About Soma-yaki

Ōbori Soma-Yaki is an over 400-year-old pottery style from Fukushima, Japan, famous for its distinctive “Blue Cracks” glaze.

The “Blue Cracks” glaze is established by the different shrinkage factor between the clay and the glaze. When the enamel is cracking in the kiln it starts “singing” as the glaze on every piece of pottery cracks and produces a beautiful sound. The cracks in our cups are not darkened with ash from the beginning, so they will darken over time, as their owner uses them.

In 2011 the birthplace of Soma-Yaki got destroyed by a tsunami and our artisan has since moved to start anew, keeping this stunning and unique pottery style alive. Asemi Artisan Soma-yaki cups are made by Kyoko Kondo of Kyōgetsu Kiln, in the Fukushima prefecture.