TAKASUKE: Join the Tea Revolution – 900 Years in the Making

The teapot, or “kyusu,” is indispensable when discussing Japanese tea. Deeply intertwined with Japanese tea culture, the kyusu originated in China and was introduced to Japan during the Muromachi period along with tea seeds. Over the centuries, the kyusu spread throughout Japan, evolving in shape and functionality to become an integral part of daily life.

As the world embraces healthier lifestyles, Japanese green tea is gaining global recognition for its natural, health-promoting properties. Antioxidants and catechins in green tea are celebrated for their health benefits, fueling its popularity.

TAKASUKE offers a gateway to a richer tea experience. Unlike the powdered teas common overseas, brewing with whole leaves allows for nuanced flavors, customizable strength, and a more relaxing ritual.

Tokoname, in Aichi Prefecture, has been the heart of teapot craftsmanship for centuries. TAKASUKE, named after the renowned Takasuke Pottery, represents the pinnacle of this tradition reimagined for modern life.

The TAKASUKE teapot, which we’re introducing today, is a new-era teapot bearing the prestigious name of ‘Takasuke Touen’, a long-standing leader in Tokoname. While traditional teapots are typically round and spherical, this one features a sleek, flat design called ‘Gokuhira Kyusu,’ making it not only stylish and a perfect fit for any interior but also highly functional. It’s an ideal product for both tea enthusiasts and those new to the world of tea.

Unlike traditional round teapots, TAKASUKE’s ultra-flat design is both stylish and functional. It’s perfect for tea enthusiasts and newcomers alike, promising to enhance any tea-drinking experience.

In addition to the popular white and black colors, we’re introducing a new Shudei (vermilion clay) TAKASUKE exclusively for our Kickstarter backers.

Shudei, or red clay, has been the primary material for traditional Tokoname teapots for generations. It’s the color most people associate with teapots. These unglazed Shudei teapots are made from clay rich in iron content. Teapots made from this type of clay are known for their unique texture and ability to enhance the flavor of tea.

Tokoname clay is rich in iron, which softens the taste of tea, making it smoother and more mellow. This is why tea enthusiasts have long favored Shudei teapots. Moreover, Shudei teapots develop a richer patina and deeper character with use.

We’re offering this new “Shin-Shudei” color for TAKASUKE as a limited edition product, adding a traditional essence to our innovative design.

TAKASUKE’s standout feature is its appearance. Its simple yet sophisticated, no-frills design and understated color allow it to blend seamlessly into any daily scenario. A teapot’s role isn’t limited to brewing – whether stored on a shelf or displayed, TAKASUKE enhances your daily life.

TAKASUKE is an ultra-flat kyusu with a wide bottom surface. This design allows tea leaves more freedom to move when hot water is added, facilitating better expansion and flavor extraction. Through extensive trial and error, we’ve also leveraged ceramic properties to naturally reduce tea’s bitterness.

The handle is sized to accommodate two fingers (index and middle) comfortably, with a protrusion at the bottom to hook your ring finger, enhancing stability. The lid fits with the precision characteristic of Tokoname-yaki teapots. The ceramic body also offers excellent heat retention, ensuring you can enjoy delicious tea. TAKASUKE embodies a practical approach to teapot design, prioritizing usability alongside aesthetics.

While perfect for Japanese teas, TAKASUKE is equally suitable for Chinese teas, Taiwanese teas, and Western-style black teas.

The pottery history of Tokoname, where TAKASUKE is made, is ancient, dating back 900 to 1000 years. Since those early days, kilns have been built on the hillsides characteristic of the Chita Peninsula, and some still sleep in the grounds of Tokoname today. 

scenery of old Tokoname

Tokoname is counted among Japan’s “Six Ancient Kilns” along with Seto, Shigaraki, Echizen, Tanba, and Bizen, and is the oldest and largest among them.

scenery of current Tokoname

Takasuke Pottery was founded shortly after World War II by Osamu Kita as a pottery using a potter’s wheel. In 1964, just after the Tokyo Olympics, they collaborated with other Tokoname artisans to pioneer slip-cast teapots, a departure from the traditional wheel-thrown method. The iron-rich red clay and field clay abundant in Tokoname at the time were not suitable for slip casting, but through countless trials and adjustments to the clay mixture, they succeeded in creating a clay suitable for slip casting while maintaining the unique character of Tokoname-yaki.

slip casting(left) / Osamu Kita, Founder of Takasuke Pottery(right)

Hiroshi Kita, Maker of TAKASUKE & CEO of Takasuke Pottery 

Takasuke Pottery went on to create numerous outstanding teapots, becoming pioneers in spreading Tokoname-yaki teapots worldwide.

The tea strainer is the lifeline of a teapot. As finer tea leaves became popular in the 1970s, Takasuke Pottery developed a ceramic tea strainer to accommodate them. Their fine-mesh ceramic strainer, known as “Sasame”, was a first in the industry and influenced many artists and craftsmen.

Sasame Tea Strainer

Another key player in TAKASUKE’s story is Isobe Shoten, one of the world’s few specialty teapot wholesalers. Throughout their long history, they’ve fostered relationships with numerous craftsmen and artists, building mutual trust and working tirelessly to develop and promote Tokoname-yaki teapots. Takasuke Pottery was one of their valued partners.

Hiroyuki Isobe,Producer of TAKASUKE & CEO of Isobe Shoten

As lifestyles changed from the 1980s to 1990s, teapot production gradually declined. Isobe Shoten and Takasuke Pottery’s collaboration to seek a new Tokoname-yaki teapot was born from this challenge.

Traditional teapots often featured intricate carvings and decorations with many varieties. They focused on distilling these into a simpler, more practical teapot suited to modern lifestyles.

This journey led to the current form of TAKASUKE.

Tokoname teapots, including those from Takasuke Pottery, have survived to this day through the history we’ve described. However, we’re now at a critical juncture in preserving this culture for the future. As lifestyles have changed, shipment volumes have gradually shifted, and Tokoname’s environment has undergone significant changes. The number of potteries has steadily declined from its peak, and the average age of artisans has risen to 75. To overcome this situation, Takasuke Pottery and Isobe Shoten are experimenting with various strategies to connect the region to the future.

With the recent global health consciousness boom, Japanese tea is gradually gaining attention worldwide.

Simultaneously, the number of people enjoying tea with a kyusu is increasing globally. We’ve decided to launch TAKASUKE, a product bearing the name of Takasuke, which has long supported Tokoname, to the world at this opportune moment.

We hope it will inspire more people to enjoy tea and spark interest in kyusu teapots.

We hope that this will inspire more people to enjoy tea and spark an interest in kyusu teapots among a wider audience.

TAKASUKE Tokoname-yaki teapots are designed by the second-generation Mr. Kita of Takasuke Pottery and manufactured by a plaster mold maker in Tokoname City. The teapot consists of six parts: body, spout, handle, lid, knob, and tea strainer. Each part has its own plaster mold and is crafted by skilled artisans.

The ceramic tea strainer designed specifically for TAKASUKE is hand-pressed one by one using a specialized machine, with strict quality control. *Red clay is used for the Shudei tea strainer.

A mixture of clay and water, known as slip, is stirred for a long time and then poured into the plaster molds.

The clay, which contains silica and feldspar, becomes stoneware when fired, making it watertight even without glazing.

The plaster absorbs moisture, forming a layer of clay. This process is adjusted each time due to variations in temperature and humidity across seasons and weather conditions.

Once the required clay thickness forms on the inside of the plaster, excess slip is poured out. The removed slip is adjusted for viscosity and reused.

After sufficient drying, the piece is carefully removed from the mold.

After further drying, burrs are removed and the shape is refined. The lid and knob are attached using slip. 

The body, spout, handle, and tea strainer are attached with slip while ensuring proper balance. The tip of the spout is shaped to prevent dripping.

The teapots are fired in an electric kiln. For the white version, Chara is applied to the surface. Chara is a type of slip unique to Tokoname-yaki, different from glass-based glazes. It’s applied or sprayed before firing to enhance the natural texture of the clay.

Finally, the quality is inspected, and the teapots are packaged for shipping.