Some people consider Tokoname a sister city of Yixing. Indeed, as Yixing sounds with melodic chimes to Gong Fu Cha enthusiasts, so does Tokoname for Japanese tea enthusiasts.
Tokoname, Japan
Tokoname city is located on the coast of Aichi prefecture, Japan. Most people know it for its clay and pottery production. It's also home of one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns.
The pottery history of this city dates back to the 12th-century Heian period. While potters have been experimenting with clay since then, they perfected this pottery style in the 19th century after the construction of climbing kilns (Anagama).
Since 2007, the Japanese government has officially recognized Tokoname ware as a local brand. The government has also designated individual Tokoname potters as National Treasures, most notably Yamada Jozan III, honored in 1998 for his distinctive Shudei-style teapots. The unique skills of this city’s pottery artists are passed down through generations.
Nowadays, tourists flock to this city to see the multiple pottery museums and clay statues situated around it.
The clay walk in Tokoname.
Tokoname Ware
The local clay is used for a variety of items, including teaware, tiles, wind chimes, bonsai pots, and even religious statues. Potters who make Buddhist and Shinto statues from this clay are revered throughout Japan. Furthermore, Tokoname is the largest producer of Maneki-neko – the waving lucky cat. There, potters make it from the local clay and ship it across the world to bring good fortune and prosperity to their owners.
Tokoname Clay For Japanese Tea
Tokoname kyusu are unglazed. Furthermore, the clay naturally has plenty of minerals that wonderfully interact with the tea. These minerals make the tea smooth, sweet, and rounded, which you can easily notice when drinking some of the sharper Japanese green teas. Many Japanese tea enthusiasts note that the iron-rich clay reduces astringency, which makes a tea's inherent sweetness and umami more perceptible. Read more.
A teapot made from this clay is naturally porous, which allows it to absorb trace compounds from tea over time and gradually build a seasoned patina – similar to Yixing teaware, though many tea drinkers still keep a Tokoname kyusu dedicated mostly to Japanese green teas, given how well the pairing works.
Indeed, the low heat conduction of a Tokoname kyusu makes it perfect for brewing Japanese green teas which require low water temperatures. For example, sencha, gyokuro, and tamaryokucha.
This short and wide Tokoname Teapot is great for brewing Gyokuro.
How To Take Care Of A Tokoname Kyusu
When using your kyusu for the first time, simply rinse it a couple of times with boiling water. That’s it! Never use any detergents with these unglazed clay teapots. After use, rinse with water. If there are any tea leaf particles left, you can wipe them off with a tea towel or with a set of tweezers. Finally, leave it to dry with the lid off. Read more.
