Oribe Kezuri-otoshi Carved Sushi Plate

An Oribe 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 at a time. Its simple, quiet presence settles easily into the table.

The glaze is the Oribe glaze that has long been the foundation of Keizan kiln. Built on green, it develops gradations and pools depending on how the glaze settles. The ridges and hollows of the carving marks create light and shadow, bringing out the sushi placed on top.

Wada selects and blends the clay and glaze 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 fired colors differ from piece to piece. Variations in the depth of the glaze, its pooling and running, uneven color, and iron speckles are individual characters born inside the kiln. Small marks and slight warping are likewise not flaws, and do not affect use.

The uneven beauty of the carving marks cannot be reproduced by machine. The piece has the weight unique to ceramic ware, and feels steady in the hand. It is a vessel that deepens in character the more you use it. Beyond sushi, it works well for grilled fish and appetizers.