*This post was originally published in April of 2017. 

Hasami is known for being the first city in Japan to make porcelain goods available to the general populace. Appropriately, Tortoise General Store owner Taku Shinomoto chose this moniker for the title of his latest venture, designing dinnerware and tea sets that “integrate tradition and modernity.” 

In keeping with said tradition, every piece is made over in Japan by conscientious potters who have proved their ability to maintain the exact same lines and well-defined shapes from piece to piece. The goal for each of Hasami’s collections is a sense of clean yet unique uniformity, and thanks to the work of these artisans, that's exactly what you get.

What I really love about Hasami Porcelain is the super-minimal aesthetic and the muted earth tones of the glazes they use. You can have a group of all matching glazes or mix it up a little, and no matter what, every mug, bowl, and plate will look great together. And, because they’re so pragmatic and designed as a modular system so they can stack and nest perfectly with each other, there’s no reason not to have a whole set anyway...