Description
A charming small bonsai pot by the late Aiba Koichiro, also known as Aiba Koyo, featuring an octagonal form and a vibrant yellow glaze. This pot is ideal for mame-sized bonsai or very compact shohin trees. Its unique glaze finish and faceted shape make it especially suitable for brightening up deciduous species, flowering varieties, or accent plantings.
Despite its small size, this pot carries the distinct style and refinement that defined Aiba Koyo’s work. The even glaze coverage and clean symmetry show off the potter’s signature balance between form and function — with just the right depth to support delicate root systems.
Features:
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Artisan: Aiba Koyo (Koichiro Aiba)
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Design: Octagonal, yellow-glazed
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Size: Mame to small Shohin bonsai
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Origin: Tokoname, Japan
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Finish: Glossy yellow glaze with clean edges
Measurements:
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Outer (l x w x h): 9,0×9,0x5,0cm
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Inner (l x w x h): 7,5 x7,5x 4,3cm
About Aiba Koichiro
Ceramic Name: Aiba Koyo (相羽鴻陽) Real Name: Aiba Koichiro (相羽鴻一郎, 1944–2022)
Aiba Koichiro was born into a family of ceramicists, continuing a lineage that began with his grandfather’s kiln. Around 1968, he began studying antique Chinese glazed pottery under the mentorship of Fuyoen’s Takeyama Fusazo, which deeply influenced his style. In 1970, he founded the Koyo Toen (Koyo Pottery Studio) and became especially known for his mastery of glazes — particularly his signature green Oribe glaze, which evokes the classical aesthetic of Tofukuji-style pots.
Throughout his long career, Aiba created a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from large exhibition containers to mame and kusamono pots. His work is celebrated for its elegance, usability, and depth of character. Since his passing in 2022, demand for his pots has steadily increased.
The Aiba family tradition spans three generations. His son, Kuniaki Aiba (Juko Koyo), continues the legacy, and a third kiln — Momiji-gama (Maple Kiln) — was recently established. Works by Koichiro’s wife, marked with the signature こう草, focus on kusamono containers and accent pots.
