Jin Honshudei Hōhin

Handmade and unglazed Tokoname teapot made by Tanikawa Jin. Ideal for premium quality Japanese sencha and gyokuro.

The teapot is made of “honshudei” clay, which is extremely rare and highly sought after today. During the urbanization of Tokoname, as in many other cities, new residential areas were built on land previously used as rice fields. At that time, clay was collected from beneath those rice fields. To this day, this clay—now approximately 50 years old—is still used for honshudei ceramics.

Honshudei clay has a yellowish-brown color that turns red during firing due to its high iron content. This teapot was fired in an oxidation chamber at a lower temperature over a longer period of time, which gives the finish its warmer tone. With continual use, the surface will gradually become smoother and develop a natural shine.

These days, many potters use an electric kiln, but Tanikawa Jin still fires his works in gas kilns, carefully keeping an eye on both the fire and the temperature.

Place of origin: Tokoname, Japan

About Tanikawa Jin
Jin Tanikawa is a Japanese ceramic artist born in Tokoname, known for his refined approach to contemporary ceramics. He studied under master potter Seisen Mizuno and developed a strong foundation in traditional techniques. His work has been widely exhibited in major exhibitions in Japan and internationally, earning numerous awards and distinctions. Over his career, he has been repeatedly recognized by leading craft and ceramics institutions and has held solo exhibitions in major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagoya. He is regarded as an established and respected figure in Japanese contemporary ceramics.


About Tokoname pottery:
Tokoname is a historic pottery town in Aichi Prefecture and one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, with production dating back over 1,000 years. It’s best known for unglazed, high-fired stoneware made from iron-rich red clay.
A large prehistoric body of water often called Ancient Lake Tōkai covered much of the region millions of years ago. As the lake repeatedly expanded and shrank, it laid down thick layers of fine sediments mixed with iron-bearing minerals from surrounding mountains. Over time, those sediments compressed into the iron-rich clays found today around Tokoname.
That ancient lake environment is a big reason the Tōkai region became such a strong center for ceramics.


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