Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl Bowl & saucer

Yes, it is.
The Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl, complete with its lid and saucer, is both microwave and dishwasher safe.
Though made using traditional techniques, this piece of Japanese ceramics was created for everyday life.
We recommend placing each part gently in the dishwasher, ensuring it doesn't touch other items, to protect its surface over time.

Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) is a traditional Japanese egg custard, delicately steamed and served warm. The name combines 茶碗 (chawan), meaning “tea bowl,” and 蒸し (mushi), meaning “steamed.” Interestingly, Chawanmushi refers both to the dish itself and to the vessel used to serve it.
Traditionally, lidded chawanmushi cups are used to retain heat and protect the silky texture of the custard. These cups are a staple of refined Japanese pottery, balancing utility with aesthetic simplicity.
The Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl, shaped by hand and finished without glaze, continues this legacy, honoring the form while elevating it with presence and craft. It’s not just a container, but part of the experience.

Absolutely.
The Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl was designed with timeless balance, making it easy to pair with both traditional and contemporary Western tableware.
Its soft curves, matte black surface, and minimal silhouette allow it to blend effortlessly with stoneware, porcelain, or even rustic ceramics. Whether you're serving soup, a savory custard, or a dessert, this piece feels perfectly at home.

Rooted in Japanese pottery, Kokutama feels familiar to those who appreciate the clean design of ceramic pudding cups with lids, but it carries something more: the warmth and irregularity of a handcrafted piece. It adds a quiet sense of harmony to any setting, whether your table is Japanese, Western, or somewhere in between.

While traditionally used for Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し), the Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl is remarkably versatile.
Its size and form make it ideal for small portions, warm soups, savory custards, or even refined desserts like panna cotta or fruit compote.

Because it’s a ceramic cup with lid, it also helps retain heat and aroma, making it perfect for gently warming broths or presenting individual starters with elegance.
Whether part of a multi-course meal or a quiet breakfast, Kokutama transforms the simplest dish into something intentional and beautifully contained.

Yes, absolutely.
While it reflects the quiet refinement of Japanese pottery, the Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl was designed for daily use.
Its thoughtful proportions and matching lid make it practical for serving warm starters, soft eggs, or light desserts, even during the most ordinary moments.

Like other Japanese ceramic bowls, it offers a balance of function and form. Microwave and dishwasher safe, it fits effortlessly into your routine, adding a sense of calm and care to every meal.
Beauty doesn’t have to be saved for special occasions.

Kokutama is more than a functional bowl.
While it was designed for serving small dishes like Chawanmushi, its sculptural form and unglazed black finish make it equally suited for display.
It fits beautifully within the aesthetic of Japanese home decor, where everyday objects are chosen not just for utility, but for presence.
Placed on a shelf, a wooden tray, or by a window, it becomes part of the atmosphere, quiet, intentional, and grounding.
Whether used for food or simply as an object of stillness, the Kokutama Chawanmushi Bowl brings meaning to the spaces you inhabit.

What sets Kokutama apart is not just its form, but the quiet intention behind it.
Each piece is handcrafted in small batches using traditional methods, shaped without molds, and left unglazed to reveal the raw beauty of the clay.

Rooted in the tradition of Japanese ceramics, it embodies the spirit of the wabi sabi aesthetic, where simplicity, imperfection, and natural texture are embraced as expressions of beauty.
The soft curves, the weight in your hands, the subtle irregularities: each detail invites you to slow down and notice more.
Kokutama isn’t mass-produced. It’s made to carry presence, purpose, and peace into the spaces we live in.

Yes, Kokutama makes a thoughtful and refined gift, one that feels personal, meaningful, and lasting. Its handcrafted quality and quiet presence make it ideal for those who appreciate beauty in everyday moments.

Whether it’s for a housewarming, birthday, or quiet gesture of thanks, Kokutama stands apart from typical kitchenware. As part of a curated selection of Japanese gifts, it carries the calm and care of the culture it comes from.
It’s not just something to give. It’s something to be remembered.