Shōraku 昭楽 - Aka-raku Seppō Red Raku Chawan

This Aka-raku chawan (matcha bowl) is a replica (写 - utsushi) of Seppō (雪峯 - Snow Peak): a 17th century bowl made by the legendary Hon'ami Koetsu (本阿弥 光悦).  Like the original, it has a deep, round, circular shape with an inward-curving lip: one of Koetsu's signature styles. Accented the soft red clay is a splash of white glaze that gives the bowl its name: "Snow Peak". Replicating the dramatic kintsugi of the original bowl, the 'cracks' are carved into the surface and filled with a gold paint. Handbuilt from Shoraku's lightweight red clay blend and coated with a translucent glaze, each chawan is then fired individually at around 800C.  Made by Sasaki Shōraku (佐々木昭楽) of Shōraku Kiln (昭楽窯). This is the same Sasaki Shōraku that produces work signed (松楽), which is also read as Shōraku. Works stamped (松楽 - Shōraku) are more entry grade, whereas works stamped (昭楽 - Shōraku) are of a higher quality. The current kiln is located in Kameoka, Kyōto and was built in 1944. That same year, Sasaki Sh