Category Archives: Japanese Pottery

Robert Yellin’s Neswletter: Ceramics of Japan Tour with Esprit Travel

March 8, 2014 dragonlife 1 Comment

Greetings from Kyoto,

Spring is in the air here and at last the long winter is winding down; I hope this finds you well and looking forward to spring flowers and dreams; in Kyoto those are easily found.

Ceramics of Japan Tour with Esprit Travel
I’m pleased to announce that this year I will be working again with Esprit Travel to offer a special, select Ceramics of Japan tour. Last year’s group was a joy to be with and the groups for the past two years have been so outstanding, that I convinced Esprit to offer the tour again. This year’s tour will be October 6th-16th.

I will be along as a guest lecturer and the tour will be led by Esprit guide, Keiko Nishi. Keiko will lead the group in a firm grounding in the arts of Japan as they relate to ceramics. I will be introducing the group to many of the wonderful ceramics artists in Kyoto, some area museums and visits to the ceramics areas of Shigaraki, Bizen and Tamba.

The travel party is limited to only 12 and we are announcing the tour to our mailing list readers first. After you have the opportunity to consider signing up the tour will be announced to Esprit’s mailing list as well. If you are interested in the tour, please contact Esprit directly via email at ebaran@esprittravel.com to request a registration form and further information on pricing for singles or any other information you may need in order to make a decision. You can see more about the detailed tour itinerary here:

http://www.esprittravel.com/custom-independent-japan-tours/escorted-japan-group-tours/japan-ceramics-tour

I hope that you consider joining us for what will surely be a most inspirational and memorable visit to Japan and the grand ceramic traditions that await your discovery.

Exhibitions and Other News

At the gallery we have a few exhibitions planned and it all begins on March 28th for Inayoshi Osamu’s second exhibition. As many know, Inayoshi is an innovative and supremely talented potter from central Japan; the exhibition will end on April 6th. Next will be a debut exhibition here of Iga’s Tanimoto Yo from April 11th-25th with new sculptural forms from this well-established artist.

Single works recently added to the web gallery include a Mashiko chawan by the late great Murata Gen, new radical forms by Seto’s Takeuchi Shingo, a rare circa 1970 Shigaraki stemmed guinomi by Tsuji Seimei and many Bizen serving platters by Hoshino Sei, among others.

I realize many of you might not be on Facebook, yet if you are and haven’t ‘Liked’ our gallery page and would like to be updated more frequently than please visit that page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-Yellin-Yakimono-Gallery/268534563178741

With deep thanks for all your continued support of the gallery and artists and culture: we hope to see you online or here at the gallery—and hopefully on the Esprit Tour.

Cordially,

Robert Yellin

Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu, JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
Email: Robert@e-yakimono.net
www.e-yakimono.net
hhtp://www.japanesepottery.com
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

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観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Pottery, Tourism, Traditional Japanese Handcrafts

Robert Yellin’s Newsletter: Hatano Hideo Exhibition

February 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Greetings from Kyoto!

It’s been quite some time since our last newsletter and we hope this finds you well; all is very well—and cold—here in Kyoto in this old illustrious home. It hasn’t snowed that much at all this winter, yet a few days ago we did get a light dusting and the gallery garden was magical. I do hope before the sakura bloom we get at least one more snow fall here in the ancient capital. And then comes magical spring, any season for that matter is magical in Kyoto, we hope you can visit us one day in person.

Hatano Hideo Exhibition

Hatano Hideo

In the meantime though online now we’re having a ‘White As Snow’ Hagi exhibition by Hatano Hideo.

Hatano(b.1971) creates Hagi pottery that is at both classical and very contemporary.
Hideo’s father is Yamaguchi Prefectural Intangible Property Hatano Zenzo, with whom he has studied, in particular about the beauty of Hagi’s warm glazes.
Hatano graduated from Tama Art University having studied sculpture, and then moved to Kyoto where he studied at the Kyoto Municipal College of Pottery Technology and also at the Kyoto Municipal Technical Research Institute.

In 2001 his work was accepted for the first time at the Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition, where he has shown nine times. He has also been selected for the juried Tanabe Museum’s Contemporary Tea Forms Exhibition (six times). His main exhibition venues are leading department store galleries such as Mitsukoshi and Tenmaya.
We are pleased to show 41 recent works by this rising Hagi star: http://www.japanesepottery.com/gallery.php

Other Works of Note

Other works of note on the gallery are also a Hagi work by the Miwa Hanako, in a work titled Jyo or Purification. The crystal form she told me is that of a snow crystal, you can view it here.

Another Hagi work by Hanako’s uncle, Kazuhiko, can be viewed here.

It was sad to hear that Miwa Jyusetsu passed away late last year at 103, Kazuhiko’s father and Hanako’s grandfather; one of the last, if not the last, giants of the 20th century, more about him can be read here in a past Japan Times article I wrote: click here.

And about Hagi in general: here.

Exhibitions on the Horizon

It seems the winter season has us longing for snow, and the only place we can find it on a daily basis is on Hagi works. Long ago in my original ‘Yakimono Sanka’ (Ode to Japanese Pottery) book I wrote a haiku that went, ‘Fuji’s pure white snow, melted on a body of clay, Hagi Sake cup!’ For some reason all the haiku I wrote that were in the Japanese edition were forgotten to be included in the English version. Haiku, which pottery can be a visual version, were written about Iga, Bizen, Ki-Seto, Shigaraki, and the Momoyama period.

Exhibitions on the horizon for us include Arimatsu Kuugen (Shino) in April, Iga’s Fujioka in the autumn along with Ajiki Hiro’s 99 Mandala Guinomi Part Two also in the autumn, in between we’ll be adding other exhibitions and update you via this newsletter then. Please note though that there are many ‘mini-exhibitions’ on the gallery often as well as works updated to the gallery many times each week, we invite you to explore the gallery pages at your leisure.

We thank you as always for visiting and supporting our gallery and the living potters of Japan, they are deeply appreciative as well.

Sincerely,

Robert Yellin (Robert@e-yakimono.net)

Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
hhtp://www.japanesepottery.com

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
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Japan, Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Tourism

Robert Yellin’s Newsletter: Minegishi Seiko Debut Exhibition

September 15, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Minegishi Seiko

Greetings from Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Greetings from Kyoto and we hope this finds all well as we enter into autumn here, surely one of the most pleasant times to visit this most amazing city.

Minegishi Seiko Debut Exhibition

We’re very pleased to announce the Kyoto debut exhibition of Celadon master Minegishi Seiko(b.1952). Minegishi is without a doubt one of the most graceful celadon ceramic artists in Japan today. He works out of the resort town of Nasu in Tochigi prefecture, not far from Mashiko. His works have been exhibited at major venues in Japan as well as the Nasu Queen Museum. At the Mingei Museum in San Diego a large charger is on display now as part of a fabulous exhibition on contemporary Japanese ceramic art, see more on that below. His work has also been acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Rhode Island School of Design. His research in celadon began in 1988, yet his career as a potter began in 1972. More about Minegishi can be read here: http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/s-minegishi.html All works are museum quality and come with signed boxes. Additional photos of any works will gladly be sent upon request, the exhibition ends on Sept. 28th

Celadon Tsubo-Jars, Large Hachi-Vessel and Vases by Minegishi Seiko

Celadon Flower, Persimmon, Koro and Flower Sculpture

Celadon Vases

Celadon Tea and Sake Vessels

Exhibition Schedule, Online Selection

Our exhibition schedule for autumn and into winter include Kitajima Shigemitsu’s Echizen Tsubo-jar exhibition from Oct. 25-Nov.8; Inayoshi Osamu’s Japan and World debut exhibition from Nov.16th-25th and Osaka’s Hiruma Kazuyo’s ceramic sculptures in early December.

Our online selection is continually expanding with new discoveries, such as Taniguchi Norimasa and Yoshitaka, from the famous Kyoto family of Taniguchi Ryozo, a Japan Ceramic Society Award winner in 1963 and inventor of a most wonderful blue glazing scheme that his son and grandson continue to use. We’ve also recently listed a handsome iron-glazed jar by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi as well as one by Kawai Kanjiro:

Tenmoku-Persimmon Glazed Jar by Shimizu Uichi

Kawai Kanjiro Henko-Jar

For those looking for a magical sake vessel then please have a look at this one by the late, great Wada Morihiro: Guinomi by Wada Morihiro

For those who want to visit the Taniguchi studio, such a visit has been planned as part of a ceramic tour of Japan commencing in October and arranged by Esprit Travel: Ceramics of Japan Tour

Other Exhibitions of Note

One highly recommended and unprecedented exhibition will be at the stunning Miho Museum not far from Kyoto showing Jomon period Dogu figures from across Japan; truly an exhibition not to be missed: 2012 Special Exhibition
Other exhibitions of note are two; one in Southern California and the other in Northern California focusing on two private collectors collections of contemporary Japanese ceramics. I was honored to give two lectures at the former, here: Nature, Tradition, and Innovation
…and hope to be able to see this one as well: Japanese Ceramics from the William Bayer Collection

Nishimura’s works

Nearby our gallery is a quaint and interesting temple call Honen-in that dates back to 1680. They often host art exhibitions, concerts and lectures that are always engaging. A few weeks ago Robert went there with a visitor and just happened to come across an exhibition by Osaka painter Nishimura Daiki, and he was immediately taken with Nishimura’s moody ‘dark and light’ paintings. Speaking with Nishimura, Robert arranged for some paintings to be displayed at the gallery and they make a perfect backdrop for any ceramic art; prices range from 30-80,000 yen. Coincidentally, Nishimura said that his work was recently shown in San Diego in Balboa Park at the Japanese Friendship Garden, where one person purchased all the paintings. We have ten to offer.

And with that we hope that the autumn brings much beauty and joy to your homes, we thank you so very much for all your support and interest in our gallery, and hope to see you here in Kyoto or online at www.japanesepottery.com Also, many updates about the gallery and ceramic news are updated on our Facebook page.

Okini from Kyoto,

Robert Yellin (Robert@e-yakimono.net)
Chihiro Yadokoro
Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
www.japanesepottery.com

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

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Japan, Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Tourism

Robert Yellin’s Newsletter: Takeuchi Shingo Exhibition & Local Kyoto Talent

March 24, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Takeuchi shingo

To all Friends of our gallery, Greetings from Kyoto!

It’s been a while since our last email to you and we hope this finds all lovers of beauty well. Here we are so pleased with our move to Kyoto and have been able to greet many visitors whom otherwise we wouldn’t have had the pleasure to do so. We sincerely hope that one day you’ll be able to visit this magical city and stop on by.

Our gate is always open.

Takeuchi Shingo Exhibition

In the meantime though there is so much new work on the web gallery that we hope you have seen. Now we’re having a one-man exhibition of Seto veteran ceramic artist Takeuchi Shingo, whose works are all hand-coiled and speak of exotic forms and organic color schemes. Some of his works are subdued in charcoal gray tones and are very much Zen-ish in attitude. Takeuchi’s works have been exhibited in countless juried exhibitions that include the Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition (’82 ’85 ’86 ’87 ’88 ’94), the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition（’84 ’86 ’87 ’88 ’91 ’99), and the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale (’04 ’08). We hope you create a moment to see Takeuchi’s works online until next Wednesday. Takeuchi will be in the gallery this weekend and if anyone would like to Skype and say hello or to see works in real time please do so. By searching Skype for Robert Yellin, that should do.

After that look for Kako Katsumi’s exhibition online, a true rising star, starting on March 30th.

Local Kyoto Talent

We’ve also discovered some amazing local talent, including Kyoto veteran ceramic artist Kobayashi Hideo and the red hot young potter Ikeda Shogo from faraway Tanegashima Island, a place more associated with nanban-yaki than with Ikeda’s superb Oribe and Kohiki works.

Another veteran artist never shown in the west before is Echizen’s Miyoshi Kentaro.

For those who adore ancient works, we offer a rare chance to acquire a top rated museum quality Ko-Tamba tsubo-jar from a Kyoto collector.

Other News

A few weeks ago a video was released—actually five videos—by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs featuring different aspects of Japanese culture. For the video titled ‘Takumi’ I was selected to show various crafts—a true honor—to invite visitors from overseas to discover the beauty that Japan has to offer. The video can be viewed here, number 6:

As I type this, clouds drift over the Higashiyama mountains, below is the Silver Pavilion; we sincerely hope to see you here one day to show you this view, and we also hope you enjoy all the amazing work on the web gallery at www.japanesepottery.com.

Robert Yellin (Robert@e-yakimono.net)
Chihiro Yadokoro
Sumie Sato
Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
www.japanesepottery.com

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Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 観光, Japan, Japanese Pottery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Traditonal Handcarfts, Tourism, Traditional Japanese Handcrafts

38th Shizuoka Traditional Crafts Exhibition at Matsuzakaya Department Store!

January 19, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ikawa Mempa Bento Boxes!

From January 18th through the 23rd a big exhibition will feature traditional crafts and artists from all over the Prefecture!
This is a must-see event as Shizuoka Prefecture is a major crafts producing Prefecture in Japan!
No less than 66 artists will be represented!

Yesterday I ran to the 8th Floor of the department store to take pictures to give you an idea on what is on offer!
Naturally, I will start running a series of individual interviews of these artists who are contributing so much to the preservation of great Japanese traditions!

Here we go!

Box weaving artist!

Natural fiber woven boxes!

Everyday necessities from geta/wooden clog, purse to trays and lamps!

Ikawa Mempa lacquered bento boxes!

This large bento box could be used as a tray!

High quality wood cabinets and vase supports!

Traditional “tansu” drawer chests!

Arguably better than fragile antiques! And as good-looking!

Tempting, aren’t they? Both useful and so decorative!

One of my favorite crafts, bamboo lattice handcraft!

Light, sturdy and elegant for everyday use and decoration!

I couldn’t get my hands off them!

Japanese wooden clogs, geta! The reason that they are still popular is that they are actually promoting the feet’s health!

For gentlemen and ladies!

Exquisite pendants!

Decorated lacquered boxes!

2012 is the Year of the Dragon!

Beautiful Japanese traditional motifs!

Traditional wooden toys! Such Japanese-made toys are becoming a rarity!

Shizuoka is also celebrated for its “Aizome” dyed cloth which is also used in modern fashion!

This material will make your friends envious. Just think of the possibilities!

More everyday apparels!

Coaster collection for every year!

Very elegant and cheerful on a cold winter day!

Everyday enameled earthenware!

Both extravagant and sophisticated everyday earthenware!

Beautiful lunch boxes, chopsticks, trays all lacquered for ladies!

Mini mirrors!

And this is only a small part!
I might as well take more pictures today!

Matsuzakaya Department Store
Right across the street from the Shizuoka JR Station North Exit
Opening hours: 10:00=19:00

For more information on prices, availability and orders please contact:
Robert-Gilles Martineau at Agrigraph
r.martineau@m2-labo.jp
Fax: (81)(0)537-7724

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With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Japan, Japanese Pottery, Pottery, Tourism

Robert Yellin Newsletter: Koinuma Michio Exhibition & Ogawa Machiko, Mihara Ken Works

September 13, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Ogawa Machiko

Greetings from Kyoto,

To all subscribers to our mailing list a hearty ‘Okini’ from Kyoto; hoping this finds you well and living with and touching beauty in some form each and every precious day.

We’re firmly settled into our truly splendid house near Ginkakuji—the Silver Pavilion—and have had many folks visit who would not have otherwise if we were still in Mishima; the move was a good move! If you haven’t yet seen photos of the new space please do so here: http://www.japanesepottery.com/about-us.php#tour

Koinuma Michio Exhibition

As many know autumn is known as the Season of Culture here in Japan and we are pleased to present for our first exhibition new works by legendary and influential Mashiko-based artist Koinuma Michio.

In a past issue of Japan’s leading ceramic magazine ‘Honoho Geijutsu,’ Koinuma was named one of the top 100 potters in all of Japan. That is quite an honor considering the tens of thousands of professional potters here. Koinuma(b1936) as noted is based in Mashiko but his creations are far from Mingei; they are clay works of highest artistic merit and in important museum and private collections worldwide. Please have a look at 15 new works here.

Ogawa Machiko, Mihara Ken Works

Mihara

We also have added some important works from artists such as Ogawa Machiko with a large red circa 1987 vessel and a circa 1991 large Mihara Ken ‘Wave-Wind’ motif vessel. For those who might be looking for special autumn sake flask—of course autumn is when sake tastes best—this flask by Living National Treasure Tamura Koichi should fit the bill: click here

Up-and-coming Potters – Hattori Katsuya

The past few months I’ve also looked at the work of up-and-coming potters and not just those who make sculptural works, yet also those who make ‘simple’ works for daily use, and whose works are very reasonable. One such potter is Hattori Katsuya.

His tea pots, bowls and cups are a joy to look at, to use, and add much character to any table. The koma-linear motifs found on his works remind me of Edo period Seto works in a mugiwara-de or ‘barley straw style,’ so favored by the likes of Shirasu Masako.

Other News

In October starting from the 15th we’ll be showing recently-fired pieces by famed Iga potter Fujioka Shuhei; he’s been busy for months now making the new works, with an emphasis on tsubo-jar forms. Look also for many other of his ‘samurai-slash’ forms that certainly command attention.

In Kyoto I also have access to a wider range of very hard-to-get-into-dealer-only auctions, so please look for one-of-a-kind works from past-modern and contemporary potters, one such find is a very rare circa late Edo period set of Noh mukozuke from the Iwakura-yaki style based here in Kyoto: click here.

We — Chihiro and Sumie and I — hope you visit the online gallery to refresh your spirit and mind in these amazing times; empires come and go, yet the only thing that remains is art and the legacy of those who touched it.

Robert Yellin (Robert@e-yakimono.net)
Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
www.japanesepottery.com

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, Gastronomy, Japanese Pottery, sake

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Junmai Nama Genshu Homare Fuji

June 17, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fuji-Takasago Brewery went through a scare when a magnitude 6 earthquake hit Fujinomiya City almost just after the terrible earthquake that hit Northeastern Japan. They found cracks in walls in over ten spots and are busy repairing them now.
But it did not prevent them from brewing in general and certainly not their brews made with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji Rice!

No the label did not break during the earthquake!

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Fuji Homare
Rice milled down to: 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in March 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity: Banana
Body: Fluid
Taste: Not as strong an attack as expected. Almost liquorish.
Fruity. Banana with hints of almonds and coffee beans.
Lingers for a while with alcohol background. Very pleasant despite high alcohol contents.
Hints of oranges, custard and macadamia nuts with further sips.
Changes little with food apart of getting a little drier.

Overall: Difficult to say whether best drunk on its own or with food.
Does marry well with any food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
Personally appreciated it on its own a little chilled!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Robert Yellin, Tourism

Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery: JapanesePottery.com – June, 2011 Newsletter

June 11, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Greetings from Kyoto,

It is with great pleasure that I write this to you from our new gallery located a few minutes walk from the Silver Pavilion. The setting is quite magical, that being an early Showa-period Sukiya style house built for a wealthy Tea and kendo patron; within the house full of tea rooms is also a kendo practice room!

Our New Gallery in Kyoto
Moving from Mishima to Kyoto will enable us to be closer to all the kilns we love in western Japan, as well as have access to more important secondary market works. I’m attaching a few photos of the gallery here and more can be found online at www.japanesepottery.com

The house was the residence for more then two decades of Tea Master John McGee, who returned to Canada to create a Tea room and center: http://www.shambhala.org/
arts/chanoyu.php. The spirit of Tea and wabi-sabi pervades the house and as such is the perfect stage for the many shibui ceramic art works we offer. In addition, we’ll be using the house—and garden—as a stage of sorts when showing new works online, such as for this Kato Takahiko Shigraki jar.

Kato, being the very talented artist he is, also carved a special wooden plaque for the gallery that reads from right to left Gin-Ro-An, which means Silver Dew Hermitage. I think ROsanjin would like it as much as RObert does.

Okini and all the best from Kyoto!

Other News

As summer slowly drifts by we’ll be having a few autumn exhibitions with Iga great Fujioka Shuhei surely set for mid-October. I’ll also be traveling a bit more to regional kilns so also please look for a few summer mini-exhibitions.

And, of course if ever in Kyoto please do stop by. The area is rich with history and as noted a very short walk to the Silver Pavilion and the Philosopher’s Path.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES