I ordered this $40 Waraka Fuuka matcha tea bowl set (Amazon ASIN B0DY11596P) because I enjoy the matcha tea ceremonies. Nothing but the "Made in Japan" printed on the bottom of the bowl is in English though, it's that authentic. I took the liberty of having a translation site translate the instructions, which I reproduce for you below.This two-piece Mino Ware kit consists of a Chawan and a Chasen with the tea bowl (Chawan) manufactured in the high-quality style of the Mino region of Japan (Mino Ware) with Ume (plum blossoms) painted on the outside of the tea bowl, visible as a Kohiki Ume (separate decoration of plum blossoms).The kit also comes with a Bamboo Chasen (tea whisk) which is what you use to whisk the matcha (powdered green tea) with hot water until it foams.With that in mind, you can now decipher the Amazon product description of "Japanese Traditional Mino Ware Handcrafted Mini Matcha Chawan Tea Bowl Cup Set With Chasen Bamboo Tea Whisk Ceremony Tableware Pottery (Kohiki Ume)".What I noticed about this set of tableware pottery suitable for enjoying matcha is that it has little black dots on the inside & outside, which you can see in my closeup photos attached. The slip of paper, completely in Japanese" (see translation below & in the photos) explains that it's part of the ancient process which has been done in the present-day Southern Gifu Prefecture in Japan for over 1,300 years.The plum blossom artwork is beautifully delicate, as one would expect for a traditional hand-made Japanese item, and the enamel baked on the outside is uneven, but that's part of the beauty of this traditional Japanese pottery. Even the Koen (mouth edge, or rim) of the bowl is classically uneven, which is much unlike the machine-made Nomikuchi (drinking edge) of the ruler-flat fuchi (edge) of modern Koen (brim) of the machine-made bowls of today.Other than the "Made in Japan" on the bottom of the Chawan (tea bowl), everything else is in Japanese, where there are three porcelain marks that I can't translate into English as they are either ancient marks for the area of origin or they're care symbols that I can't find in online charts. Someone else will have to translate them for you.However the care instructions translated nicely, which I reproduce for you below so that you can make better decisions as to the applicability in your household.Precautions for handlingTo ensure safe and long-term use of the product, please be sure to read this instruction manual before use.(1) Please do not use the tableware for anything other than tableware.Please do not use decorative plates, vases, etc. as tableware.(2) Ceramic products may crack or chip due to strong impact or sudden temperature changes (especially rapid cooling).(3) Please be careful not to use a product that is chipped or cracked, as this may cause an unexpected accident.(4) The product will be hot after cooking, so please be careful not to get burned when handling it.(5) After purchase, be sure to wash the product before use.(6) The base of the product (i.e., the bottom of the bowl) may be smooth and slippery.Please be careful not to drop it on your feet when stacking or transporting the product.(7) The base of the product (i.e., the bottom of the bowl) may be rough, so please use it on a mat or tablecloth when placing it on a table, etc.(8) Do not use over direct flame or in an oven.(9) Please remove any dirt as soon as possible after use. If you leave it, stains and dirt will become harder to remove.(10) When washing, apply a neutral detergent using a soft sponge or cloth and wash.(11) Please note that high temperature water baths can cause the surface to become rough and can have a negative effect on the painted areas. Do not boil.(12) Ceramic products Manufacturing characteristicsGenerally, ceramic products are molded, colored, printed, and then fired in a high-temperature kiln. During this process, the following phenomena may occur, but these are due to the nature of ceramic products and are a result of the manufacturing process. Please understand that these are generally not eligible for return.(a) When firing in a kiln, air, iron, or dust contained in the ceramic product may appear as small holes (pinholes) or black spots.(b) When coloring the entire piece, the glaze is applied by hand. The glaze naturally flows from top to bottom, making the edges of the glaze on teacups and plates thinner near the bottom and causing uneven coloring depending on the shape of the product.(c) The kiln temperature is generally 1200~1300 degrees. During this process, the product is placed on a heat-resistant shelf and a material called alumina is sprayed on it to prevent the bottom from touching the shelf, but since it is fired at such a high temperature, some marks from the shelf remain on the bottom. After firing, the bottom is smoothed with a grinder, but the marks cannot be completely removed.(d) Please note that the blue printing may have overlapping colors due to production process. This is not a defect.(e) Can be used in microwaves and dishwashers.(f) Made in JapanOverall, this is a beautiful traditional Japanese matcha bowl & whisk that you can enjoy for a long time. For more information, please see the included detailed photos. In explaining all of this, I hope this review helps you make a more informed decision.

I practice Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony and am licensed through the Urasenke Foundation in Kyoto. I often do presentations at the local Japanese gardens and also have friends over for tea, so I have been supplementing my collection of chawan (tea bowls) with some less precious pieces so that I can have my guests use things that are authentic, but not extremely valuable. This bowl fits the bill, but it is tiny compared to most tea bowls, and the whisk is the smallest I have ever seen in my life.I’ve attached pictures of the bowl and whisk compared to others. In the photo with the black bowl, the black bowl is a very traditional raku bowl purchased in Kyoto at the Urasenke tea school. It is made specifically for chabako, an outdoor tea ceremony where everything fits into a box. It is nearly identical in size, which makes the chawan of this set absolutely ideal for

I have a lot of teaware from the US, Canada and Europe. I was excited to expand my tea service collection to include more Asian items recently. This set was one of the pretty finds I made here. The bowl has a substantial feel to it, and raised paint decorations that don’t look mass-produced. The matcha whisk is pretty typical of matcha whisks, with a very delicate appearance and a plastic case that it fits into neatly. None of the packaging I received had any English other than “made in Japan”, so I am not sure what instructions or additional information may be provided. I would have welcomed care instructions, especially for the whisk. I plan to hand wash the set to be safe.

After trying the matcha bowl and whisk set my favorite part is the depth. It's a good size, and it doesn't get too splashy for me because of the high walls.The whisk that came with this set is a little small and wimpy though. It does get the job done, but I have to put more time and effort into it than with my other larger whisk from a separate set. I'm not sure how well it'll hold up over time as well.The design is very cute and easy to use for beginners, so it would make a nice gift but for the price I don't think it will hold up as well as other sets and is a little flimsy.

This hand crafted tea bowl is absolutely beautiful. It comes with the bamboo whisk for making macha, and while I am not a macha drinker, I do love tea and plan on using this with my loose leaf teas. Its a perfect size, allowing you to finish your tea while its still warm. The packaging is lovely and would make a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life. I chose the Sakura pattern and the colors are soft and beautiful. 10/10 recommend