Kasama Ware Bud Vase “Raiju”｜By Masami Kobayashi | Japanese pottery vase | Japanese art ceramics

Embracing Stillness, Living with Nature

“Raiju” is a unique Kasama ware bud vase, where deep green clay is traced with white streaks like lightning across the sky.
Created by renowned ceramic artist Masami Kobayashi, this piece blends traditional Japanese pottery techniques with a modern, expressive sensibility—capturing the balance of serenity and strength.

Place it by a window, on a desk, or in your living room with a single flower. Suddenly, the space transforms into a quiet landscape, turning everyday moments into something special.
More than just a vase, Raiju is a vessel for “arranging scenery”—a way of inviting nature into your home and creating a calming dialogue with your surroundings.

Features

• Size: approx. 12cm (4.7 in) diameter × 18.5cm (7.3 in) height (each piece is handmade and may vary slightly)

• Weight: approx. 284g (10 oz)

• Material: Ceramic (Kasama Ware)

• Finish: Matte, textured surface

• Origin: Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

• Artist: Masami Kobayashi

 About Kasama Ware

Kasama Ware, produced in Kasama City since the mid-1700s, is one of Japan’s most respected ceramic traditions.
Its defining trait is freedom of expression—from simple, rustic everyday pieces to highly artistic and avant-garde works. In recent years, young artists have joined the community, giving rise to new forms that fuse tradition with innovation.

About the Artist – Masami Kobayashi

Born in 1952 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Masami Kobayashi has been creating ceramics in Kasama for over 50 years. His work draws inspiration from natural elements such as wind, waves, the cosmos, and new growth—exploring the themes of fragility and rebirth.

Recipient of numerous awards, including the Mainichi Art Award (1994) and the Barcelona Art Exhibition Grand Prize (2001), Kobayashi continues to create pieces that resonate with both Japanese tradition and contemporary art.

Styling Ideas

• Display seasonal flowers in your living room or workspace.

• Use as an artistic statement piece on a shelf or side table.

• A meaningful gift for those who appreciate Japanese culture, ceramics, or fine art.

👉 Raiju is not just for decoration—it creates a landscape.
Bring the quiet rhythm of nature and a touch of Japanese artistry into your everyday life.

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The product price includes shipping. You don't have to pay for shipping.
We ship our goods by EMS, a reliable door to door shipping service by Japan Post.

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Please pay it at your responsibility if required.
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We are looking forward to your order.

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.

Craft Ogawa, Specialty Store
Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan
Mail:  craft.gallery.ogawa@gmail.com