Welcoming Early Autumn with a Handcrafted Kiyomizu-yaki Matcha Bowl

— “Persimmons and Sparrows” by Master Artisan Yagi Kaiho —

After Hakuro, the “White Dew” season in the traditional Japanese calendar, the air begins to shift. The mornings feel a little crisper, the evenings a touch cooler, and the lingering warmth of summer quietly fades. Here in Tokorozawa, the sound of insects at night becomes clearer, almost glassy, as if nature itself is adjusting its tone for the coming season. It is in these subtle transitions that early autumn reveals its presence.

During this time of year, I often find myself reaching for a matcha bowl—specifically, a Kiyomizu-yaki chawan. The one featured here, “Persimmons and Sparrows,” is a piece handcrafted by the renowned traditional craftsman Kaiho Yagi. Every brushstroke, every curve of the clay, carries the unmistakable warmth of human touch. It is a bowl that feels perfectly suited to the quiet entrance of autumn.

■ What Is Kiyomizu-yaki?

Kiyomizu-yaki is a style of pottery nurtured in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, near the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Its roots trace back to the late 16th century, when tea culture flourished and artisans began exploring new forms of ceramic expression. By the 17th century, masters such as Nonomura Ninsei and Ogata Kenzan helped establish the refined aesthetic of Kyoto ceramics, known for their elegant forms and richly painted designs.

Unlike many pottery traditions, Kyoto does not have abundant local clay. This absence of a single defining material allowed Kiyomizu-yaki to evolve with remarkable diversity. Each workshop and artisan developed their own techniques, glazes, and artistic philosophies, resulting in a craft known for its variety rather than uniformity.

Today, Kiyomizu-yaki continues to be produced in the historic Gojozaka area and the modern Kiyomizu-yaki complex in Yamashina. Despite changes in technology and lifestyle, the heart of the craft remains the same: a commitment to handwork, precision, and beauty.

■ The Work of Kaiho Yagi

Kaiho Yagi is widely admired for his gentle, expressive brushwork and his ability to capture seasonal motifs with a sense of quiet life. His matcha bowls often feature scenes from nature—camellias, cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, zodiac animals—each rendered with a soft yet confident touch.

The “Persimmons and Sparrows” bowl is a perfect example of his style. The branch bends naturally, the persimmons glow with subtle gradations of orange, and the sparrows appear calm and present, as if resting in the moment. When you hold the bowl, you can feel the slight rise of the painted lines beneath your fingers. It is a reminder that this is not a printed design, but the result of deliberate, practiced movement—an artist’s hand at work.

This tactile quality is one of the great pleasures of using handcrafted ceramics. They invite you not only to look, but to touch, to feel, and to connect.

■ What This Matcha Bowl Brings to the Tea Experience

A matcha bowl is more than a vessel. Its shape influences how the tea is whisked, how the foam forms, how the warmth spreads through your hands, and even how the aroma rises when you bring it to your lips.

Kaiho’s bowl has a gentle rim that feels natural when drinking, and a rounded body that fits comfortably in the hands. When whisking matcha, the foam spreads softly across the interior, creating a vivid green surface that harmonizes beautifully with the painted persimmons and sparrows. Because the interior also carries part of the design, each sip reveals a little more of the scene—almost like watching autumn unfold inside the bowl.

And then there is the effect on the mind. Preparing matcha in a handcrafted bowl encourages a slower, more attentive rhythm. The act of whisking becomes a small ritual, and the first sip brings a sense of calm that settles gently within the body. Even on busy days, a few quiet minutes with matcha can reset your mood and help you breathe a little deeper.

This is the kind of richness that mass-produced objects rarely offer. A handmade bowl shapes not only the flavor of the tea, but the quality of the moment.

■ A Small Ritual for Welcoming Autumn

As Hakuro passes and the season leans toward autumn, the world around us begins to shift—persimmons ripen, sparrows gather, and the evenings grow shorter. Kaiho’s matcha bowl seems to hold these small seasonal signs within its design.

Whisking matcha in the morning, when the air is cool and still, becomes a gentle way to greet the day. Enjoying a bowl in the evening, when the breeze carries the first hints of autumn, feels like a quiet celebration of the season’s arrival.

To look at the bowl, to savor the tea, to feel the season—these are simple acts, yet they enrich everyday life in a meaningful way.

■ In Summary

• Kiyomizu-yaki is a Kyoto-born ceramic tradition known for its diversity and refined artistry.
• Kaiho Yagi is a master craftsman celebrated for his seasonal motifs and delicate brushwork.
• The “Persimmons and Sparrows” matcha bowl is perfectly suited to the early autumn atmosphere.
• Handcrafted ceramics elevate not only the taste of matcha but the entire experience of preparing and enjoying it.

A single matcha bowl, a quiet moment, and the gentle arrival of autumn— sometimes, that is all we need to feel the season close at hand.

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