Sousougama Handmade Japanese Ceramic Coffee Mug

Taku Takenouchi makes his ceramics in the same workshop his father founded in 1967. The name Sousougama carries two meanings — “宋” (Sō), from China’s Song Dynasty, a golden era for ceramics, and “艸” (Sō), meaning the desire to take root and grow. That duality lives in everything Taku makes. Taku came to ceramics by way of metal casting, but watching his father work — a craftsman of real renown — eventually pulled him in another direction. He wanted to be involved in the entire process of making something, from raw clay to finished piece, with the creative freedom that only a workshop of your own allows. When Ulala visited his studio, she noticed how organised it was — kilns for each stage of the process, tools within arm’s reach, everything considered. He invited her in without hesitation: “Please come in, there’s no secrets to hide.” The quiet confidence of someone who has nothing to prove. His work is designed for daily use — solid enough for the wear of an ordinary morning, yet carrying the presence of something truly special. Vibrant and playful, but also deeply considered. When you drink from one of his mugs, you feel the hand behind it: someone who knows his clay, his kiln, his heat, and everything in between. Each piece is individual. No two are the same. That’s not a limitation — it’s the whole point.