Two handmade Shigaraki teacups with a textured mottled glaze in earthy brown, beige, and gray tones.

Two Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups showing their rounded forms and earthy mottled glaze.

Ryoen Shigaraki Meoto yunomi set with two handmade teacups displayed side by side.

Close-up of a Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi showing its brown clay surface and textured beige glaze around the rim.

Close-up of a Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi with a textured mottled glaze in beige, gray, and brown tones.

Close-up of the base of a Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi showing the textured glaze and exposed clay foot.

Single Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi with a mottled beige and gray glazed surface.

Single Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi with warm brown clay and irregular beige glaze around the upper body.

Single Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi showing its rounded form and mottled brown, beige, and gray surface.

Front view of a Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi with a heavily mottled beige and gray glaze.

Front view of a Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi with irregular beige glaze over a warm brown ceramic body.

Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing a brown clay body with naturally irregular beige and gray glaze.

Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi resting on its side, showing the rounded body, mottled glaze, and foot.

Interior view of a Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi with natural emerald-green glaze pooled at the bottom of the cup.

Ryoen Shigaraki yunomi resting on its side, showing the mottled beige-gray surface and exposed foot.

Two Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi teacups side by side with contrasting earthy mottled surfaces.

Tsuchinoko Kiln

Ryoen Shigaraki Meoto Yunomi Set Set of 2

Name: Ryoen | Shigaraki Meoto Yunomi Set
Brand: Tsuchinoko Kiln
Author: Tsukushi Japan

A unique artisan craft — only this exact piece exists

$230.00

✔ Express Delivery
Delivery estimated between 14 September and 21 September.
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● Duties & taxes included

100% made in Japan, crafted with integrity and ethical labor practices.

Product Details

In the Box: 2 Handcrafted Yunomi teacups, 1 Small and 1 Large
Material: High-Fired Stoneware
Technique: Tebineri, anagama yakishime firing
Color Palette: Fired Umber, Ash Ivory, Pine Ash Amber, Pale Sand
Dimensions:
Small Cup: Approx. Diameter 3.1" × Height 2.3" (80 × 58 mm)
Large Cup: Approx. Diameter 3.3" × Height 2.6" (85 × 65 mm)
Capacity:
Small: 5.1 fl oz (150 ml)
Large: 5.2 fl oz (155 ml)
Weight:
Small approx. 4.5 oz (128 g)
Large approx. 5.1 oz (146 g)
Origin: Tsuchinoko Kiln, Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Exclusivity Note: Every Ryoen cup is individually hand-built and transformed in the anagama kiln. Subtle differences in shape, texture, and firing tones make each set naturally one of a kind.

Ryoen is a handmade Shigaraki Meoto Yunomi set, a complementary pair of Japanese tea cups by Hitoshi Minagawa of Tsuchinoko Kiln.

Each cup is formed by hand using the tebineri technique, with its individual facets shaped one by one before firing in a traditional anagama kiln. The unglazed surfaces develop warm brown, beige, amber, and ash tones, with natural variations that make every pair unique.

As a meoto set, the two cups are traditionally conceived as a husband-and-wife pairing. Together, they form a refined duo rooted in the Japanese tradition of tableware made for two.

Made primarily for tea, Ryoen also suits coffee and herbal infusions. Microwave safe.

More Information

Formed and Faceted by Hand
Each Ryoen cup begins with tebineri (手捻り), a traditional Japanese hand-building method that uses no potter’s wheel. Once the basic form is shaped, Hitoshi Minagawa creates each facet individually through mentori (面取り), a Japanese faceting technique that defines the cup’s distinctive planes by hand. The process preserves gentle asymmetry and subtle differences in contour, making the character of each piece visibly unique.
Finished by Flame and Natural Ash
The cups are fired for about one week in an anagama (穴窯) kiln above 2,190°F (1,200°C). In the Shigaraki tradition, pine flame and natural ash meet the clay directly, creating a natural yakishime surface without applied glaze. Ash, heat, and flame form a different keshiki (景色), or firing landscape, on each cup, making every surface impossible to reproduce exactly.
Ryoen (良縁): A Name Inspired by a Fortunate Bond
Ryoen evokes a “good” or “fortunate bond.” The name reflects the Meoto (夫婦) concept in Japanese tableware, in which two pieces are conceived as a husband-and-wife pairing, giving this Yunomi set a sense of connection.

Care Guide

About Your Ryoen Yunomi Set
The Ryoen teacups are made to be enjoyed in everyday moments. Their hand-built form and natural yakishime surface require only simple, gentle care to preserve their character through regular use.

Maintenance

Appliances: Microwave safe. Dishwasher use is not advised.
Gentle Cleaning: Wash by hand using mild detergent and a soft sponge. After washing, gently dry with a soft cloth.
After Use: Avoid leaving tea, coffee, or other liquids inside the cups for extended periods. Wash them after use and allow them to dry thoroughly before storing.

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 a Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing its warm brown fired surface, textured glaze, and pale unglazed foot.

Close-up of the smaller Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi with mottled beige glaze, with the larger cup softly visible in the background.

Close-up of a Ryoen handmade Shigaraki yunomi showing its irregular rim and mottled beige, brown, and gray glaze.

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Ryoen Cup Set FAQs

How are the Ryoen cups shaped using tebineri and faceting?

Each Ryoen cup begins with tebineri (手捻り), a Japanese hand-building technique that uses no potter’s wheel.
Hitoshi Minagawa then creates the individual facets through mentori (面取り), shaping each plane by hand before the cup is fired in an anagama kiln.

Why choose the Ryoen Shigaraki Yunomi Set?

Ryoen combines hand-built Shigaraki pottery with the unpredictable character of yakishime firing.
Each Stoneware cup carries its own variations in form, texture, ash deposits, and firing tones, so every set has an individual character.

What can I drink from the Ryoen cups?

Ryoen is designed primarily for Japanese tea, but the cups are equally suited to coffee, herbal tea, and other hot drinks. Their handleless Yunomi form makes them a natural choice for quiet everyday drinking.

Is the Ryoen Yunomi Set a good gift for a couple?

Yes. Ryoen is a Meoto (夫婦) set, a Japanese tableware concept in which two pieces are conceived as a husband-and-wife pairing.
Together with the meaning of Ryoen (良縁), a “good” or “fortunate bond,” this makes the set especially meaningful as a gift for a couple.

How should I care for the Ryoen Yunomi Set?

Hand washing with mild detergent and a soft sponge is recommended, and dishwasher use is not advised. The cups are microwave safe.
Avoid leaving tea, coffee, or other liquids inside for extended periods, and dry each cup thoroughly after washing.

Do you ship the Ryoen Yunomi Set internationally?

Yes. Tsukushi Japan ships internationally from Japan, including to the United States and Europe.
Each order is carefully packed in-house and shipped with tracking so you can follow its journey through to delivery.