Lucky Faces Square Sauce Plate

The four variations of this square plate each feature a familiar face from Japanese folk culture. The okame mask shows a round-cheeked woman also called otafuku, meaning “much good fortune,” and at festivals she often dances beside hyottoko, a comical man whose pursed lips come from blowing on a fire. Fukusuke, a big-headed figure bowing in formal dress, has long sat in shops to welcome customers and prosperity. The daruma, a round red doll that rights itself when knocked over, gets one eye painted in when a wish is made and the other once it comes true.

A red dot sits at each corner, and a thin brown line traces the rim. With a little more room than most sauce plates, it can take a small side dish or a few bites of dessert. The daruma design makes a thoughtful present for someone working toward a goal.

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.