I visited Konishi Yohei shortly before his exhibition in Tokoname in July 2013.
During this visit, I was able to see many of his new creations, including a series of engraved Tokoname teapots.
The teapots shown on this page are part of his engraved series. Konishi Yohei intended to create one hundred variations, each as a one-off piece.
Konishi Yohei uses Indian ink to fill the engraved lines, creating a stronger visual contrast and emphasizing the fine details of the design.
This technique gives the surface of the teapot a distinctive graphic quality while preserving the character of the clay.
The engraved patterns are highly detailed and require careful control.
Konishi Yohei remains energetic in his creative work, and each visit to his workshop reveals something new.
His engraved teapots show how a functional kyusu can also become a highly individual ceramic work.
The works shown here are part of a series of individually engraved teapots.
Although they share a common concept, each piece has its own pattern, rhythm, and surface character.
This approach reflects Konishi Yohei's continuing interest in variation, clay, form, and surface expression.
These teapots were not yet available for sale at the time of my visit.
I hoped to be able to obtain some of these unique teapots when they became available.
For collectors and tea enthusiasts, such works provide a rare opportunity to appreciate both the practical form of a Tokoname kyusu and the individual imagination of the craftsman.
What impressed me most during this visit was Konishi Yohei's constant desire to try something new.
Even after many decades as a potter, he continued to experiment with form, surface, and decoration, showing an energy that made every visit to his workshop memorable.
These photographs offer a glimpse into that continuing creativity and into the evolving world of Tokoname teapot making.