Shortage

A growing problem within tea communities is the decline in farmers due to an aging population and changing municipalities. There are two factors that lie behind this problem, which are crucial to the tea industry.

　Origin

Firstly, Japan’s birth rate has been declining over the past 8 years. According to the Ministry of Finance, they have recorded that the birth rate in Japan was all time low at 720,000 people, a 5.6% decrease from the previous year, and a decrease in population by 0.48% from the whole population. This would also mean that most of the population will cluster around the elderly and would affect the future economy of Japan.

Once the Edo period began, the Hachitataki culture changed into the form of Kadozuke (門付), which means standing at household gates to perform and solicit almsgiving, and became one of the essential activities held on the streets of Kyoto during the winter season. The background behind naming this tea bowl “Hachitataki” was all these Kyoto folk prayers and the silent winter memories that Kyoto had. Igorō has secretly tied the idea of tea and Hachitataki and created a special bowl.

Seasons

Yūsai ware’s black tea bowl deliberetly removed the ellegant texture as well as dynamic imagery in the bowl to prevent the assertive expression but rather served as a tool that accompanies the daily practice and the seasonal changes referring to the Wabi culture. “Hachitataki” is again used each year in “Nōkai” (納会) which is a closing ceremony of the year as they also emphasize the gratitude towards the year.

Mr. Kizu Sousen