Matte grey Suigetsu kyusu resting on a white kiln shelf, the brick kiln mouth open behind it

Suigetsu Ceramics (醉月陶園)

Founded in 1869, Suigetsu Touen produces the most refined and elegant Banko-yaki kyusu, blending traditional techniques, classic designs, and modern aesthetics. Their founder, Suigetsu Kozaburo began crafting teapots after retiring from his job as a postmaster as part of the revival of Banko-yaki. Before this time, Banko-yaki briefly existed in the mid-late 1700s as highly decorative glazed wares. During the Banko-yaki revival period in the 1800s, this decorative history was combined with the vogue of unglazed teapots for sencha, inspired by yixing and chaozhou wares from China. Unlike most Japanese ceramic traditions which are named after the area they are produced in, Banko-yaki gets its name from the phrase "banko fueki", meaning "eternally unchanging".

Shimizu Suigetsu (清水醉月) is the third-generation kiln head of Suigetsu Ceramics (醉月陶園), which was founded in 1869 and has been centered around the production of kyusu. Born in 1944, Shimizu Suigetsu-san has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including formal presentations to the princess and the crown prince, as well as to the Emperor during his ascension to the throne in 1990. Three years later, he succeeded his father as head of the kiln. Today, Shimizu-san continues to innovate in the traditional art of kyusu-crafting, along with his wife and two sons.

His wife Shimizu Kishio (清水きし代). was born in 1947 and has won numerous awards for her works, both domestically and abroad. She has presented a chawan to the Ise Grand Shrine and her sake cups were used at the 2016 G7 conference.