Notes on Japanese Teapot Kyusu – Hachijyu Hachiya -

Kyusu made from the Tokoname Yaki Style

This Japanese teapot is made by the traditional Tokoname Yaki pottery style that started out from the Tokoname region of Aichi prefecture (a little south west of Tokyo) from the 1100s. Tokoname yaki is said to be the ultimate art of clay and fire, and this clay material is said to give the tea a mellow and smooth taste.

Unique Built-in Clay Strainer

Usually kyusu will have a stainless steel strainer; however this kyusu is very unique that the strainer part is already made by the handmade holes that are near the spout as shown below. There are eighty eight holes in this strainer and eighty eight in Japanese is hachijyu hachi, a very similar name to the tea pot, right?

Where did the name “Hachijyu Hachiya” come from

Just to let you know, the name of this tea pot Hachijyu Hachiya means eighty eight nights in Japanese. In Japanese tea industry, it is said that the first pick/harvest teas starts from the eighty eighth night from Risshun (first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar which is around beginning of Feb). Teas that are harvested in hachijyu hachiya (eighty eighth night) are marked the highest price in the market and is said to be have luck. This tea pot kyusu is named after the lucky eighty eight nights and made holes the lucky eighty eight too.

Great with Organic Sencha Superior

This kyusu can only make 0.93 cups at once, and it is suitable for high-end loose leaf teas that are recommended to be taken in small amounts. Today, I have made organic sencha superior with this kyusu tea pot.

This is a highly recommended tea pot for single serving high-end teas. Also it is very easy to keep it clean since it does not have a steel strainer. No worries for the tea leaves to be clogged in the strainer.

If there are any questions please feel free to ask anytime.

Thank you.