Kutani Ware Porcelain Case

Lidded vessel · Kutani akae · Kazuhiko Komekyu

Fine patterns cover the entire surface without a gap — on a vessel measuring just 7 cm in both height and diameter. This is the work of Kazuhiko Komekyu, a Kutani akae painter with over 30 years of experience, produced entirely to order.

Kutani akae — a tradition on the edge of disappearance
Kutani-yaki ceramics trace their origins to the early Edo period, around 1650. Akae — the style characterized by detailed painting in red and gold — emerged at the end of the Edo period and reached its peak during the Meiji era (1868–1912), when 200 to 300 craftsmen practiced the art. Fewer than 20 remain today.

In 2020, marking his 30th year in akae, Komekyu returned to fundamentals. The interior carries the net motif — the foundational pattern of the tradition — while the exterior bears his own original chintz komon. Red, used in Japan for celebratory occasions, runs through both: the motifs are chosen to carry a sense of auspiciousness.

Komekyu describes what the work demands as "mentality" and "the physical strength to keep sitting." Each painting session is different, and because no two processes are identical, no two pieces are alike. The brushwork reveals the state of mind of the maker at the moment of creation.

The paints are original formulations — red shells, oxidized iron, and glass are added to create luster. The brushes used are equally considered: new bristles cannot produce the required line quality. Brushes are first used for three years as underpainting tools, until only the core remains and the oil has been fully drawn out. Cared for properly, a single brush can last 10 to 15 years.

"I want people to put their precious things in this case and enjoy them from time to time in their daily lives," says Komekyu.