Tokoname Kyusu Artist 常滑急須作家 : Gafu Ito 伊藤雅風さん

For the first tea event of 2018, I participated in the first tea gathering of the year "初煎会 Shosenkai" of the school I learn from as a back-yard stuff on January 8th.

I barely have a chance to visit 愛知県 Aichi prefecture, so I'd decided to make my first visit to 常滑市 Tokoname city and meeting with a young talented Kyusu artist, Mr. 伊藤雅風 Gafu Ito on the day before the gathering. 

Tokoname has been well-known for 常滑焼 Tokoname-ware and as one of the famous areas which produce high-quality Kyusu.

Tokoname-ware has a long history. 

In the late 平安時代 Heian Period (around 1000 A.D.), there were around 3000 kilns for making potteries such as pots or plates in Tokoname.

It's told that Kyusu-making in Tokoname had started in 文政年間 Bunsei era (of the late 江戸時代 Edo Period) (1808~1829). 

Then, Kyusu-making became more active in 天保年間 Tempou era (1831~1845). There is a note which shows that one of the 文人 Bunjin (literati man) in that time owned a Tokoname Kyusu. The research of the soil or firing method, or the copies of Chinese Kyusu had been made in this period as well. 

And after 安政年間 Ansei era (1854~1850), the mass production of Kyusu had started. It means that Kyusu were comparatively reasonable and the way of drinking tea with using Kyusu was spread at the time. 

One of the significant thing in Tokoname Kyusu was the completion of 朱泥焼 Shudei-yaki (unglazed reddish brown pottery (originally from China)).

Besides 朱泥焼 Shudei-yaki, there were 真焼 Mayake (unglazed hard pottery), 白泥焼 Hakudei-yaki (unglazed whitish pottery), 火色焼 Hiiro-yaki / 藻掛 Mogake (※The pottery using Hakudei soil burned wrapped by dried seaweed. The seaweed part becomes golden and the part effected by salt content in the seaweed becomes reddish brown.), 火襷焼 Hidasuki-yaki (the pottery using Hakudei soil burned wrapped by straw), 南蛮焼 Nanban-yaki (unglazed pottery using rough soil), or 木目焼 Mokume-yaki / 練り込み Nerikomi .

I came to know Mr. Gafu from the flyer of his previous exhibition "急須バカ Kyusu-Baka"  (lit. Kyusu holic/crazy/addict) ( http://utsuwanote.exblog.jp/i375/ ), held at 〔ギャラリーうつわノート Gallery Utsuwa Note〕in Saitama prefecture, in December 2016.

Unfortunately I couldn't go to the exhibition, but his fine Kyusu (which would suit the Sencha lover's taste) were burned into my mind.  

The second time when I saw his Kyusu was at the 〔無一物 Muichimotsu〕, a Sencha-do utensil gallery in Nara (where has become my favorite place / oasis to be in the world of 煎茶道 Sencha-do or 文人趣味 Bunjin-Shumi since the first visit). The man working at the gallery explained me of Mr. Gafu as an up-and-coming Kyusu artist. I bought his Kyusu at my second visit to Muichimotsu, and since then, I use his Kyusu for the special occasion.

Even though many of good Kyusu artists in Tokoname are from Kyusu maker's family, Mr. Gafu is by his own.

He was born in Tokoname city, in 1988. So, I imagine, even he is not originally from Kyusu maker's family, he has been familiar to the unique atmosphere of the pottery city, Tokoname.

I heard he had been into playing baseball until graduating from junior high school.

He graduated from the Ceramic course, Tokoname high school in 2007.

He decided to step into the path as a Kyusu maker, because making Kyusu requires a lot of techniques, therefore he can learn a lot.

He graduated from Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design in 2011.

From 2009, he had learnt from Mr. 村越風月 Fugetsu Murakoshi (who is one of the great Kyusu artist) while he was in the university. 

Then, he became independent in 2012.

※ All photos are from the Gallery Utsuwa Note.

The base of Mr. Gafu's Kyusu is the clay making (following the traditional way) which is unusual nowadays and takes more than a year. He doesn't want that somebody else's hand is involved in his work. He does everything from the clay making ~ shaping with 轆轤 Rokuro ~ burning ~ finishing.

And he said that he only makes what he wants to make, because otherwise his soul wouldn't be in Kyusu. He doesn't make the shape or kind of Kyusu, up to the trend, need or order by someone.

I felt that these two : making all by his own and making only what he wants are bravely and elegantly clear in his mind. And that's the secret of the perfection of his works.

And I realized meeting and having Mr. Gafu's Kyusu is 縁 En (chance, fate, meeting). 

Before visiting him I had a slight wish to order or buy one Kyusu which I wanted, but it would be another time. I will keep cherishing the one I have and looking forward to the occasion to have the next one.

It's always curious to meet one thing, one person, one place, one moment, one tea...

I'm not sure each meeting has the clear meaning ... but, to me, it seems there is always the right timing or moment for you.

〔Links...〕

These are the links that introduce the way Mr. Gafu makes Kyusu. 

◆(in English) http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/tokoname/gafu/gafu.html

◆ http://utsuwanote.exblog.jp/23723780/

◆ https://great-teacha.jimdo.com/%E8%8C%B6%E5%99%A8%E3%81%AE%E8%A9%B1/

And some links of the website which sells Mr. Gafu's Kyusu.

◆(in English) http://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cat-gafu&x=0&y=0

◆ http://shinjuan.shop-pro.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=989267&csid=3

◆ https://cha.base.ec/

〔 Mr. Gafu's Kyusu in my tea arrangement 〕