Japan Tales | Ceramics, Tea, Culture & History

What if one of the most influential rooms in Japanese history contained almost nothing? Step through the tiny entrance of Sen no Rikyū’s tea room and discover how simplicity, humility, and quiet beauty transformed the tea ceremony—and helped shape the way Japan sees beauty to this day.

Before Sen no Rikyū became Japan’s legendary tea master, he was a merchant’s son from the port city of Sakai. Discover how his revolutionary ideas about tea, simplicity and beauty changed the way people saw everything from the tea room to the humble ceramic bowl—and helped shape an aesthetic that still influences Japanese ceramics today.

Sen no Rikyū The Man Who Changed the Way Japan Drinks Tea What can a simple bowl of tea teach us about beauty, power, simplicity—and life itself? More than four centuries ago, amid the wars of 16th-century Japan, a merchant’s son from Sakai rose to become tea master to some of the most powerful men in the country. His name was Sen no Rikyū. While rulers built magnificent castles and surrounded themselves with treasures, Rikyū found beauty somewhere else: A tiny room. A simple bowl. A single flower. His ideas would transform Japanese tea, ceramics, aesthetics and hospitality—and his extraordinary...

Usuwa refers to all types of pottery and ceramics used in Japanese daily life--from traditional crafs passed down for generations to modern tableware.  

There are over 40 ceramic regions across Japan, each with its own unique history, techniques, and local clay.  Tokyo Decor store offers some of the most popular brands and kilns areas, loved by customers both in Japan and around the world.