EIMEI 英明 (Hideaki Shimizu 清水秀明) - 常滑- 14.8cm Oval, Sky-Blue / Lapis-Tone Glazed Pot

EIMEI (Hideaki Shimizu) 常滑 – Oval, Sky-Blue / Lapis-Tone Glazed Pot

Product Details

Region: Tokoname 常滑市
Kiln: Yōzan Kiln (耀山窯)
Potter: EIMEI 英明 (Real name: Hideaki Shimizu 清水秀明)

A beautifully crafted Japanese artisan bonsai pot (日本製盆栽鉢) by Eimei 英明, showcasing the refined elegance synonymous with the modern Tokoname tradition. This oval form (楕円鉢 / daen-bachi) features a soft, refined sky-blue / lapis-tone glaze (青釉 / セイユウ) that presents a clean, translucent surface with subtle depth and warmth.

 The pot exhibits a gentle, rounded lip (反り縁 / sori-buchi) that creates an appealing sense of balance and quiet strength. The wall profile is mid-cut and straight (中間カットの直壁), providing a dignified, stable silhouette. The incised feet (切り込み足 / kiri-komi ashi) are neatly carved and lightly lifted, ensuring excellent stability and airflow—classic traits of Tokoname craftsmanship.

 Inside, the exposed reddish Tokoname clay (赤土 / akatsuchi) contrasts beautifully with the cool exterior glaze. The pot includes two large drainage holes (排水穴) and one wiring hole (針金穴)—a functional layout ideal for healthy root development.

 Although newly made, the glazing has a gentle character reminiscent of vintage pieces (ヴィンテージ風合い), and the slightly groggy clay body offers excellent breathability and durability.

 A very limited number of these were produced—新品・数量極少 (new, very limited production).

External Dimensions: 14.8 × 13.8 × 4 cm
Internal Dimensions: 12.3 × 11.2 × 3 cm

Condition like new – 未使用品.

Very limited quantity produced at the kiln.

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Artist Background / 作家紹介：EIMEI (Hideaki Shimizu) 英明

 Hideaki Shimizu (清水秀明), known professionally as Eimei 英明, is the successor to the esteemed Yōzan Kiln (耀山窯) founded by his father Masakazu Shimizu (清水正和)—better known as Yōzan 耀山, celebrated as “The King of Glaze（釉薬の王）” in Tokoname.

 Yōzan revolutionized the Tokoname bonsai world in the 1960s by introducing vividly glazed pots (釉薬鉢), at a time when most Tokoname bonsai ware was unglazed. His pioneering glazes—such as his personal versions of Shinsha / oxblood red (辰砂) and Namako (ナマコ釉)—reshaped the aesthetic expectations of collectors and potters alike.

Eimei, trained at the Tokoname Ceramics Technology Center, inherited this spirit of innovation. He is now recognized as a rising force in contemporary glazed bonsai pottery, especially admired for his modern drip-glaze aesthetics (流し釉 / nagashi-yu) and clean, elegant forms. His pieces have won awards at Gafu-ten (雅風展), particularly in the small-pot categories.

 Historical Context / 歴史背景

 Tokoname 市 is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns (日本六古窯), with over 1,000 years of ceramic heritage. Bonsai pottery flourished here from the late 19th century through the Taishō and early Shōwa eras, with rapid innovation in clay, shape, and glazing.

Within this tradition, the Yōzan lineage stands as one of the most influential forces in post-war glazed bonsai pottery.