Nagafune | Shigaraki Rectangular Serving Plate

Nagafune is a rectangular Shigaraki serving plate handcrafted by Hitoshi Minagawa at Tsuchinoko Kiln. It measures 9.4 in by 4.3 in (240 × 110 mm), sized for sushi, sashimi, or a single grilled fillet. The plate is fired unglazed using the anagama technique: a wood kiln fed with pine for about a week above 1200°C. Drifting ash settles on the clay, creating the yakishime finish in ember brown and smoked umber. Each firing differs. Hand-built rather than cast, the plate shows slight asymmetry in surface and edge. This reflects wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic valuing natural variation over symmetry. Nagafune works just as well for cheese, charcuterie, bread, or pastry presentations. Hand washing preserves the fired surface; the microwave is safe to use, though the dishwasher is not recommended.