Mino Ware Nagara series mug "Aigetsu Shiro"

At a glance

- Mino-yaki (美濃焼), Toki City, Gifu Prefecture; by Minoru Touki (みのる陶器)
- Aka-tsuchi red clay body with kan'nyu crackle glaze; each piece uniquely patterned
- Aigetsu Shiro (藍月白): indigo and white glaze suggesting moonlight on water
- 9.9cm wide, 7cm tall, 280ml; season before first use to prevent staining

The name Aigetsu Shiro (藍月白) combines ai (藍, indigo), tsuki (月, moon) and shiro (白, white): indigo-moon-white. The glaze earns the name. Soft layers of white and blue pool and shift across the surface, each mug catching the colours differently depending on where the glaze settles during firing. A fine crackle pattern (kan'nyu, 貫入) runs through the surface, deepening gradually with use.

The Nagara series is made in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, at the heart of the Mino-yaki region. The mugs are formed from aka-tsuchi (赤土), an iron-rich red clay that gives the glaze colours their particular depth and warmth. Each piece develops kan'nyu (貫入), a fine crackle pattern in the glaze that appears during cooling and deepens with use over time. Because aka-tsuchi is slightly absorbent, seasoning the mug with starchy water before first use (a process called mezome, 目止め) is recommended if you want to prevent staining. The compact, gently tapered body feels solid without being heavy, with a hand-attached handle sized for everyday comfort. At 9.9cm wide and 7cm tall, holding 280ml, it suits coffee, tea or a small matcha latte."