The Art of Asia glossary says the following:

Pronunciation: “KOO-tsoo-gah-tah”
A “shoe-shaped” teabowl—commonly associated with the Takatori kilns—in which the sides are purposefully pressed in.

Supposedly, the kutsu-gata reflects the influence of the early Portuguese traders in Japan and their much-admired shoes

Wim Hos showed me this at a pottery market a couple of years ago – he had them behind his stand to see what the reaction from selected customers was.

I wasn’t taken to start with, but I found this one that fit my hand so perfectly and it’s one of my 3 favourites.

Woodfired in an anagama kilm.

Updated: Sad news