Mugihiko Kitagawa - Cloud Vase, tall

Look at this! Such a bold and fascinatingly shaped vase!
This is exactly why I can never stop my yearly buying trips — there’s always something that surprises me.
Thank you, as always, for creating such wonderful pieces that honor your local traditions while continuing to explore new forms. One day, these young makers will surely become part of the region’s long, beautiful history too.

Each vase is finished with a glaze made from vegetables grown on the artisan’s own farm. Fermented for decades, every batch creates a truly one-of-a-kind vegetable glaze, full of depth, color, and story.

Each piece is handmade by Mugihiko Kitagawa in Aso mountain in Kumamoto Japan. 

• Approximate measurement:
  • 7" diameter x 8 3/4"H, opening diameter 1"
  • Weight: 5.5 lbs
• Care instruction: hand wash recommended

Story:

Mugihiko Kitagawa is the second generation of the ceramicist family. His family started the kiln in the 1980s in Aso mountain in Kumamoto Japan. Aso mountain is an active volcano and the local soil contains a lot of minerals and volcanic ashes. The area is also famous for hot springs and a rich environment for farming culture.

Mugihiko’s family invented the “natural ash glaze” using local organic plants, vegetables and fruits. His family raises those vegetables and fruits on their own farm. It takes about 1-10 years depending on the ingredients just to create the natural ash glazes. Due to the natural resources the color comes out differently each round.

Mugihiko traveled to many countries when he was in his 20s and spent time with the local families in each location. Mugihiko is focusing on hand-kneading using those natural ash glazes to express the simple beauty of nature in Aso mountain while adding some uniqueness from different countries where he traveled.