The meticulously handcrafted original IPPODO Tokoname Yakishime kyusu teapot was developed to help ensure that Ippodo Japanese green tea was prepared in the delicious way Ippodo intended. As our patrons used it at our Kaboku Tearoom and tea-making workshops, they would occasionally ask if we had kyusu teapots for people who are left-handed. In response, Ippodo has now made available this kyusu, created specially with left-handed tea lovers in mind.

Is your kyusu hard or awkward for you to use? This kyusu has the positions of its handle and spout reversed so as to be easy to use with the left hand.

Possessing the same unique Yakishime-style coloring as the original Ippodo kyusu, this teapot boasts an attractive natural finish free from artificial ornamentation. Each teapot is one-of-a-kind because of the unique shades of black imparted during the firing process according to the position of the teapot in the kiln and the flow of the flames over it. It provides a satisfyingly rough texture unique to Yakishime craft ware and a special, earthy warmth imparted by the clay. Unlike porcelain, the more you use this unglazed Yakishime teapot, the smoother its surface becomes.

This kyusu will do justice to all Ippodo teas-from the delicately flavored gyokuro to the hojicha you drink on a daily basis-allowing you to prepare them in the delicious way Ippodo intended. We are truly pleased to make a kyusu with this kind of rich functionality available to our customers.

Special features

- Lid
The lid has been made as large as possible in order to make removing tea leaves easy, and fits nice and snuggly atop the teapot to prevent spilling.

- Strainer
The large, half-dome-shaped strainer with hundreds of closely placed holes allows you to pour out every last drop without any clogging.

- Spout
The tip of the spout is carefully shaped at an angle to avoid dripping after tea has been poured.

- Size
It holds about 240 ml, and is light enough (about 183 grams) for both men and women to hold easily.

You'll start to enjoy your 'journey' with Japanese green tea from the moment you lay eyes on the attractive box with a uniform burgundy color motif that the kyusu comes packaged in. Each of the box's four sides is decorated with a unique tea plantation scene populated by people and animals. And when you open the imaginatively illustrated red box, you'll find an artistically designed, black kyusu teapot inside.