Nezumishino Camellia Mino Ware Mug

ZOHO-GAMA was established in 1988 in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, by Koizumi Zōhō, the 12th-generation head of a family descended from Shinto priests. While the kiln is relatively young, its philosophy draws from centuries of cultural inheritance. The name “ZOHO” honors a Chinese imperial potter of the Ming dynasty, reflecting the founder’s deep admiration for classical Chinese ceramics. This reverence is expressed in the kiln’s aspiration to create vessels that are both rare and treasured—works one would want to preserve like heirlooms. The Japanese characters for “Zō” and “Hō” further reinforce this idea, symbolizing storage and treasure. Inspired by the forms, clarity, and restraint of Ming porcelain, ZOHO-GAMA imbues each piece with quiet dignity, blending historic influence with modern sensibility. Their signature aesthetic centers on motifs of seasonal flora, hand-painted with careful linework that evokes nature’s gentle rhythms. Rooted in the traditions of Mino ware yet entirely distinct in voice, ZOHO-GAMA creates everyday vessels that speak to refinement, rarity, and timeless beauty.