About Kochi / Roseki

Origin of Kochi

Origin of Kochi

Kochi (交趾) is mostly glazed, and the main colors are yellow-green-purple-blue-red.
The color is soft, dark, pale and finely pierced.
There is another type called Byakudan (白檀) with gold leaf (金箔) and Urushi lacquer (漆).
Since ancient times, tea masters have admired Kochi-yaki for its beauty.
There is no definitive explanation as to whether the Kochi-yaki (交趾焼), Kochi-ware, is from Southeast Asia or Kochi China.
Introduced to our contry, Japn, before the Keichō (慶長) era.
Based on that, we will make it in our country.

Kochi / Roseki

 

Kochi-ware: AKAZAWA Roseki

The Akazawa family accompanied Kanzan Egen, the founder of Myōshin-ji Temple in Kyoto, on his journey to the capital. From then until the end of the Edo period, generations of the family served as anja.

After the Meiji Restoration, the family became involved in painting and ceramics.

 

Light from the West, Earth from the East: The Art of Light by the Fifth-Generation AKAZAWA Roseki

150 Years of Ceramic Art Since 1877

The Akazawa family has carried on the tradition of Kochi-ware for generations.

In the hands of the fifth-generation AKAZAWA Roseki, Kochi-ware moves beyond the boundaries of craft to become an “art of light.”

 

Light Transmitted in the West, Light Held in the East

From Mediterranean faience to the mosaics adorning Italian cathedrals, the West gave form to the beauty of translucent light.

That vision of light traveled along the Silk Road, reaching China’s sancai ceramics and, in time, Kyoto.

For generations, the Akazawa family has sought to hold that light upon the earth.

Using vivid Kochi glazes, AKAZAWA Roseki creates a deep translucence—as if the earth itself were glowing, with each surface gleaming like a single dewdrop.

 

A New Step at the 150-Year Mark

The second-generation AKAZAWA Roseki’s work was presented at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace, and works by the third generation entered museum collections.

Carrying this history forward, the fifth-generation AKAZAWA Roseki now begins a new chapter.

Earth, fire, and light: discover a singular radiance where thousands of years of history converge.

 

Yoshinori AKAZAWA Roseki 5th

(1971-) Current 

“The 5th generation Roseki Akazawa infuses traditional Kochi-yaki with the realism of Japanese painting and a modern sensibility. His evolving techniques hold the potential to become future antiques. Enjoy his vibrant colors as ‘living art’ that brings elegance to contemporary lifestyles.”

交趾 五代 露石 赤沢嘉則 (1971-)Read More: 5th-Generation Roseki Akazawa

In the 2021 (Reiwa 3), the current generation took the name of the Roseki 5th.  

Since 1877 (Meiji 10), AKAZAWA has been mainly engaged in the pottery of Kochi ware. AKAZAWA’s artistic activity is based in Japan but has been exhibited and collected around the world in Italy, Spain, Austria, Tunisia, France, Latvia, China, Swizerland and many others.

 

Seichu AKAZAWA Roseki 4th

(1941-2020)

 

四代 赤澤露石(1941-2020)Read More: 4th-Generation Roseki Akazawa

“The 4th generation was a master deeply beloved in the world of Tea Ceremony. The dignity and calculated formal beauty of his pieces elevate the prestige of any tea gathering. As a deceased master, opportunities to encounter his works in such excellent condition are becoming increasingly rare.”

Shisuo AKAZAWA Roseki 3rd

(1900-1993)

三代 赤澤露石Read More: 3rd-Generation Roseki Akazawa

“Born in Takefu, Fukui, the 3rd generation Roseki (Shisuo Akazawa) was a pioneering female artist who revitalized the Akazawa lineage after the sudden passing of the 2nd generation. Her works represent a beautiful harmony between the resilient spirit required to protect a historic tradition and the delicate, graceful touch unique to her feminine perspective. Each piece tells a story of passion and perseverance, making it a profound addition to any collection.”

 

Shuzo AKAZAWA Roseki 2nd

(1897-1976)

二代 赤澤露石(1897-1976)Read More: 2nd-Generation Roseki Akazawa

“The 2nd generation Roseki is a true legend, recognized as a Master of Technical Preservation. The fact that his works are housed in the Akasaka State Guest House is a testament to his absolute quality. These are museum-grade masterpieces, truly worthy of being called a family heirloom.”

Motojiro AKAZAWA Kaho 1st

(1848-1915)

初代 赤澤華峯 (1848-1915)Read More: 1st-Generation Kaho Akazawa

“Kahou Akazawa, the first generation, is the founder who breathed new life into the historic Akazawa family through art in 1877. Born into a traditional lineage of Terazamurai (samurai administrators) who served the Myoshin-ji Temple for generations, he took up the brush during a period of great societal change. His passion became the headwaters of the 150-year legacy of ‘The Art of Governing Light,’ and his spirit continues to live on within the works of every generation.”

Kochi Ware in Contemporary Life

Create a Space That Reflects You

A favorite ceramic or work of art can brighten your day and bring small discoveries into everyday life. When welcoming someone special, it may also spark conversation and become part of a memorable occasion.

Kochi is a style of ceramic ware known for its rich colors, including yellow, green, purple, and blue. Long appreciated as tea utensils, Kochi works can also be enjoyed as works of art, bringing color and character to contemporary homes and daily life.

Yoshinori Akazawa, the fifth-generation Roseki, carries forward the techniques of previous generations while bringing a contemporary sensibility to his work. Welcoming a work of art into your home is about more than acquiring an object. It can be an opportunity to consider how you wish to spend your time and the kind of space in which you would like to welcome others.

What Is Kochi?

五代赤沢露石（赤沢嘉則）(1971- )萌黄交趾兎香合

Five-generation Roseki, Yoshinori Akazawa (1971–), Rabbit Incense Container in Green Kochi Ware

Kochi ware is known for its colors, including yellow, green, purple, and blue. In Kyoto, the spirit of Kochi has been reinterpreted and developed into forms suited to Japanese life and the tea ceremony. The official Akazawa Roseki website introduces its history and colors, while distinguishing Chinese Kochi ceramics from Japanese ceramics made in the Kochi style.　About Kochi Ware

Vivid colors can draw the eye, yet the impression a work makes changes with the color and where it is placed. Which work speaks to you? What color would you like to bring into your home? Taking time to consider these questions is part of the pleasure of choosing a work.

Tea Utensils for the Art of Hospitality

Tea utensils are not only tools for preparing tea; they also express the host’s care for their guests. Choosing a tea bowl and thinking about the guest and the season are part of the preparation. The spirit of hospitality begins there.

The colors and designs of Kochi tea bowls and utensils can lend a distinctive character to a tea gathering. For those familiar with the tea ceremony, as well as anyone who values time spent with guests, choosing utensils can be a way to shape a style of hospitality that feels personal.

If you would like advice on choosing a work for a tea gathering, you are welcome to enquire about its intended use and the character of the occasion.

Bring Art into Your Home

Art is not only something to be seen in a museum or gallery. When brought into your home, it becomes part of daily life—something you can return to again and again. Its appearance may change with the season, the light, and the furnishings around it.

When deciding where to place a work, consider not only the size of the room or the color of the walls, but also how you would like to spend time there. Will it be in a space where you welcome guests, or somewhere you can enjoy it quietly on your own? A work of art can shape the feeling of a room and become part of the setting that reflects who you are.

The works of Yoshinori Akazawa, the fifth-generation Roseki, include a range of colors, such as lapis-blue Kochi and young-green Kochi. The official website features works including a lapis-blue Kochi tea bowl and an incense container in young-green Kochi. Works and Colors of Kochi

Discover the Works of Yoshinori Akazawa, Fifth-Generation Roseki

Yoshinori Akazawa, the fifth-generation Roseki, continues the Kochi techniques passed down through generations while bringing to his work his background in Japanese painting and a contemporary sensibility. Each work has its own character, expressed through vivid colors and delicate brushwork.

When choosing a work, you might look beyond its name and technique to consider the colors and forms that stay with you, and how you might use or display it. Asking yourself, “Where would I like to place this?” or “What kind of moments would I like to share around it?” can help reveal what welcoming the work into your life might mean to you.

Enquiries About Works

You are welcome to enquire about works not listed in the online shop, as well as works intended for use at a tea gathering. If you have a question about a work, please email us with details of your intended use or the work that interests you. Contact

Encountering a work of art may bring new pleasures and perspectives into everyday life. We invite you to discover a work that enriches your daily routine, helps shape a space that feels like your own, and brings warmth to time spent with those who matter to you.

Lectures and Exhibition Proposals

If you are considering inviting Yoshinori Akazawa for a lecture or proposing an exhibition, please contact us by email in the first instance. Contact

Please understand that we may not be able to respond to every enquiry.