Wood-Fired Nanban Fish Dish

Hand-built and wood-fired, this fish-shaped dish by Shigeyoshi Morioka carries the raw texture and quiet wit that mark his best-known work. Its form is simplified to a gesture—arched spine, open mouth, a single eye carved in relief. The surface, rich with fire markings, speaks of clay, ash, and flame rather than glaze or decoration.

Unconcerned with realism, this piece sits somewhere between sculpture and utensil. It can be used as a small tray or offered simply as presence—an earthy, playful reminder of Morioka’s deep connection to tradition, land, and hand.