Hey Victoria. Its 3" round (without the spout and handle), ±115ml and has a ball type filter. I snatched it somewhere around the start of 2015, Shawn is great when it comes to his etsy page, i could always reserve a bunch of items:)
Ode to the Kyusu
Just got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
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Nice pot and shape! I would just give it a round of everything and see what works.ShuShu wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:05 pmJust got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
C1.jpg
C2.jpg
Well, since it’s clay is more or less similar to Hokoju is was hoping to hear about your conclusionsBok wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:59 pmNice pot and shape! I would just give it a round of everything and see what works.ShuShu wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:05 pmJust got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
C1.jpg
C2.jpg
Haha! If it is similar to Hokujo then it works well for most teas. At least the ones I drink. So far what I like best in it is High mountain teas. More oxidised and or roasted, as well as Taiwan black tea turns out pretty well too. But not noticeably better as the greener ones are. A bit less enthusiastic about Dancong and Shuixian in it. But as I said on another thread, this kind of pot can replace most other pots if someone forces me to only have one claypot (gladly no one does, so I can enjoy my pot addiction
Nice low profile is good for cooler teas like gyokuro. This clay works really well with sencha and roasted high mountain. Once you choose a tea I recommend you dedicate it to that one family of teas; the clay is porous so will begin to absorb tea oils pretty fast. The clay Kohokujo (Shimizu Takayuki ) uses is the same as his father’s (Shimizu Genji), they work in the same studio, Hokujo kiln. I communicate with Asako Isobe via FB Messenger and sometimes look are her pieces on her web site, isobe.shop-pro.jp. Don’t know what /who Masako Yamada is? Or is that her shop in Aichi?ShuShu wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:05 pmJust got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
Got clarification on who Masako Yamada is, from Asako Isobe;Victoria wrote: ↑Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:12 pmNice low profile is good for cooler teas like gyokuro. This clay works really well with sencha and roasted high mountain. Once you choose a tea I recommend you dedicate it to that one family of teas; the clay is porous so will begin to absorb tea oils pretty fast. The clay Kohokujo (Shimizu Takayuki ) uses is the same as his father’s (Shimizu Genji), they work in the same studio, Hokujo kiln. I communicate with Asako Isobe via FB Messenger and sometimes look are her pieces on her web site, isobe.shop-pro.jp. Don’t know what /who Masako Yamada is? Or is that her shop in Aichi?ShuShu wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:05 pmJust got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
“ The president of our company is my husband.
Masako Yamada is my husband's older sister.
So my sister-in-law.
She is in charge of SNS”
Thanks! She was really nice and helpful. And the one who responded when I directly contacted the store.Victoria wrote: ↑Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:12 pmGot clarification on who Masako Yamada is, from Asako Isobe;Victoria wrote: ↑Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:12 pmNice low profile is good for cooler teas like gyokuro. This clay works really well with sencha and roasted high mountain. Once you choose a tea I recommend you dedicate it to that one family of teas; the clay is porous so will begin to absorb tea oils pretty fast. The clay Kohokujo (Shimizu Takayuki ) uses is the same as his father’s (Shimizu Genji), they work in the same studio, Hokujo kiln. I communicate with Asako Isobe via FB Messenger and sometimes look are her pieces on her web site, isobe.shop-pro.jp. Don’t know what /who Masako Yamada is? Or is that her shop in Aichi?ShuShu wrote: ↑Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:05 pmJust got this Kohokujo kyusu from Masako Yamada. She has a shop at Tokoname and online at isobe.shop-pro.jp (though it’s all in Japanese). Some folks here are familiar with her (or with Asako Isobe? not sure how they are related)
The size (110ml) was perfect for me and also the shape.
Still thinking about pairing and would be happy for advice. Perhaps simply sencha? Maybe even sheng? Did anyone try that?
“ The president of our company is my husband.
Masako Yamada is my husband's older sister.
So my sister-in-law.
She is in charge of SNS”
Although their online site only shows Kyusus, I understand that they also sell other kinds of tea/table ware (like cups and plates)? Do you know if they are also supposed to be online? (Hard to navigate the Japanese)
I don't know that the clay has a name: it is pale, almost like a porcelain, but with fairly large and variably colored inclusions--not a smooth porcelain for sure. So far it is LOVELY with sencha but that is all I've used it with. I intend a test with some Fou Shou Shan or other light oolong in the near term, but I bought it with the lighter teas in mind, for times when I have my Petr Novak kyusu filled with a last long infusion, and want more of the same....and because I love the flat shape and many leveled lid and the stunning blue streaked with gray.
More to come when I wrestle my iPhoto library problem into submission. I've got a lot of detail shots from a morning in the garden and then pairing with the blue guinomi/yunomi inside to share.
More to come when I wrestle my iPhoto library problem into submission. I've got a lot of detail shots from a morning in the garden and then pairing with the blue guinomi/yunomi inside to share.
I've been wanting a slightly larger shiboridashi that has lots of wabi-sabi to compliment my Taisuke Shiraiwa pieces. Got this 150ml Shigaraki-ware shibo with Youhen kiln burns. Has a really nice feel to it, much rougher and thicker than Taisuke's elegant work, lots of wabi-sabi for sure. It does sweat though, quite a bit. I left water in it overnight, and noticed around 20ml had oozed out into the surrounding bowl. No cracks, just porous clay. The moisture on the outside of the shibo is pleasant to touch though. Anyone have pieces that sweat a lot? Thoughts on sweating pots? Guess I won't be using it for extended long steeps
For scale, that's a 6" lemon
3 generations of Yamada to the left & back; Minoru, Emu & Sou Yamada. Taisuke Shiraiwa cup & yuzamashi to the right.
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So with gyokuro leaves in the shibo it sweats much less, even with liquid and leaves left in for several hours. Interesting.
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