Where it comes from. Hasami, a porcelain town in Nagasaki with over 400 years of kilns. Its makers built their name on bowls for everyday kitchens rather than for a court, which is why Hasami porcelain is light in the hand and hard to break.
How it is made. Thrown from porcelain, then painted by hand: two rabbits, husband and wife, sitting under cherry trees in full bloom. Because each scene is brushed one bowl at a time, the faces and the fall of the petals differ slightly from piece to piece.
Why the rabbits. In Japan the rabbit is a lucky animal — it only leaps forward — and a pair of them stands for a couple. Hanami, sitting under the blossom with food and drink, is the great spring outing. Together they make a bowl for good news and new beginnings.
How it is used in Japan. A spring tea bowl, brought out from the first warm days until the petals fall. The cylinder shape still holds heat for the cool evenings of early April. It comes in a wooden box, the way a tea bowl is stored and given.
On your table. Matcha, or a dessert bowl for a spring lunch. A natural wedding, anniversary or housewarming gift for a couple. Hand wash; no microwave.
