{"title":"Yasuo Yamaguchi 山口康雄","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYasuo Yamaguchi (山口康雄)\u003c\/b\u003e, the founder and master artisan of Kouun Kiln, is a dedicated craftsman who has spent decades bridging the gap between historical Karatsu traditions and contemporary functional art. Born in 1950, he established his own kiln in 1992 with the ambitious goal of establishing a distinct \"Takeo Ware\" identity that honours the region's 400-year pottery heritage. Yamaguchi is renowned for his mastery of the climbing kiln (noborigama) and the kick-wheel (kerokuro), manual techniques he considers essential for \"conversing\" with clay. His work is characterized by a harmonious balance between the rugged, understated \"Karatsu\" aesthetic and delicate decorative flourishes like overglaze painting, reflecting his philosophy that pottery should not only be beautiful but also deeply integrated into the daily rituals of modern life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEstablished in 1992 in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Kouun Kiln is a distinguished pottery studio dedicated to evolving the tradition of Old Karatsu ware to suit modern lifestyles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLed by master craftsman Yasuo Yamaguchi, the kiln specializes in blending the rustic, earthy textures of traditional Karatsu style with vibrant overglaze and \u003ci\u003eaka-e\u003c\/i\u003e (red painting) techniques to create a unique \"New Takeo\" aesthetic. Committed to authentic craftsmanship, the studio continues to honour ancestral methods by utilizing kick-lathes and firing a traditional climbing kiln (\u003ci\u003enoborigama\u003c\/i\u003e) twice a year, a labour-intensive process where wood is stoked for three days to reach temperatures of 1,300°C.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThrough their collection of tea bowls, plates, and everyday vessels, Kouun Kiln strives to establish a distinct identity for \"Takeo Ware\" while maintaining a deep gratitude for the natural materials and historical techniques that define their art.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chopstick-rest-2","title":"Chopstick Rest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: small;\"\u003eThese cutlery rests showcase a playful sculptural element combined with traditional seasonal motifs. Each piece features a raised, reddish-brown handle that mimics the folded end of an ornate folding fan, transitioning into a fluted, textured gray surface that fans out across the dish. The contrasting base colours—one a creamy \"Kohiki\" white and the other a deep, lustrous black—serve as backdrops for hand-painted dragonflies, a symbol of courage and renewal in Japanese culture. Rendered with delicate gold wings and bright red accents, these dragonflies lend a sense of movement and elegance to the earthy clay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eHandcrafted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eLimited\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eMade in Japan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eWarnings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Microwave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Dishwasher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Oven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Direct Flame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Induction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCautions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eName engraving is not available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDo not use metal scrubbers, cleansers, or bleach\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Yasuo Yamaguchi","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":52549512331540,"sku":"CE-A020-003","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black","offer_id":52549512364308,"sku":"CE-A020-004","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0985\/2262\/8372\/files\/Product-42.jpg?v=1779862481"},{"product_id":"chopstick-rest-3","title":"Chopstick Rest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: small;\"\u003eThe piece features a charming depiction of a bird perched on a branch, rendered in the classic \"Kohiki\" technique, in which a white slip is applied over the dark, iron-rich clay, creating a rustic, slightly crackled texture that feels organic to the touch. The design is brought to life with a mix of traditional and modern decorative elements: a striking cerulean blue for the bird's plumage, a bold dash of red on a leaf, and a subtle hint of gold leaf that catches the light. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: small;\"\u003eThe small, square piece provides a serene, parchment-like backdrop for the delicate hand-painted goldfish—one in deep black and the other in vibrant red (\u003ci\u003eaka-e\u003c\/i\u003e) —finished with a bold, hand-applied gold leaf, adding a touch of contemporary luxury that elevates the clay's earthy nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: small;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: small;\"\u003eThe deliberate \"imperfections\" where the dark clay peeks through the white slip add a sense of wabi-sabi, grounding this playful, contemporary illustration in the deep, earthy traditions of Saga's pottery history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eHandcrafted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eLimited\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eMade in Japan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eWarnings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Microwave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Dishwasher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Oven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Direct Flame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNo Induction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCautions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eName engraving is not available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDo not use metal scrubbers, cleansers, or bleach\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Yasuo Yamaguchi","offers":[{"title":"Bird","offer_id":52549514756372,"sku":"CE-A020-001","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gold Fish","offer_id":52549514789140,"sku":"CE-A020-002","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0985\/2262\/8372\/files\/Product-47_763ccf88-f666-424b-ba32-482cf1bd00c1.jpg?v=1779862617"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0985\/2262\/8372\/collections\/Product-1_a4afc571-930e-449b-bc9e-8310b2448dbc.jpg?v=1779920556","url":"https:\/\/mizuspace.com\/fr\/collections\/kangun-kiln-%e5%b1%b1%e5%8f%a3%e5%ba%b7%e9%9b%84.oembed","provider":"Mizu Space","version":"1.0","type":"link"}