Shigaraki Katakuchi – Matte Black Spouted Matcha Bowl

Quiet, graphic, and modern. This Shigaraki katakuchi (spouted bowl) is glazed inside and out in a soft matte black with a faint charcoal sheen, the kind of surface that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. Gentle throwing ridges spiral around the body, catching just enough light to reveal the movement of the potter's hands on the wheel.

Below, a pale cream foot of speckled Shigaraki clay makes a crisp contrast with the black. The spout is pinched cleanly from the rim, and a few small pinholes and glaze pools add texture up close.

We selected this piece in person in Shigaraki.

Origin: Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Form: Katakuchi (spouted bowl) with throwing ridges
Glaze: Matte black with soft charcoal sheen, inside and out
Dimensions: 12.0 cm × 7.5 cm H (excluding spout)
Weight: 239 g
Clay: Speckled pale Shigaraki stoneware, unglazed foot
Marks: Impressed maker's seal on the foot (unattributed)
Condition: New, handmade — pinholes, glaze variation, and throwing marks are inherent to the piece
Box: Kraft box

Many factory-made bowls are smoothed until no trace of the making remains. Japanese potters often do the opposite, leaving rokuro-me (轆轤目), "wheel marks": the gentle ridges left by the potter's fingers as the clay spins upward on the wheel.

These ridges are a quiet signature of handwork. On this bowl the matte black glaze softens them into a subtle spiral that you feel as much as see, giving the hand something to rest against and turning plain black into something alive.

Bright green matcha foam on matte black is one of the most striking contrasts in tea. Whisk directly in the bowl, then use the spout to pour cleanly over milk or ice for lattes, or use it as a yuzamashi for cooling water before brewing gyokuro or sencha.

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

Matte black glazes can show water spots; wiping the bowl dry after each use keeps the surface even and velvety.

This is the exact piece 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.