In its association with ceramics, the most basic and indispensable appearance of white porcelain manifests itself in table dishes. However, the fact that it is basic does not mean it is mediocre or boring. A white porcelain vessel, with its somewhat sturdy feeling, is like a canvas before it is painted on, tugging on the deepest creative impulses of its user.

Sweet: Hamazuto by Kameya Norikatsu.
Photo by Tetsuka Tsurusaki. Cooperation: Kashima Arts.
From these white bowls and dishes, I chose a semimatte white porcelain plate. On it, I served the traditional sweet known as “Hamazuto” from Kameya Norikatsu in Kyoto. Upon opening the glossy clam shell that encases the treat, one discovers a single bean of miso-flavored hama natto encased like a pearl in cool amber agar gelatin. Only made during this time of year, this sweet has a mysterious mixture of sweet and salty flavors, and even its appearance is “cool” to the eye. While treats like ice cream and sherbet are nice as well, there is nothing quite like tasting the cool gelatin on a muggy afternoon, using the clam shell as a spoon and contemplating the distant sea.