These three cups share the same shape and the same considered craftsmanship, and that is where the similarities end. Each one has been glazed and finished in an entirely different tradition, and together they make a set that covers a remarkable amount of aesthetic ground.
The Marumon is the boldest of the three. Deep navy blue with loose, brushed white circles painted across the surface in a style that feels more like abstract art than tableware. The glaze is textured and uneven in the way that only hand-applied finishes can be, and the clay body shows through at the rim and base.
The Sogi Futosabi is quieter. A pale cream ground with vertical streaks of amber and brown running from rim to base, as though the glaze itself decided to move. It has the quality of bark or worn stone, organic and unhurried.
The Sogi Ofuke is somewhere between the two. A deep earthy blue with horizontal ridging and a rough, almost geological texture. The glaze shifts between blue, grey, and near-black depending on the light. The interior is smooth and pale by contrast, which gives it a satisfying duality.
At 290ml each, these are the right size for green tea, hojicha, sake, or any small drink that deserves to be held in something beautiful. Use all three at once for guests and let everyone pick their favourite, or keep them for yourself and rotate them with your mood.
Dishwasher and microwave safe. Designed and made in Japan. 9.7 x 8.5cm per cup.
