Kanji Atarashi (新歓嗣) Japanese, b. 1944

An Iga Tokkuri (伊賀 徳利)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

A stunning Iga ware tokkuri (sake bottle) by Kanji Atarashi, masterfully capturing the elemental textures and dramatic surfaces that define this ancient pottery tradition. With its bold form and powerful kiln effects, this work is a quintessential expression of Atarashi’s celebrated aesthetic—raw, natural, and resolutely Japanese.

The vessel’s robust, ovoid shape is softened by a narrowing neck and subtly flared lip. Its surface is a visual landscape of vitrified ash, feldspar crystals, and rich natural crackling, resulting from extended high-temperature wood-firing. Layers of feldspathic green and ochre glaze intermingle with kiln-marked blushes and scorched textures. The unpredictable markings are intentional, a dialogue between artist and fire.

Presented with its original tomobako (signed wooden box) and protective cloth, this piece exemplifies the functional beauty of traditional sake ware elevated to ceramic sculpture. 

Dimensions

14.9cm(h) x 10.5cm(w)

Footnote

Kanji Atarashi was born in Osaka in 1944 and studied ceramics at the Osaka Art Craft Design Ceramic Department, graduating in 1968. After working as a ceramics and textile instructor, he established his own studio in Kishiwada in 1971. His early involvement in the archaeological excavation of ancient Sue ware kilns sparked a lifelong engagement with traditional ceramic techniques. In 1975, he relocated to Iga Ueno, where he built his kiln and immersed himself in the legacy of Iga ware—producing powerful, fire-born forms rooted in Japanese ceramic history.