Gyokuryū Umehara (玉龍)

From the time he first touched the wheel in junior high until today, Jiro has remained steadfast in one conviction: “A teapot is, first and foremost, a tool for brewing delicious tea.”

For this reason, the creation of a Gyokuryu teapot always begins with a careful consideration of the person who will use it.

• Does pouring place any unnecessary strain on the wrist?
• Does the rounded body allow tea leaves to open fully, drawing out both flavor and aroma?
• Does the spout allow for a clean, smooth “cut” of the tea, right down to the last drop?
• Is the thickness and angle of the handle such that it can be used daily without fatigue?
• Does the lid fit with precise, satisfying accuracy, settling into place with a gentle “click”?

Each of these considerations is examined one by one as he shapes the clay, making fine adjustments again and again.

Benishibori (紅絞り - red squeezing) is a unique spin on the traditional mogake style developed by Umehara Jiro of Gyokuryu Kiln. Meaning 'seaweed wrapping', Mogake (藻掛) is a traditional Tokoname technique dates back to the Edo period and is achieved by wrapping each piece with amamo seaweed before firing. In the kiln, the seaweed burns off, leaving its carbonised silhouette draped across pot. Due to the natural nature of seaweed, each piece of mogake decorated pottery will have its own unique pattern. 

Through exhaustive study and countless trials, Umehara-san arrived at his own uniquely refined version of mogake  in which the piece is first oxidized in firing and then subjected to reduction smoking to induce delicate changes in color and texture.