Bizen Ware Beer Cup by Yayoi Shimizu

A Handmade Beer Cup Designed to Elevate Every Sip

Enjoy your favorite beer in a vessel crafted specifically for the experience.

This Bizen Ware Beer Cup by Japanese ceramic artist Yayoi Shimizu is thoughtfully shaped to enhance the texture, aroma, and enjoyment of beer while showcasing the natural beauty of traditional Japanese pottery.

Made from unglazed Bizen clay and fired in a traditional wood-fired kiln, this cup features the warm earthy character that has made Bizen Ware one of Japan's most respected ceramic traditions for over a thousand years.

Whether you're enjoying a cold beer on a summer evening or a warm drink during the colder months, this versatile cup brings a sense of craftsmanship and comfort to everyday life.

Why Bizen Ware Is Loved for Beer

One of the unique characteristics of Bizen Ware is its naturally porous clay surface.

The microscopic pores in the clay help create a finer, creamier foam head, giving beer a smoother mouthfeel than is typically achieved with glassware.

Many Bizen enthusiasts appreciate how the pottery softens the texture of beverages, making each sip feel rounder and more balanced.

Combined with the insulating properties of stoneware, the cup helps maintain the temperature of cold beer while remaining comfortable to hold.

The Beauty of Fire and Clay

Bizen Ware (Bizen-yaki) is one of Japan's celebrated Six Ancient Kilns.

Unlike many ceramic traditions, Bizen pottery is fired without glaze. Instead, the final appearance is created naturally through the interaction of clay, flame, ash, and the atmosphere inside the kiln.

These natural firing effects, known as yohen (kiln transformations), produce one-of-a-kind surface patterns and color variations that can never be exactly replicated.

Every cup is therefore unique, carrying its own record of the firing process.

Crafted for Everyday Enjoyment

While designed with beer in mind, this versatile vessel is equally enjoyable for a variety of drinks.

Recommended Uses

🍺 Beer

• Encourages a fine, creamy foam

• Helps maintain a refreshing temperature

• Enhances the drinking experience through its natural texture

🥃 Shochu with Hot Water

• Excellent heat retention keeps drinks warm longer

• Comfortable to hold even with hot beverages

☕ Daily Drinks

• Suitable for coffee, tea, cold sake, and other beverages

• The natural clay character complements both hot and cold drinks

Product Details

• Name: Bizen Ware Beer Cup

• Artist: Yayoi Shimizu

• Origin: Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

• Material: Bizen Ware Stoneware

• Finish: Unglazed, naturally fired surface

• Firing Method: Traditional Anagama Wood-Fired Kiln

• Diameter: Approx. 8.2 cm (3.2 in)

• Height: Approx. 11 cm (4.3 in)

• Capacity: Approx. 250 ml (8.5 fl oz)

• Weight: Approx. 225 g (7.9 oz)

• Texture: Naturally textured clay surface characteristic of traditional Bizen Ware

• Microwave: Suitable for gentle reheating

• Dishwasher: Hand washing recommended

• Potter's Mark: Stamped on the base with the character 「生」, identifying the work of Yayoi Shimizu

About the Artist – Yayoi Shimizu

Yayoi Shimizu creates Bizen Ware in Okayama Prefecture, the historic home of Bizen pottery.

Her works are fired in a large 13-meter semi-underground anagama kiln, where flames circulate slowly through the chamber and interact naturally with each piece.

This traditional firing process creates the soft earthy surfaces, subtle color variations, and natural kiln effects that define her work.

Dedicated to creating Bizen Ware for everyday living, Shimizu combines traditional craftsmanship with practical functionality, producing vessels that are both beautiful and enjoyable to use.

Please Note

Each piece is individually handmade from forming through firing.

Because Bizen Ware relies on natural kiln effects rather than applied glazes, variations in color, texture, firing marks, and shape are to be expected.

These differences are not flaws but are part of the beauty and individuality of authentic handmade Japanese pottery.

About Craft Ogawa

Craft Ogawa carefully curates exceptional Japanese ceramics and traditional crafts, selecting pieces that embody both artistic excellence and cultural heritage.

Based in Tokyo, Craft Ogawa works closely with artisans throughout Japan to share the stories, traditions, and craftsmanship behind every piece.

Each work is chosen not only for its beauty, but also for the connection it creates between maker and owner.

Experience the warmth of handmade Bizen Ware and transform an ordinary drink into a moment of quiet enjoyment.

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About our store :
We are a select store with a long history, with a physical store in Akasaka, Tokyo.
We carefully select and sell wonderful products from all over Japan.

Because of its location in Akasaka, Tokyo, the store is visited by a great number of foreigners living in Japan and tourists from abroad.
The products we sell are purchased by the owner of the store, who is a connoisseur of ceramics and crafts, after thoroughly examining the products. In this sense, we are distinct from souvenir stores in many tourist destinations in Japan.
If you are able to select and purchase a wonderful Japanese craft from our selection, and if you are satisfied with the quality of the products, it will be worthwhile for us to carefully select and purchase them.