Set of 5 Kutani cherry blossom tea cups

At a glance

- Kutani-yaki (九谷焼), Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, METI-designated traditional craft
- Set of 5 yunomi (湯のみ); each cup features a cherry blossom variation
- 8.3cm wide, 5.5cm tall; suited to guests, family tea time or gifting

Five cups, each carrying its own variation of the cherry blossom. Set them out for guests and the table arranges itself.

Kutani-yaki (九谷焼) was first produced in the city of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the mid-17th century and is designated by Japan's Ministry of Economy as a traditional craft. It is known above all for its vivid overglaze enamel colours and bold, pictorial surfaces that make each piece feel like a small painting. This set takes Kutani's expressive tradition in a softer direction: the mood is airy rather than opulent, closer to the feeling of hanami (花見, blossom-viewing) than to Kutani's more formal gold-heavy work. The motifs vary across the five cups in colour and arrangement, so the set has a quiet variety without feeling mismatched. The yunomi (湯のみ) form, gently tapered with thin porcelain walls, is designed for daily tea drinking: comfortable to hold, refined enough to bring out for guests. At 8.3cm wide and 5.5cm tall they suit sencha, green tea or any occasion where five people sit down together.