Legendary creatures of Japanese folklore, the Oni are gigantic demons similar to orcs, with claws and horns that grow from their heads, and embody the forces of nature. In folk tales they are often described as wicked and destructive creatures. It is said that originally they were benevolent creatures capable of keeping away evil spirits, then, especially in popular tales, they began to be identified as monsters with destructive power, guardians of the underworld and bearers of natural calamities. It has been hypothesized that the Oni are nothing more than a transfiguration of the Emishi and the Ainu, ancient peoples who lived in some regions of Japan and who opposed the domination of the Japanese emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods and were then exterminated.

Hagi ware glazes (2): white Hagi glaze

This is a semi-opaque, cloudy white glaze made by mixing earth ash glaze with straw ash. It is commonly used not only on Hagi ware, but also by potteries in western Japan. Today, the main shade of this glaze is known as Kyūsetsu White which gives a look of thick, fluffy, and warm cotton.

Miwa Kyusetsu XI (1910-2012)

Born the third son of the Miwa kiln's ninth generation Kyusetsu (Setsudo) of Hagi ware tradition, Miwa Kyusetsu studied under his father and older brother (the 10th generation Kyusetsu: Kyuwa) after graduating middle school, and also studied under Kawakita Handeishi.After a long period of training, he took on the pottery artist name "Kyu" and displayed his work in 1955. He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fourth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1957, and he continued to be chosen for prizes from that point onward. In 1960, he was nominated for member of the Japan Kogei Association.In 1967, following the voluntary retirement of his older brother, the 10th generation Kyusetsu, he succeeded the name as the 11th generation Miwa Kyusetsu. After that, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1976 and the Fourth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1982. He was acknowledged as a Yamaguchi Prefectural Preserver of Intangible Cultural Property in 1972 and a Nationally Designated Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1983, both for his techniques in Hagi ware.He skilfully inherited the traditional korai pottery art and the "Kyusetsu White" glaze style created by his older brother. Furthermore, he developed an openhearted, daring way of making pottery called "Onihagi," which he himself invented during his long period of training, clearly expressing his individuality as the 11th generation Miwa Kyusetsu. He gave his name to Ryusaku and retired, making his pottery artist name "Jusetsu" and continuing to vigorously make pottery.He passed away due to old age on December 11th.  

This spectacular tea bowl is a Hagi-yaki (Hagi ware). Hagi-yaki has been made since the end of the 16th century in the region of Hagi, a small city in the Yamaguchi prefecture on the Sea of Japan. A Korean potter, who was brought back to Japan at that time, started the tradition. This particular piece was made by a fairly well known Hagi potter named Yamane Seigen, born in 1952. He is also a martial arts instructor and high levels of energy and concentration can be found in his pottery. A self learned craftsman, Yamane decided to enter the world of ceramic "to understand the truth of the world". He founded his kiln in 1987 and after much research created his own blue Hagi, which he named Seigen Blue. He mainly exposes locally, but he is widely admired. This type of chawan is called oni-hagi (demon-hagi) because of its contrasted and between-two-world look. The opposition between the dark and the white and the smooth and the rough create a divisive, devilish feel. The potter has named this particular bowl Hana-nio-yuki (snow of flower scent). The bowl is in perfect condition. It comes with its signed attested box. Dimensions: 14.5 cm x 9.5 cm Weight 520g.

Koharu kiln 白萩 source into the(small) fujimura 進作 Hagi ware

This sublime hagi chawan was made by a woman potter named Fujimura Koharu, born in 1948 in the city of Hagi. In 1972, she first studied Hagi ceramics under Notomi Choun and Matsuno Ryuji, two contemporary Hagi potters. In 1983, she became independent, founded her own kiln, and in 1985, she went all over Japan to expose her work. A reference book published in 1987 recognized her as one of Japan's modern ceramists. In 1997, NHK (Japan Public Television) modeled Fujimura's life in a television drama; the fact that there are few women potters in Japan is and interesting subject, indeed. This particular bowl has however a very masculine strength, subdued by the milky white overglaze that, by its flow, seems to show quite a large range of emotions. A wonderful piece to hold. The bowl is in perfect conditions. It comes with a box bearing Fujimura's seal. Koharu kiln Fujimura work. The Oven from April became a waste kiln this year.. This is a work of Hagi-yaki female ceramist who was also rumored to be a model of the main character of a manga movie. This is a Oni-Hagi - Devil tea bowl, made only with real raw natural materials. It is a work which can not be obtained again because the place became a waste kiln. This spectacular tea bowl is a Hagi-yaki (Hagi ware). Hagi-yaki has been made since the end of the 16th century in the region of Hagi, a small city in the Yamaguchi prefecture on the Sea of Japan is it called oni-hagi (demon-hagi) because of its contrasted between-two-world look and because the opposition between the dark and the white,smooth and the rough that create a divisive, devilish feel.