Hand-Painted Raku Matcha Bowl “Yari-ume” (Spear Plum Blossoms)

Raku Matcha Bowl – “Yari-ume” (槍梅) by Rakunyu Yoshimura

Artist: Rakunyu Yoshimura III (三代 吉村楽入)
Design: Yari-ume (槍梅) – Spear Plum Blossoms
Decoration: Hand-Painted
Style: Raku-yaki (Traditional Japanese Raku Pottery)
Type: Chawan – Japanese Matcha Tea Bowl
Packaging: Traditional Paulownia Wooden Box (Kiri-bako)
Origin: Kyoto, Japan

This beautiful Raku matcha bowl by Kyoto ceramic artist Rakunyu Yoshimura features an elegant hand-painted Yari-ume (Spear Plum Blossom) design.

The plum blossoms and graceful branches are carefully painted by hand across the entire surface of the bowl, allowing you to appreciate the artwork from every angle.

As you gently turn the bowl in your hands, different details of the design come into view, making it especially enjoyable during the appreciation of tea utensils in Chanoyu.

Meaning of Yari-ume (槍梅)

Yari-ume is a traditional Japanese decorative motif featuring plum blossoms and long, straight branches resembling spears.

Plum blossoms bloom in the cold winter months, symbolizing perseverance, renewal, and the arrival of spring.

This elegant motif is especially suitable for winter, New Year, Hatsugama (the first tea gathering of the year), and early spring tea gatherings.

About Rakunyu Yoshimura (吉村楽入)

Rakunyu Yoshimura III, born in Kyoto in 1959, is the third-generation master of the Yoshimura Rakunyu pottery tradition.

He succeeded to the name Rakunyu Yoshimura in 2004 and is a certified Traditional Craftsman (Dento Kogeishi) specializing in Raku pottery.

In 2011, he was recognized by the City of Kyoto as a “Master Craftsman of the Future.”

As a practitioner of the Omotesenke school of Chanoyu, he brings a deep understanding of the Japanese tea ceremony to his ceramic creations.

While preserving traditional Raku pottery techniques, he is known for his creative hand-painted designs, seasonal motifs, and contemporary artistic expressions.

Traditional Raku Pottery

Raku-yaki originated in Kyoto during the time of Sen no Rikyu in the late 16th century and has been closely associated with Japanese tea ceremony ever since.

Raku tea bowls are traditionally shaped by hand rather than on a potter's wheel and are admired for their natural forms, soft texture, and warmth when held.

This beautifully hand-painted Yari-ume bowl combines traditional Raku craftsmanship with the elegance of Japanese seasonal design.

Presented in a traditional paulownia wooden box (kiri-bako), it makes a wonderful addition to a tea ceremony collection or a thoughtful gift for Chanoyu practitioners.

Made in Kyoto, Japan.