Kohiki Carved-Away Sushi Plate

A kohiki sushi plate made by Kazufumi Wada, the fourth-generation potter at Keizan kiln in Toki, Gifu Prefecture. The surface of each rectangular plate is carved and finished by hand, one piece at a time. Its simple, quiet presence sits easily on the table.

The glaze is kohiki, with a white skin. The ridges and hollows left by the carving create light and shadow, setting off the sushi placed upon it.

Wada selects and blends the clay and glazes himself. Using carving chisels and metal blades, he shaves the surface away little by little — work that demands concentration, skill, and time.

Even with the same clay, technique, and glaze, the colors that emerge from the firing vary. Variations in glaze density, pooling, runs, uneven color, and iron speckles are the individual character born in the kiln. Small blemishes and slight warping are likewise not defects, and do not affect use.

The uneven beauty of the carved marks cannot be reproduced by machine. The piece has the weight unique to pottery, and feels stable in the hand. It is a vessel whose character deepens the more it is used. Beyond sushi, it works well for grilled fish and appetizers.