cm height

About Hiroshi Otsu

A leader in ceramics in Kasama, Hiroshi Ōtsu is also head of his family’s pottery works. One of the most important and established kilns in Kasama, it is here that Hiroshi Ōtsu spends time for himself at the wheel. Much has changed down the years, in ceramics and in Kasama.  Throughout this time Hiroshi Ōtsu has remained focused on the work of the craftsman, and their capacity to deliver quality. His pottery reflects this with an emphasis on the weight and feel of each handmade piece, and ease of use for its owner.