Kitagama Kasen Hiroshige Kato Soba Choko Akae | Free Cup Seto Ware
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*The retail price has changed due to a price revision. (October 2025)
Fits into your life
This soba choko features a simple yet tasteful floral geometric pattern. 
The elegant appearance is achieved by dipping the choko in Tochigi clay for two days and then infusing the cracks with color. Mr. Kato's meticulous craftsmanship shines through. 
Each piece is unique, with varying line thicknesses. Enjoy the unique charm of hand-drawn art.
Blends into your everyday life
Fill it with noodle soup and enjoy it with somen, soba, or udon noodles. Its height makes it perfect for serving vegetable sticks. It's also a convenient size for filling with yogurt or as a dessert cup. 
Soba choko cups are appealing because they can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as teacups and small bowls. They're also stackable, so you'll want to have a few for your family and guests. 
| Size | Diameter: Approx. 8.5-9.0cm Height: Approx. 6.5-7.0cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 147g |
| Capacity | Approx. 160ml (80% full) |
| Material | Ceramics |
| Microwave Dishwasher |
Microwave: Yes Dishwasher: Yes |
| Direct Flame Oven |
Direct Flame: No Oven ○ |
| Artist's Recommended Maintenance | ・We recommend sealing the pores before use. ・After using the dish, wash it as soon as possible, dry it thoroughly, and store it in a dry place. Insufficient drying can cause mold and odors. If stains appear, please do not use bleach as it will damage the crazing texture. |
| Product Characteristics/ Handling Precautions |
・The base is made of tea pottery material. With use, the crazing will develop, and the color and texture will change over time. ・As each piece is handmade, there will be slight differences in color, shape, size, thickness, etc., and individual differences will occur. ・Pinholes and other imperfections may be found, and the pattern and color may vary. ・Recommended for those who want to enjoy the warm texture unique to handmade items, each with its own unique look. ・Prices may be subject to review or revision by the artist or potter. |
Things to Know Before Purchasing
The unique character of each piece of pottery is created by mottling, fading, uneven glaze, shading, and shape variations not found in mass-produced items. Handmade pottery is not perfectly uniform, with pinholes, crazing, or distortions. Each piece is slightly different in color, size, and shape, and no two pieces are exactly alike. This is the charm of handmade pottery. These are also the unique characteristics of handmade pottery, so enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime encounter. [Individual Differences] 
The size of the vessel and pattern will vary from piece to piece. [Color Variations/Firing Variations] 
The glaze is applied carefully by hand, so the application may not be uniform. During firing, temperatures vary depending on the location in the kiln, resulting in uneven firing.
[Other Notes] 〇 Products that have passed inspection by the kiln or artist are inspected again before being delivered to customers.
■For more information, please click here. Characteristics of Tableware and Things to Know When Purchasing
About the Series
■Other information, please see the list page. Kitagama Kasen by Hiroshige Kato List Page 
■You can also view Seto ware here. We hope you find something you like. Seto Ware List Page
Kitagama Kasen, Hiroshige Kato
Born in Akazu Town, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture in 1959.
After graduating from Meiji University in 1983, he joined the family business, Kasen Touen, and studied under his grandfather, Senzaemon, and his father, Kasen.
1987: Participated in the Los Angeles Japan Expo.
1998: Succeeded as the 12th head of the Akazu ware kiln, Kitagama.
2003: Supervised and published the New Edition of Introduction to Ceramics (Tatsumi Publishing).
2019: Workshop at The Potters' Studio, San Francisco, USA. Workshop in Barcelona, Spain. Nagoya Gakuin University Part-time Lecturer (Ceramics Theory, Ceramics Seminar)
This pottery has been in business for 12 generations in the Akazu area of Seto since the Edo period. Based on tableware for tea ceremonies, we continue to craft tableware suitable for everyday use using local materials and techniques. Tea ceramics are meant to be cherished with use... Just like wood, cloth, and leather, we hope you will enjoy them for many years to come.
Seto Ware
Seto ware is a general term for pottery produced mainly in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. It is a rare region in Japan where both pottery and porcelain are produced. Ceramics are characterized by decorative glazes, as exemplified by Akazu ware, a national traditional craft. Porcelain is characterized by beautiful blue paintings using a pigment called gosu, as exemplified by Seto Sometsuke ware. The wide variety of pottery produced here is so diverse that it's said, "There's nothing that can't be made in Seto."
Photo from the Artist
Image provided by Hiroshige Kato of Kitagama Kiln Kasen.
Tags
Kiln owner's recommendation for maintenance
-After use, wash the pot as soon as possible, dry it thoroughly, and store it in a dry place. Insufficient drying may cause mold and odor.
Product Characteristics/Handling Precautions
-There may be tiny holes. Patterns, and colors may vary.
-The surface of the items may have very small "black spots" or "paint splashes" or "pinholes that do not reach the base of the items.
-This product is recommended for those who want to enjoy the warm texture of handmade products with a different look and feel for each piece.
-The surface of the glaze may be cracked during use, but this is not a crack or breakage and will not interfere with its use.
-Prices are subject to review and revision by artists and potters.
What you need to know before purchasing
-The charm of handmade items lies in the fact that no two items are exactly alike, with tiny holes, cracked patterns, distortions, and the like, and that the colors, size, and shape of each piece vary slightly from one to another..
-The coloring, size, and shape of each piece is slightly different, and the charm of handmade items lies in the fact that they are not exactly the same.
-The finish is relatively uniform, but because it is handmade, there are individual differences in shape, size, color, and so on.