Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase with a tall rounded form, loop handle, and natural beige and brown ash-fired surface.

Front view of the Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase showing its tall form, loop handle, and natural firing tones.

Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase resting on its side, showing the opening, loop handle, and rounded handmade form.

Close-up of the Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase showing the sculpted loop handle and irregular handmade opening.

Close-up of the Setsugan handmade Shigaraki vase showing the loop handle and textured natural ash-fired surface.

Close-up of the base of the Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase showing the pale foot and natural orange-brown firing marks.

Close-up of the Setsugan handmade Shigaraki vase showing its textured beige, brown, and amber natural ash-fired surface.

Close-up of the opening of the Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase showing its thick irregular handle and handmade texture.

Front view of the Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase with loop handle and vertically textured natural firing surface.

Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase viewed at an angle, showing its loop handle and softly irregular form.

Angled view of the Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase showing warm beige and amber natural firing tones.

Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase with loop handle, rounded body, and naturally varied beige and brown surface.

Side view of the Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase showing the upright handle and textured handmade body.

Setsugan handmade Shigaraki flower vase viewed from the opposite side, with loop handle and warm natural ash tones.

Setsugan Shigaraki flower vase resting on its side, showing the base and natural orange, beige, and brown firing marks.

Tsuchinoko Kiln

Setsugan Shigaraki Flower vase

Name: Setsugan | Shigaraki Flower vase
Brand: Tsuchinoko Kiln
Author: Tsukushi Japan

A unique artisan craft — only this exact piece exists

$320.00

✔ Express Delivery
Delivery estimated between 14 September and 21 September.
Our Shipping Policy

● Duties & taxes included

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

Product Details

In the Box: 1 Handcrafted Flower Vase
Material: High-Fired Stoneware
Technique: Tebineri, anagama yakishime firing
Color Palette: Ash Ivory, Faded Rose, Weathered Ochre, Earth Umber
Dimensions: Approx. Diameter 3.9" × Height 5.7" (100 × 145 mm)
Capacity: Approx. 13.5 fl oz (400 ml)
Weight: Approx. 17.0 oz (481 g)
Origin: Tsuchinoko Kiln, Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Exclusivity Note: Setsugan is shaped entirely by hand and transformed by anagama firing. Its form, texture, natural ash glaze, and shifting color tones can never be reproduced exactly.

Setsugan is a handmade Shigaraki flower vase by master potter Hitoshi Minagawa of Tsuchinoko Kiln. It measures approx. 3.9" wide × 5.7" high (100 × 145 mm), with a 13.5 fl oz (400 ml) capacity.

Shaped through traditional tebineri hand-building, the vase is fired for about one week in an anagama kiln above 1200°C. Pine ash melts onto the clay, forming a natural ash glaze over parts of the yakishime surface, with no glaze applied by hand.

Its high-fired Stoneware body shifts unpredictably from warm brown to ivory, with faint purple hints as light changes. Subtle asymmetry and hand-shaped marks preserve a quiet wabi-sabi character.

Designed for indoor flowers or as a sculptural accent, Setsugan brings the natural character of Shigaraki clay and anagama firing into the home. Clean gently with a soft cloth.

More Information

Tebineri: Shaped Directly by Hand
Setsugan is formed through tebineri (手捻り), a traditional hand-building technique that uses no potter’s wheel. Master potter Hitoshi Minagawa works the clay directly by hand, building the tall body and arched handle while preserving slight asymmetry and tactile marks that reveal its handmade origin.
Anagama Yakishime: Shigaraki by Fire
The vase is fired for about one week in an anagama kiln (穴窯) above 1200°C. In the Shigaraki ware (信楽焼) tradition, pine flame and natural ash transform the surface into yakishime(焼締め). Where ash melts onto the clay, it forms a natural glaze with no applied coating, creating an individual keshiki (景色) that cannot be repeated.
Tetsuki-hanaire and the Name Setsugan
Its handled form is a tetsuki-hanaire (手付花入), a handled flower vase. Setsugan (雪岩) combines 雪, “snow,” and 岩, “rock,” reflecting its rugged silhouette and pale ash surface, like a weathered stone lightly covered by snow.

Care Guide

About your Setsugan Flower Vase
Setsugan is made to hold flowers indoors or stand on its own as a sculptural object.
Gentle care helps preserve the natural yakishime surface, ash glaze, and firing marks created in the anagama kiln.

Maintenance

Gentle Cleaning: Hand wash only with warm water, mild soap, and a soft sponge or cloth.
Avoid the dishwasher and abrasive cleaning tools, then dry thoroughly after cleaning.

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

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still unsure about ordering from Japan?

We get it, ordering from overseas can feel uncertain.

That’s why we treat every order with personal care, just like we’re sending it to a friend.
From careful in-house packaging to full tracking and responsive support, Tsukushi's team is here to make sure your experience feels thoughtful, safe, and smooth; from Japan to your doorstep.

You’re not just buying a product, you’re trusting us with something meaningful.

We take that seriously.

In-house Packaging

Packed by hand with multiple protective layers for a safe arrival.

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Setsugan Flower Vase FAQs

What is the shape of the Setsugan flower vase?

Setsugan is a tetsuki-hanaire (手付花入), a Japanese handled flower vase distinguished by its arched upper form.
Master potter Hitoshi Minagawa builds the shape through traditional tebineri, giving the vase its slightly irregular, sculptural profile.

What makes Setsugan a unique handmade Shigaraki flower vase?

Setsugan is a handmade Shigaraki flower vase shaped individually through traditional tebineri and fired in an anagama kiln.
During firing, flame and pine ash act directly on the Stoneware, creating an unglazed yakishime surface and areas of naturally melted ash glaze.
Variations in form, texture, firing marks, and color make each vase one of a kind and impossible to reproduce exactly.

Can Setsugan be displayed without flowers?

Yes.
Setsugan is designed for indoor flower arrangements but its strong silhouette and textured surface also allow it to stand naturally as a sculptural ornament.
Its restrained form works particularly well in interiors where the material itself is part of the visual composition.

Will the Setsugan vase make a good gift?

Setsugan makes a meaningful gift for someone drawn to Japanese culture, but also for anyone who values objects with a story behind them.
Shaped by hand and transformed by fire and natural ash, no two pieces can ever be exactly alike. Its appeal lies in that authenticity: a vase with its own surface, marks, and character.

How should I care for the Setsugan flower vase?

Hand wash Setsugan with warm water, mild soap, and a soft sponge or cloth.
Avoid dishwashers and abrasive cleaning tools, and dry the vase thoroughly after cleaning.

Do you ship the Setsugan flower vase internationally with tracking and insurance?

Yes. Tsukushi Japan ships Setsugan from Japan to the United States, Europe, and other international destinations we serve.
Each order is carefully prepared in-house and shipped with tracking and insurance for added protection throughout transit.

Setsugan Shigaraki Flower vase

Hitoshi Minagawa

still unsure about ordering from Japan?

We get it, ordering from overseas can feel uncertain.

Setsugan Flower Vase FAQs

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