Two new pieces are joining Lisa Larson's "Nippon no Lisa Neko" series as its eighth installment: "Nippon no Lisa Neko (No. 11, Shigaraki) Mata Tabi no Neko - Yama (Mountain)" and "Nippon no Lisa Neko (No. 12, Shigaraki) Mata Tabi no Neko - Mizu (Water)," both crafted in Shigaraki ware. Sales began through the online shop Tonkachi Store.
The "Nippon no Lisa Neko" series follows a traveling stray cat as it visits pottery towns across Japan. Its newest stage is Shigaraki-cho in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, an area known for its high-quality clay — the first time a Lisa Neko has been born there.
Two Cats Reflecting Shigaraki's "Mountain" and "Water"
"Yama" is finished in an iraho glaze that ranges from a bright amber to a deep brown, with each piece taking on a slightly different fired color. "Mizu" is wrapped in a ruri (lapis) glaze with a deep, clear tone known as Shigaraki blue. Both cats feature tiger stripes and white "tabi" markings, and each sets off on its own journey carrying the colors of the Shigaraki landscape.
Product Page Links
- Mata Tabi no Neko - Yama: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/products/ll2338-011
- Mata Tabi no Neko - Mizu: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/products/ll2338-012
- Nippon no Lisa Neko project feature page: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/blogs/special/ll_lisacats
Product Details
Nippon no Lisa Neko (No. 11, Shigaraki) Mata Tabi no Neko - Yama
- Price: ¥7,150 (tax included)
- Material: Pottery (Shigaraki ware)
- Size: W11 × H4.5 × D3 cm
- Shipping: In sequence starting August 6
- Product Page: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/products/ll2338-011
Nippon no Lisa Neko (No. 12, Shigaraki) Mata Tabi no Neko - Mizu
- Price: ¥7,150 (tax included)
- Material: Pottery (Shigaraki ware)
- Size: W11 × H4.5 × D3 cm
- Shipping: In sequence starting August 6
- Product Page: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/products/ll2338-012
Nippon no Lisa Neko (Shigaraki Two-Cat Set)
- Price: ¥14,300 (tax included)
- Material: Pottery (Shigaraki ware)
- Size: W11 × H4.5 × D3 cm
- Shipping: In sequence starting August 6
- Product Page: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/products/ld551
Each piece is delivered in its own dedicated gift box, in colors inspired by Lake Biwa blue, Shigaraki clay, and scarlet, finished with a foil-stamped stray cat illustration drawn by Larson.
Hand-Painted Tiger Stripes and White "Tabi" Socks
The iraho glaze used on "Yama" produces a different color and texture on every piece, depending on the type of clay, the thickness of the glaze, and how the kiln is fired — ranging from bright amber to reddish brown to deep charcoal brown. The ruri glaze on "Mizu" was once used on Shigaraki hibachi braziers and vases and has recently drawn attention as "Shigaraki blue"; the way the glaze flows and the depth of blue differ from cat to cat, giving each one its own expression.
What distinguishes this pair is the white pattern applied around the face, paws, and tail tip. The eyes and whiskers are individually carved and then inked with a thin gosu pigment, and the white sections are also hand-painted by artisans, so the angle of each line, the shape of the pattern, and the expression differ piece by piece. The white "tabi" markings on the front and back paws received particular attention, with white also added at the mouth and tail tip so the pattern looks different depending on the viewing angle. The small, slender Lisa Neko form is difficult to shape from Shigaraki's sticky clay slip, and each piece is fine-tuned individually as artisans judge the condition of the clay on the day.
About the Nippon no Lisa Neko Series
The "Nippon no Lisa Neko" series began from a wish to have Lisa Larson's ceramic art made at pottery towns across Japan. The traveling cats have taken on the clay, glazes, and craftsmanship of each region they visit, including Mashiko, Tamba, Seto, and Hagi. This eighth installment marks the first time two cats have been born simultaneously from the same region, Shigaraki. Wearing the colors of Shigaraki's "mountain" and "water," along with their tiger stripes and white tabi markings, the two cats now set off on a new journey.
- Nippon no Lisa Neko series list: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp/collections/lisacats
About Lisa Larson
Born September 9, 1931, in southern Sweden, Lisa Larson studied at the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg before joining the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Gustavsberg at the invitation of Stig Lindberg, the company's art director. She became one of the central designers behind the company's golden age. In 1952, she married the painter Gunnar Larson, and in 1980 she went freelance, working with numerous clients afterward. Her collaboration with Tonkachi Co., Ltd. in Japan began in the 2000s and sparked a renewed wave of international popularity. In 2022, she was awarded a medal by the Swedish government in recognition of her long-standing work renewing and enriching Swedish art and craft. She passed away on March 11, 2024.
- Tonkachi Store: https://shop.tonkachi.co.jp
- Lisa Larson official website: https://lisalarson.jp
