Mogake Tokoname Kyusu by Tamamitsu (~200ml)

If you love Japanese green teas, a kyusu makes brewing them easier and more rewarding. This pot features a fine ceramic filter that lets tea pour quickly while catching even fine leaf particles.

Made from Tokoname's iron-rich shudei clay, this kyusu shows the warm red-orange color that's been the signature of Tokoname teapots since the 1800s. The unglazed interior is slightly porous, and the iron content in the clay is said to interact with tannins in tea, softening bitterness and creating a mellower, smoother taste. The dark lines across the unglazed surface are mogake, a traditional Tokoname decorating technique from the Edo period. Before firing, each pot is wrapped with amamo seaweed, which burns away in the kiln and leaves behind these carbonized tracings. Because seaweed is irregular by nature, every pot's pattern is unique.

The Gyokko (also called Tamamitsu Touen) workshop in Tokoname is led by Hirotaka Umehara, the second-generation Tamamitsu. His father, Harutaka Umehara, founded the kiln in 1945, and Hirotaka took over in 1988, earning recognition as a certified Traditional Craftsman by Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The name Tamamitsu is passed down through generations as an artist title, while Gyokko is the workshop name—both use the same kanji (玉光) meaning "jewel light." The workshop team works together to create handmade Tokoname kyusu.

The side handle gives you control when pouring, and at 200ml capacity, the pot is sized for one or two servings through multiple infusions.

Before first use, soak the kyusu in warm water (60-80°C) for 30-60 minutes to clean any clay particles from the pores. After each use, rinse thoroughly with hot water and let it dry completely with the lid off. Don't use soap or detergent, as the clay can absorb these and affect the flavor of your tea.

Details

• Capacity: 200ml at 80% full (approximately 6.5 oz)
• Clay: Tokoname shudei (red clay)
• Decoration: Mogake (seaweed wrapping)
• Filter: Ceramic
• Made in Tokoname, Japan by Tamamitsu Kiln (Gyokko/Tamamitsu Touen)
• Workshop: Led by Hirotaka Umehara, second-generation Tamamitsu