Hokusai Fuji and Big Wave Tea Cup Set | Hand-Painted Japanese Porcelain

Mount Fuji Yunomi Pair

Kyo-yaki / Kiyomizu-yaki by Kagetsu Kiln

This pair of yunomi tea cups is crafted by Kagetsu Kiln, a traditional Kyo-yaki / Kiyomizu-yaki studio in Kyoto, and features hand-painted images of Mount Fuji, Japan’s most revered and iconic mountain.

Since ancient times, Mount Fuji has been regarded as a sacred peak and an object of spiritual devotion. As the highest mountain in Japan, it symbolizes good fortune, strength, and beauty. Its elegant silhouette is widely recognized around the world as a symbol of Japan, making these tea cups an especially meaningful and thoughtful gift.

The cups are made from a soft, warm-toned clay reminiscent of Hagi ware, with a gentle texture created by naturally mixed fine stones. Against this subtle, earthy surface, Mount Fuji is delicately painted, resulting in a refined yet comforting Japanese tea vessel with soft, harmonious colors.

Designs Inspired by Hokusai’s Masterpieces

These yunomi feature two of the most celebrated works from Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji:

• The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura)
  A dramatic scene of towering, swirling waves and small boats caught in motion, while Mount Fuji stands calmly in the distance—silent and eternal, watching over the chaos of the sea.

• Fine Wind, Clear Morning (Gaifū Kaisei)
  Mount Fuji rises powerfully beneath a clear sky filled with scale-like clouds. The vivid deep indigo of the sky contrasts beautifully with the mountain’s red slopes, which transition gracefully into black, red, and green hues from summit to base—an expression of Mount Fuji as it lives in the Japanese imagination.

Artist & Kiln Background

Kagetsu Kiln
Hara Kagetsu
Born in 1941, Kyoto, Japan

Hara Kagetsu trained under his father, Hara Kiyokazu, inheriting classical tea-ceramic techniques from the Goryeo to Joseon periods, including Mishima and Hakeme styles. Building upon these traditions, he developed his own distinctive and refined expressions. Known especially for his Inka (stamped) decoration, his works are admired for their fresh, elegant, and approachable aesthetic.

Awards:

• Kyoto Kiyomizu-yaki Exhibition Prize (1996, 2003)

• Kyoto Prefectural Governor’s Award