Shigaraki Chawan – Turquoise Stone Matcha Bowl

A vivid, sun-bright turquoise that looks almost like polished stone. This Shigaraki chawan is glazed inside and out in a soft matte turquoise that deepens toward cobalt in places, while tiny white grains of Shigaraki feldspar push up through the surface like stars.

The form has a gentle waist pressed in by hand partway up the wall, a subtle shape that settles naturally between your fingers. Below, the pale, unglazed foot shows the coarse texture of the local clay, edged with a thin line of warm orange where the glaze meets the body.

We selected this piece in person in Shigaraki.

Origin: Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Glaze: Matte turquoise with cobalt depths and feldspar inclusions, inside and out
Form: Hand-shaped waist; chadamari (tea pool) in the well
Dimensions: 11.9 cm × 9.0 cm H
Weight: 290 g
Clay: Coarse pale Shigaraki stoneware, unglazed foot
Marks: Small incised maker's mark on the foot (unattributed)
Condition: New, handmade — feldspar specks, glaze variation, and the textured clay foot are inherent to the piece
Box: Kraft box

Look into the bottom of this bowl and you'll see a small circular hollow ringed in pale blue. This is the chadamari (茶溜まり), the "tea pool," a classic feature of a well-made chawan. It's where the last of the whisked tea gathers, so it can be finished in a final sip.

The potter forms it at the wheel, and tea practitioners look for it when choosing a bowl. Here the glaze pools inside the ring and turns a deeper turquoise, giving the bottom of the bowl a small focal point that appears again each time the tea is gone.

Bright green against turquoise is a bold, joyful pairing, closer to a summer garden than a quiet tea room. The tall, generous walls give room to whisk vigorously without splashing, and the hand-pressed waist gives a secure grip when the bowl is warm.

Hand wash with warm water and a soft cloth. Avoid dishwashers, microwaves, and abrasive scrubbing. Dry fully before storing.

Matte glazes and the bare clay foot can take on subtle tea tones with regular use. Rinse soon after whisking to keep the color bright, or let the bowl gather a patina of its own.

This is the exact bowl photographed. Once sold, it will not be restocked.

Carefully packed and shipped directly from our Kyoto studio via Japan Post EMS, fully tracked and insured.