Takasuke Touen

About Takasuke Touen: Founded shortly after World War II by Osamu Kita in Tokoname, Japan, Takasuke Touen is a historic pottery studio known for pioneering innovation in Tokoname-yaki teapots. Originally established as a wheel-thrown pottery workshop, the studio became one of the first in Tokoname to develop slip-cast kyusu (Japanese teapots) in the 1960s, redefining traditional teapot production through technical experimentation and craftsmanship.

At the time, Tokoname’s iron-rich red clay was considered unsuitable for slip casting. Through years of research and countless adjustments to clay composition, Takasuke Touen successfully created a casting method that preserved the warmth, texture, and character unique to Tokoname ceramics while allowing for more refined and consistent forms.

The studio is also known for developing the ceramic tea strainer “Sasame,” an industry-first innovation created in response to the growing popularity of finer tea leaves in the 1970s. Its fine ceramic mesh became highly influential among Japanese teapot makers and remains an important contribution to modern kyusu design.

As lifestyles and tea culture evolved through the 1980s and 1990s, Takasuke Touen continued to rethink the role of the kyusu in contemporary life. This pursuit led to the creation of the TAKASUKE brand — a collection centered on simplicity, functionality, and timeless design. Through TAKASUKE, the studio aims to share the culture of Japanese teapots globally and introduce more people to the experience and beauty of kyusu.

Today, Takasuke Touen is respected for its balance of tradition and innovation, carrying forward Tokoname’s ceramic heritage while continuously reimagining it for modern living.