Two Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups with warm brown, beige, and ash-fired surfaces.

Two Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups standing side by side with contrasting earthy firing tones.

Yubae Shigaraki yunomi set with one teacup lying on its side and the other standing upright.

Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi set showing the base of one cup and the dark interior of the other.

Single Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi with a cylindrical form and textured beige and brown surface.

Single Yubae Shigaraki yunomi showing a warm brown body with pale ash-fired markings.

Single Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi with a softly rounded cylindrical form and orange-brown surface.

Single Yubae Shigaraki yunomi with a textured beige and brown ash-fired surface.

Single Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing warm orange-brown clay and pale natural glaze.

Single Yubae Shigaraki yunomi with a cylindrical form and naturally varied brown and beige surface.

Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi resting on its side, showing the circular base and warm firing tones.

Yubae Shigaraki yunomi resting on its side, showing the dark interior and textured beige-brown surface.

Close-up of the base of a Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing its foot ring and natural firing marks.

Close-up of a Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing its rim, dark interior, and textured brown surface.

Tsuchinoko Kiln

Yubae Shigaraki Yunomi Teacup Set Set of 2

Name: Yubae | Shigaraki Yunomi Teacup Set
Brand: Tsuchinoko Kiln
Author: Tsukushi Japan

€135,00

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Delivery estimated between 14 September and 21 September.
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100% made in Japan, crafted with integrity and ethical labor practices.

Product Details

In the Box: Set of 2 Handcrafted Yunomi Teacups
Material: High-Fired Stoneware
Technique: Rokuro Wheel-Thrown, Anagama Yakishime Firing
Color Palette: Kiln Amber, Charred Umber, Ash Bisque
Dimensions: Approx. Diameter 2.8" × Height 3.3" (70 × 85 mm), per cup
Capacity: Approx. 6.8 fl oz (200 ml)
Weight: Approx. 5.4 oz (154 g), per cup
Origin: Tsuchinoko Kiln, Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Exclusivity Note: Each cup is handmade and anagama-fired. Variations in color, texture, and ash effects are natural and make every piece unique.

Wheel-thrown by master potter Hitoshi Minagawa at Tsuchinoko Kiln in Shigaraki, each Yubae yunomi measures 2.8 inches in diameter and 3.3 inches tall (70 x 85 mm), shaped for a steady daily hold.

The surface showcases a characteristic finish traditional to Shigaraki yakishime firing, where ash and flame alone color the clay. Warm amber deepens into pockets of charred umber, while pale bisque settles along the rim. No two cups share the same pattern.

Ash grains and faint spiral marks from the wheel appear across the surface, never twice in the same place. Slight rim irregularities reveal the hand that shaped each piece, not a mold, a quiet trace of wabi-sabi.

Suited for daily tea, the Yubae yunomi pair also serves coffee and herbal tea with ease. Microwave safe.

More Information

An Evening Glow in Clay
Yubae (夕映) takes its name from the Japanese word for the glow of sunset, the warm amber and deep umber tones that spread across each yunomi as the flame moves through the kiln.
This coloring carries the wabi-sabi belief that beauty forms through time and process, not design, a tradition rooted in Shigaraki's centuries of wood-fired pottery.
One Week Inside the Anagama
Each cup is fired inside a wood-burning anagama kiln for close to seven days, fed continuously with pine at temperatures above 1200 degrees Celsius.
No glaze is applied by hand. The result is yakishime, color and texture formed entirely from ash settling and flame direction, which differs with every firing.
Because this process cannot be repeated in exactly the same way twice, no two cups from the same kiln load ever turn out alike.

Care Guide

About your Yubae Yunomi
Even as a handcrafted piece, this yunomi is meant for daily use, not left untouched on a shelf. Bring it into your everyday tea routine, and handle it with gentle care so its character can continue to develop.

Maintenance

Hand Wash Only: Skip the dishwasher for this piece; a gentle hand wash keeps the surface at its best.
Microwave Safe: Unlike many delicate ceramics, this cup can go in the microwave without issue.
Preservation Over Time: Avoid sudden temperature swings and don't let liquid sit inside for long periods.

The Artist

Hitoshi Minagawa

Location: Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Technique: Anagama firing / Yakishime
Tradition: Shigaraki ware

Born in Shigaraki in 1959, Hitoshi Minagawa studied ceramics at the Aichi Prefectural Vocational Training School of Ceramics and the Advanced Ceramics Course at Gifu Prefectural Tajimi Technical High School. In Tajimi, he trained under Osamu Suzuki, a ceramic artist designated as a Living National Treasure.

Minakawa san began making pottery in Shigaraki in 1988 and is now the ceramic artist leading Tsuchinoko Kiln. He creates traditional Shigaraki tea ware and tableware, firing each handmade piece in an anagama with pine wood. Over approximately one week, flame and natural ash form individual colors, textures, and firing marks on the clay.

He has held annual solo exhibitions in Akiruno, Tokyo, since 1990, as well as exhibitions in Ikebukuro, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo. His work continues the kiln tradition established by his father while defining Tsuchinoko Kiln today.

Learn more

Close-up of the base of a Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing warm natural firing tones, the foot ring, and an impressed kiln mark.

Front view of two Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups showing their warm brown bodies and textured beige ash-fired surfaces.

Close-up of two Yubae handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups showing their warm brown interiors, rounded rims, and mottled beige ash-fired surfaces.

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Yubae Yunomi Teacup FAQs

Will the two teacups in my Yubae set look exactly the same?

Not exactly.
Handmade shaping and anagama firing both add variation, so slight differences in form, ash pattern, and color appear from cup to cup.
Both cups draw from the same amber and umber tones, though shade may turn out lighter or darker depending on kiln position.

What makes an artisan-made yunomi like Yubae worth choosing?

A handcrafted yunomi such as Yubae reflects the direct hand of the potter, from the wheel-thrown shape to the natural yakishime finish. No two pieces share identical ash markings or color depth.
Choosing Yubae means owning a cup with its own presence, not a mass-produced replica.

Can I use the Yubae cups for drinks other than tea?

Yes. While Yubae is designed with tea in mind, its shape works equally well for coffee or herbal infusions.
The unglazed yakishime surface holds heat comfortably in hand, suited to everyday beverages beyond tea.

Does the Yubae Yunomi Teacup set make a good gift?

Yes, and a meaningful one. Each cup carries the weight of Shigaraki's centuries-old pottery tradition and the artisan's hand, not just a firing effect.
Since the anagama process cannot be repeated the same way twice, no other set will ever match the one you give, a gift built on real craft and history.

How should I care for my Yubae yunomi?

Hand washing is the recommended method for this piece; the dishwasher is not advised, though the cup is safe to use in the microwave.
Wash gently with warm water, avoid sudden temperature changes, and don't let liquid sit inside for long periods. With regular use, the unglazed surface settles into a deeper, more personal tone.

Do you ship internationally, and is my order insured and trackable?

Yes, we ship worldwide, including the United States, Europe, and beyond, with every order fully insured and trackable from dispatch to delivery.
Each piece is carefully packed in-house, and our team remains available if you have questions before your cup arrives.