• A ceramic mug with a flared rim and a vertical pattern of blue and white glaze over a dark brown base.
  • Close-up of the Blue Shodai Mug’s dripping white and blue glaze texture with a glossy finish.
  • Side view of the Blue Shodai Mug showing its handle and hand-applied gradient glaze details.
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Shodai Ware Nakadera Kiln

Blue Shodai Mug

Blue Shodai Mug

$99.00 USD
$99.00 USD
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Earthy, expressive, and quietly bold—the Blue Shodai Mug by Nakadera Kiln brings the beauty of Japan’s Shodai ware tradition into your everyday rituals. Its dramatic glaze, cascading in waves of deep indigo and soft ivory, evokes the flow of mountain streams against volcanic soil—a signature of the region’s natural palette.

The gently flared form and ridged texture offer both visual rhythm and a comfortable grip, while the rich clay base grounds each piece with quiet strength. Perfect for morning coffee or an evening cup of tea, this mug transforms a simple pause into a moment of intention.

As each piece is crafted and glazed by hand, subtle differences in shading and form are to be expected—and embraced—as part of its individual charm.

Detail

Size: W 3.5in x L 3.5in x H 4.3in / W 9cm x L 9cm x H 11cm
Material: Ceramic

Care ＆ Use

  • Handwash only
  • Keep it dry
  • Avoid sudden temperature changes
  • Avoid metal scrubs or abrasive detergents
  • Store safely
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Shodaiyaki Pottery: Everyday Beauty Shaped by Centuries of Craft

Shodaiyaki is a traditional style of Japanese pottery originating in the 17th century, with roots in the mountainous region near Arao in present-day Kumamoto Prefecture. First established under the patronage of the Hosokawa clan in 1632, Shodaiyaki was crafted by potters brought from the Buzen area and quickly became known for its rustic character and durability. Over the centuries, this style evolved into a form of everyday ware—functional, robust, and quietly expressive.

What distinguishes Shodaiyaki is its use of iron-rich clay and natural straw-ash glazes that are often applied using a technique called nagashi-kake—a method of pouring the glaze in sweeping, dynamic motions across the surface. The result is a textured, flowing finish that varies with every firing, producing one-of-a-kind vessels that embrace natural variation. The pottery often features subdued earth tones—whites, yellows, blues, and amber—blended in organic patterns shaped by flame, glaze, and chance. These are vessels meant to be used: warm to the touch, weighty in the hand, and full of quiet depth.

Brand History

Nakaderagama is a family-run Shodaiyaki kiln located in Arao, Kumamoto. Led by father-and-son artisans Kohei and Tomonari Nishikawa, the kiln continues a regional tradition that spans nearly four centuries. Drawing from the old techniques of ko-shodai (early Shodaiyaki), Nakaderagama produces tea bowls, plates, sake cups, and everyday tableware that balance the raw beauty of wood-fired pottery with refined form.

Each piece is fired in a climbing kiln (noborigama) over multiple days, with firewood stoked by hand to create rich, ash-laden textures. No two pieces emerge the same. Through this process, the Nishikawas aim to honor the imperfections that give handmade pottery its life—firing marks, glaze drips, and color shifts that tell the story of flame and earth.

While rooted in heritage, Nakaderagama’s work speaks to modern sensibilities: quietly rustic, humbly elegant, and made for daily use. It is pottery with soul—crafted not to impress, but to belong in your hands, your kitchen, and your life.