A striking contemporary Japanese matcha tea bowl by ceramic artist Michio Aoki (青木道夫), complete with its original signed wooden box (tomobako) and artist profile. Born in Toyama Prefecture, Aoki is a respected contemporary ceramic artist who established Shokei Kiln (松渓窯) in Tomisato, Chiba. Unusually for a ceramic artist, he graduated from the Faculty of Science at Tokyo University of Science before pursuing ceramics professionally. Throughout his career, he has received selections and awards at the Nitten Exhibition and other prestigious Japanese craft exhibitions. The most remarkable feature of this tea bowl is its spectacular Kairagi (梅花皮)-like surface, where an intricate network of crackled, textured glaze covers the entire vessel. Rather than being confined to the foot as seen on many traditional tea bowls, the dramatic texture extends across the whole form, creating an exceptionally bold visual impact. The vivid cobalt-blue glaze flows naturally through the crackled pattern, producing a striking contrast between deep blue and soft white. The result evokes the appearance of fractured ice or crystalline formations, giving the bowl a distinctly modern yet timeless character. Creating this type of textured glaze requires precise control of the relationship between the clay body, glaze composition, firing temperature, and cooling process. Achieving such a consistent and dynamic surface over the entire bowl demonstrates considerable technical skill and reflects the artist's deep understanding of ceramic materials. The bowl offers different expressions from every angle, making it not only an excellent tea ceremony utensil but also a compelling work of contemporary Japanese ceramic art worthy of display. It comes with its original signed wooden box and artist documentation, further enhancing its authenticity and collectability. Dimensions: Height: 7.8 cm Diameter: 12.5 cm Weight: 300 g Packed weight: 800 g 【Notice】 Recently, the number of unpaid orders has unfortunately increased. Please place a bid only if you intend to complete the purchase. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 【Shipping & Tax】 The item will be carefully packed to ensure safe international delivery. Shipping will be arranged via Japan Post International ePacket Light with tracking. Estimated delivery time is approximately 2～3week, depending on the destination. Please note that VAT, customs duties, and any other import taxes are the responsibility of the buyer. Please note that as of 1 July 2026, the EU has abolished the de minimis customs exemption. All shipments to EU countries are now subject to import duties and VAT regardless of the declared value of the goods. For shipments with a declared value under €150, an additional customs processing fee of €3 may also apply. For customs clearance, the shipping carrier or customs office may contact you directly. Please make sure to respond promptly if contacted. In some cases, you may not receive a notification. Therefore, we kindly ask you to monitor the tracking information regularly. If the tracking status appears to be on hold, please contact the shipping carrier or customs office directly. If the parcel is returned to Japan due to non-response or failure to complete customs procedures, additional return and reshipping costs will apply. Please take note of this before bidding.