Okame and Hyottoko Japanese Yunomi Teacup Pair

Yunomi are the tall, handleless cups used for everyday green tea in Japan, and this pair comes in two slightly different sizes. One is glazed in vermilion red and the other in cobalt blue, with the visible brushstrokes creating variations in color intensity across the smooth porcelain. Tucked inside each rim is a festival mask: okame, the beaming woman linked to good fortune, adorning the red cup, and hyottoko, her comic companion with puckered lips, on the blue. The two often perform side by side in Japanese festival dances, making them a natural pairing.

The tall shape sits comfortably in both hands. The larger cup holds 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) and the smaller 190 ml (6.4 fl oz), a great size for sencha or hojicha after dinner.

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.