Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mug beige background from side, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mug beige background inside, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mug beige background from bottom, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs beige background one from side the other inside, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs beige background from side, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mug beige background, Tsukushi

Usurai Pottery

Seiha Tea Mug Crackle Glaze, Azure

Name: Seiha | Tea mug
Brand: Usurai Pottery
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

$90.00

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Delivery estimated between 5 August and 11 August.
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100% made in Japan, crafted with integrity and ethical labor practices.

Product Details

In the Box: 1 Handcrafted Tea Mug
Material: Glazed Pottery with Natural Crazing
Color Palette: Deep Azure, Midnight Blue, Charcoal Black, Clay Brown
Dimensions: Approx. Diameter 3.7" × Height 4.3" (95 × 110 mm)
Weight: Approx. 10.6 oz (300 g)
Volume: Approx. 13.5 fl oz (400 ml)

Exclusivity Note: Each and every Tea Mug is carefully handcrafted, resulting in slight variations that make each piece unique.

The Seiha Tea Mug has a tall, balanced silhouette that rises cleanly from a dark, grounded foot, giving it presence without excess.

Handmade in small batches by master potter Taichi Kawai in Kyoto, the surface features a refined crackle glaze that forms naturally in the kiln, with fine lines emerging as the glaze cools and shifting from deep midnight blue near the rim to softer azure across the body.

Gentle variations in tone ensure each mug stands apart from factory production.
For tea, coffee, latte, or even chilled spring water, it settles easily into everyday use.

More Information

Handshaped with a Quiet Sense of Distinction
Each Seiha Tea Mug is shaped and glazed by hand in small batches, allowing every piece to develop its own identity.
Slight asymmetries, tonal depth, and fine surface variation are natural signs of the making process, not defects to be removed. Rather than following factory uniformity, each mug reflects the presence of the artisan and the quiet individuality of Japanese pottery.
Artistic Glaze with Evolving Character
The surface of Seiha is enriched by a delicate crackle glaze that forms during high-temperature firing, creating fine lines and a softly changing texture.
This is part of the artistic mastery behind the piece, where heat, glaze, and craftsmanship work together to produce a living surface.
With time and use, the finish gains even more depth, expressing the understated beauty often associated with wabi sabi pottery.
Cultural Heritage of the Tea Mug Form
The Seiha Tea Mug draws from the spirit of Japanese everyday drinkware, where usefulness and beauty are meant to exist together.
While adapted to a modern mug form, it remains connected to the tradition of handcrafted Japanese vessels made for daily tea moments and quiet routines.
Through the Seiha name and its refined shape, the piece carries forward the cultural value of Japanese pottery into contemporary life.

Care Guide

About your Seiha Tea Mug
Even as a refined piece of artistic pottery, Seiha is made to be used and appreciated, not kept on display. It is practical for daily moments, and it rewards gentle handling.

Maintenance

Microwave and Dishwasher: This mug is microwave and dishwasher safe.
In the dishwasher, place it securely and avoid direct contact with other items, especially around the rim.
Gentle Cleaning: Hand washing with a soft sponge and mild detergent is ideal.
After rinsing, dry thoroughly with a soft cloth to maintain the surface texture and keep water spots away.
Preservation Over Time: The subtle ceramic crazing is part of the natural finish and may deepen with use.
With mindful care, the mug will age gracefully, gaining quiet depth and character.

The Artist

Taichi Kawai

Location: Kyoto, Japan
Technique: Kannyū
Tradition: Kyoto ware / Shigaraki ware

Kyoto-born Taichi Kawai studied ceramics at the Kyoto Institute of Traditional Crafts, then refined his practice in Shigaraki, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, before founding Usurai Pottery (陶房薄氷) in Kyoto.

His work has been shown in multiple national solo exhibitions.At Usurai, he works with Hyōretsu Kannyū Yū (氷裂貫入釉), a rare glaze that forms a delicate web of translucent lines across the surface, like ice beginning to fracture. This is ceramic crazing in its most considered form.

"I want my pottery to be used every day," he says, "but I also want it to stop you for a moment. Depending on the light, each piece glows differently. Look closely."

Learn more

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs black background reflection from side, Tsukushi

For the Moments You Value

Because You Deserve the Exceptional

Ultimately the choice is yours.

You can choose something ordinary, mass-produced, and soulless, or you can choose a piece that exists beyond trends and repetition, unique just like you.
Each Seiha is handcrafted in small batches, finished with a delicate crackle glaze, and entirely unique in its Azure and Midnight Blue tones, feel, and presence.
This is more than a tea mug. It’s a rare expression of Japanese artistry, created for those who understand the value of what can’t be repeated.

If that speaks to you, Seiha is already yours. You just haven’t brought it home yet.

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs beige background with shadow one from side the other inside, Tsukushi

Beauty That Makes You Pause

Not Just a Mug, a Peaceful Moment

In the rush of everyday life, stillness can feel out of reach. But sometimes, it starts with something simple, like a tea mug that holds more than just a drink.

Seiha is shaped slowly by hand, not molded by machines, which means each piece carries its own unique character. The soft crackle glaze captures light in varying tones, and the slight differences in form are the natural marks of a handmade process.
This is the heart of wabi sabi pottery: a Japanese aesthetic that embraces irregularity, honors natural beauty, and sees those variations not as flaws, but as something to be valued. It’s what makes each Seiha not just different, but deeply personal.

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs beige gradation background with shadow from side, Tsukushi

Cultural Notes

Tradition Reimagined, Beauty Rediscovered

Inspired by the traditional yunomi (湯呑) a Japanese teacup without a handle used in everyday tea rituals, Seiha blends timeless form with thoughtful innovation. Its curved handle offers the comfort of a Western pottery mug, while the shape and feeling remain rooted in Japanese craft.
The surface is finished with a fine crackle glaze, known in Japan as kannyū (貫入): a natural network of lines formed during cooling. This elegant detail is known as ceramic crazing, or craquele in Europe. It reflects the wabi sabi meaning of beauty in irregularity and quiet asymmetry, an aesthetic that values what is natural, unrepeatable, and real.

Pottery workshop black and white, Tsukushi

A surface of quiet movement: fine pottery crazing, translucent lines, and tones that shift with every glance.
This handmade ceramic mug invites not just use, but pause, where texture, light, and craft meet in stillness.

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Learn More About Seiha

Tea Mug Q&A

Is the Seiha tea mug safe to use in the microwave or dishwasher?

Yes, the Seiha Tea Mug is safe for both microwave and dishwasher use.
That said, we recommend handling it with care. Place it gently in the dishwasher, avoiding contact with other items, especially along the rim, to prevent chips.

After washing, dry thoroughly with a soft cloth to help maintain the clarity and texture of its crackle glaze.

Can I use the Seiha Tea Mug every day?

Definitely.
The Seiha Tea Mug set is made for daily use, whether you’re sipping tea or another favorite drink. It feels great in the hand, and the fine crazing gains character over time. That’s exactly what potter Taichi Kawai hoped for.
Just avoid soaking and dry well after washing. For frequent use, a simple medome treatment can help protect the glaze.

Would the Seiha Tea Mug make a nice gift?

Absolutely. With its refined shape, soft azure tones, and handcrafted finish, Seiha is a beautiful choice for meaningful Japanese gifts.
Each mug is shaped one by one, with crackle glaze patterns that catch the light and deepen over time.
Whether given for a special occasion or as a thoughtful gift from Japan, Seiha carries beauty, intention, and true craftsmanship.

Ok but…..Why is the Seiha Tea Mug so special?

Each Seiha mug is a singular work of craft, shaped one by one without molds and finished with a soft crackle glaze, so no two are alike.
Its fine lines, gentle tones, and quiet weight come from a process guided by patience, not speed.
This isn’t mass-produced, but Japanese pottery that carries the maker’s hand, the passage of time, and a sense of stillness you can feel.

Can I pair the Seiha Tea Mug with my regular Western tableware?

Absolutely. Seiha blends naturally with both Western and Japanese tableware.
Its curved form and soft glaze add a calm contrast to modern ceramics, stoneware, or minimalist settings.
It also works beautifully as a handmade coffee mug, bringing warmth to daily rituals. Rooted in tradition yet flexible in use, Seiha adds quiet balance to any table.

Do you ship to Europe and US, and what about insurance?

Yes. We ship worldwide, including the EU and the US, and all shipments are insured.

Once your order ships, we’ll provide a tracking number so you can monitor the delivery easily. Each parcel is packed securely and handled with the utmost care so it arrives safely.

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mug beige background handle zoom, Tsukushi

Japanese handcrafted crazing ceramic Tea mugs beige background zoom, Tsukushi

Featured Focus

Seiha, Reflections in Motion

The name Seiha (青波) combines the two Japanese characters of 青, meaning “blue” or “pure,” and 波, meaning “wave.” Together, they evoke the image of light moving across water, shifting, soft, alive. This poetic name mirrors the surface of the mug itself, where the fine ceramic crazing reflects subtle color variations, like ripples catching the light.
For master potter Taichi Kawai, the goal was never simply to create something beautiful, but something that feels. “I want it to be used every day,” he says, “but also to stop you, for a second, to notice its beauty and reflect on it.”
Seiha does exactly that. Calm in form, yet full of quiet motion, it’s an object meant to be lived with, held, seen, and softly admired.