Collection: Mugs and Teacups

In Japan, tea is drunk throughout the day, and every moment has its cup. This collection brings together mugs for big morning drinks and smaller cups for green tea, served the Japanese way.

The mugs come in several sizes, from a small mug for a long coffee to a large 400 ml mug, up to the 600 ml jumbo size for long breaks. Many have a base left as raw clay, a sturdy handle and a decoration that runs all the way around.

Japanese teacups usually have no handle. The yunomi, tall and narrow, is the everyday cup for green tea; it is held with both hands, which is part of the pleasure. Soba cups, lower and straight-sided, are used for tea as well as small desserts, and often come in sets of four or five.

Most of these pieces come from the Mino region, around Toki and Tajimi in Gifu Prefecture, where a large share of Japanese tableware is made. Others are Hasami porcelain, from Nagasaki Prefecture. Some very fine porcelain cups, known as eggshell porcelain, are almost translucent.

The decorations draw on Japanese patterns: asanoha stars, seigaiha waves, fans, plum or cherry blossoms, tako karakusa, or simply a speckled, matte or crackled glaze.

As for care, each product page specifies the material. Porcelain cups are dishwasher and microwave safe. For ceramic ones, hand washing is recommended, and the microwave can still be used.