Lucky Animals Square Sauce Plate

Animals associated with good fortune in Japan adorn the center of this square plate, with seven designs to choose from. The crane and the turtle, traditionally said to live 1,000 and 10,000 years, respectively, are a classic pair for weddings and long-life celebrations. The red sea bream, or tai, earns its place at festive meals through a play on medetai, the Japanese word for “joyous.” The remaining designs feature a lucky cat with its raised paw, a komainu lion dog that guards shrine gates, a tiger, and a plump pig.

Red dots at the four corners and a brown line along the rim frame each animal. The plate holds a spoonful of chopped scallions or grated daikon for a bowl of noodles, and a pair of them works well for a small assortment of appetizers. The crane and turtle designs make a fitting wedding gift, carrying wishes for a long and happy life together.

Soukyu Kiln

Soukyu Kiln is a Kutani ware studio in Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, established in 2017. Ceramic artist Sakurai Chie and her husband run the kiln together.

Their work centers on gosai, the five traditional Kutani colors of red, blue, yellow, navy blue and purple. Using paints they blend themselves, they return each piece to the kiln as many times as it takes for the colors to settle as intended. The finished surfaces are vivid, clear and glossy, and they carry the warmth of work done by hand.

Kutani ware is a traditional Japanese porcelain from the Kaga region in Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history spanning over 350 years. Known for its vibrant overglaze enamel designs and use of five signature colors, known as Kutani gosai—navy blue, red, purple, green, and yellow pigments. This timeless craft has continuously evolved through generations of artisans who balance innovation with a deep respect for tradition. 

Kutani ware exhibits a diverse range of distinctive styles, shaped by evolving artistic tastes over the centuries. Styles such as ko-Kutani, with its bold colors, geometric patterns, and painterly detail, and akae-saibyo, marked by ultra-fine red lines. Many pieces feature traditional Japanese motifs, such as kacho (flowers and birds) and sansui (landscapes), offering a timeless glimpse into the beauty of nature and the seasons.