Featured Japanese Teapot Set: Mindful Moments in Clay
At Millennium Gallery Japan, we are pleased to present the exquisite teapots of Nankei Pottery, a studio that honours the legacy of Banko-yaki—a traditional craft with three hundred years of history—while seamlessly adapting its artistry to the contemporary lifestyle.
The meticulously calculated design of each teapot masterfully draws out the full, inherent richness of aroma and flavour from the tea leaves. The gentle sound of hot water being poured, the rising fragrance, and the comforting warmth of the earthenware as it rests in your hands—this is a tea experience to be savoured with all five senses, transforming your daily routine into a moment of true quality and refinement.
Table of contents
Banko-yaki & Nankei Pottery
Before introducing the products, we’d like to share the story behind them. All the teaware featured here is Banko-yaki, a type of pottery from Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, with a 300-year history. Named with a wish for "eternal prosperity and excellence," this ware is renowned for its distinctive combination of hardness and surprising lightness.
Carrying this tradition forward is Nankei Pottery, a kiln founded in 1913. They are passionate about creating teaware that balances the functionality needed to brew delicious tea with a simple beauty that harmonizes with modern life. A key feature is their unglazed interior, which naturally softens the astringency of tea, drawing out a smoother, more mellow flavor.
Nested Tea Set (Black / White)
From Nankei Pottery comes this beautifully designed tea set that combines functional and aesthetic elegance. The design, where the teapot (houhin) and cups nest together, is perfect for carefully brewing delicate teas like gyokuro and high-grade sencha. This Japanese teapot set was created for serene tea moments and for offering heartfelt hospitality.
Material and its Intrinsic Qualities:
Made from hard and lightweight Banko-yaki stoneware. The unglazed interior of the Japanese teapot enhances the natural mellow sweetness and rich flavor of the tea leaves.
Design and Aesthetic Appeal:
A minimal and sophisticated design where the teapot and two cups nest into a single, beautiful form. It looks elegant even when not in use, harmonizing with any space.
What's Included:
The set includes one teapot and two teacups. The nested dimensions are a very compact 2.4"H(6.0cm)×4.5"W(11.5cm)×3.5"D(9.0cm).
Suitable Scenes:
Being space-efficient, it's perfect for a personal tea time in a modern living room or study. It also makes a delightful gift for those interested in minimalism or the Japandi style.
Feel and Usability:
The smooth surface, finished by the hands of skilled artisans, feels gentle and comforting. Each gesture of brewing tea becomes a moment of joy.
Japanese Teapot (Sencha Teapot) (Black / White)
This Japanese teapot is designed for brewing sencha, the most beloved tea in Japan, celebrated for its refreshing balance of subtle astringency and umami. Its unique shallow and wide shape allows the tea leaves to unfurl freely inside, ensuring their full flavor is extracted into the water. This teapot is a masterpiece, embodying over a century of tradition and wisdom to deliver the best possible cup of tea.
Material and its Intrinsic Qualities:
Banko-yaki stoneware with an unglazed interior. The uneven surface of the unglazed interior moderately eases the tea's astringency, resulting in a smoother, richer taste. It is also exceptionally durable.
Design and Aesthetic Appeal:
A distinctive shallow, wide form born from the pursuit of functionality. It follows the traditional "yokode kyusu" (side-handle teapot) style yet possesses a timeless beauty that fits modern spaces.
What's Included:
One Japanese teapot with a built-in ceramic strainer. It measures 2.1"H(5.3cm)×7.5"W(19cm)×4.9"D(12.5cm) and is suitable for brewing one to four servings.
Suitable Scenes:
Highly recommended for a wide range of uses, from enjoying daily sencha or gyokuro to offering authentic tea hospitality to guests.
Feel and Usability:
The integrated strainer allows for a smooth pour down to the last drop. The angle and shape of the handle have been calculated for exceptional ease of use.
How to Choose Your Perfect Japanese Teapot
Choosing the perfect Japanese teapot is the first step toward enriching your tea time. Let’s find the right fit for your style from Nankei Pottery's two excellent options.
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Consider How You Want to Spend Your Tea Time:
For the Minimalist or All-in-One Seeker: The Nested Tea Set beautifully combines a teapot and cups into one. It's the perfect choice if you have limited storage space or want a complete set to get started immediately.
For the Tea Connoisseur: The Sencha Teapot is specifically designed to maximize the flavor of sencha. If you already have favorite cups and seek the ultimate brewing performance, this is the Japanese teapot for you.
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Match the Design to Your Space:
The sculptural, unified form of the Nested Tea Set becomes a beautiful object in its own right, fitting perfectly within a Japandi-style interior.
The traditional yet modern design of the Sencha Teapot harmonizes with calm, serene spaces, creating an atmosphere for an authentic tea ritual.
Summary
- A Japanese teapot is the centerpiece of a rich tea experience. Banko-yaki, in particular, is known for its durability, lightness, and flavor-enhancing properties.
Nested Tea Set: A space-saving and beautiful design combining a teapot and cups. It's ideal for carefully brewing high-grade teas like gyokuro.
Sencha Teapot: The ultimate teapot for sencha, designed with a shallow, wide body to extract maximum flavor. It combines functionality with timeless beauty.
To choose the right Japanese teapot, it's important to consider your usage (set or individual pot), the type of tea you brew, and your design preferences.
To hold a Nankei Pottery teapot is to welcome the wisdom cultivated by Japanese artisans and the culture of tranquility that tea provides into your life. The warmth of the clay, the aroma of the rising steam, and the deepening flavor of the tea with every pour—each of these acts brings a high-quality calm and new discoveries to your daily life. We invite you to choose a special piece from our collection that will enrich your tea time for years to come.
