Tea ceramics have long been a symbol of traditional Asian art. The ko-sometsuke and shonzui styles, or Chinese blue-and-white tea ceramics popular at the end of the Ming period were often used in Japan for a tea ceremony known as wabi-cha.
Such ceramic works were fired in Jingdezhen private kilns in China; however, the sophistication and elegance of the styles appealed to the Japanese, who often specially commissioned pieces; May 25-June 30.
Idemitsu Museum of Arts; (03) 5777-8600; 9F Teigeki Bldg, 3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Yurakucho Station, JR Lines. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Fri. till 7 p.m.). ¥1,000. Closed Mon. www.idemitsu.com/museum
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