Ceramic Japan Yagi Goat Teapot by Makoto Komatsu

A goat-shaped teapot in glazed red clay with a sprung bamboo handle, designed by Makoto Komatsu for Ceramic Japan.

Yagi means goat in Japanese, and this teapot wears its animal lightly: the spout is a goat’s head with a quietly alert expression, and two small horns rise from the lid. Ceramic Japan hand-applies a kiln-altered glaze over red clay, so each pot comes out of the kiln with its own tone and texture, and the clay’s warmth shows through. The oval body sits low and steady, measures 6.5 × 3.6 × 5.9 in and holds about 546 ml (18.5 fl oz), roughly three cups. A stainless steel strainer drops inside for loose-leaf tea, and the bamboo handle is held in place by its own spring. Komatsu meant it to pour more than tea: sake and dashi suit it too.

Specifications

• Brand: Ceramic Japan (Seto, Aichi, Japan)
• Model: Yagi (goat) teapot, item CJ-YG1
• Designer: Makoto Komatsu
• Type: Teapot / pouring vessel
• Shape: Stable oval body with a goat-head spout
• Dimensions: 6.5 × 3.6 × 5.9 in
• Capacity: About 546 ml (18.5 fl oz) when filled to the brim
• Materials: Red clay with a hand-applied kiln-altered glaze; bamboo handle; stainless steel strainer
• Heat: Not for use over an open flame
• Finish: Each piece varies slightly in glaze and color
• Made in: Japan
• Item number (MPN): CJ-YG1

Features

• Goat-head spout and horned lid, designed by Makoto Komatsu
• Red clay with a hand-applied kiln-altered glaze; every piece varies
• About 546 ml (18.5 fl oz), roughly three small cups
• Stainless steel strainer for loose-leaf tea
• Bamboo handle sprung into the clay lugs
• Doubles as a pourer for sake or soup stock

Best for

Daily loose-leaf sencha, genmaicha or hojicha for two or three people; a tea tray in a Japandi or wabi-sabi kitchen; a sake service at the table. It also makes a memorable gift for tea lovers and collectors of Japanese ceramics. Pairs well with the Ceramic Japan Tori Bird Teapot by Makoto Komatsu.

Who this is not for

• Stovetop use: it cannot go over an open flame, so heat water in a kettle.
• Large gatherings: at about 546 ml it pours two to three cups per pot.
• Anyone who wants identical, factory-uniform pieces: the hand-applied glaze varies from pot to pot.

Why we carry it

We’ve been curating design-led pieces since 2009, and Japanese craft objects like this one earn their place by being used every day. Ceramic Japan was founded in 1973 in Seto, Aichi, one of Japan’s oldest pottery towns, and works with designers to turn traditional ceramic techniques into objects for everyday life. Its New Crinkle Super Bag vase, modeled on a crumpled paper bag, was selected for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Makoto Komatsu, born in Tokyo, studied craft design at Musashino Art Junior College, later taught as a professor at Musashino Art University (1999), and won the Exhibition Design Award at the 1st Mino International Ceramics Exhibition in 1986. He has shown widely in Tokyo and at international exhibitions, including the World Modern Ceramic Art Exhibition in Shanghai and the 4th World Ceramic Biennale in Korea.

Buy once: durability and care

Lift out the strainer and empty the leaves after each use, rinse the pot with warm water and let it dry with the lid off. Keep the bamboo handle dry and out of long soaks. Never place it over a flame.

Frequently asked questions

How much tea does the Yagi teapot hold?

About 546 ml (18.5 fl oz) filled to the brim, which pours two to three small Japanese cups.

Does the Yagi teapot come with a strainer?

Yes. A stainless steel strainer basket sits inside the pot for loose-leaf tea.

Can the Yagi teapot go on the stove?

No. It must not be used over an open flame; heat the water in a kettle and pour it in.

Why does my Yagi teapot look slightly different from the photos?

The kiln-altered glaze is applied by hand to red clay, so color and texture vary from piece to piece; no two are the same.

Can I use the Yagi teapot for sake? (our styling advice)

Yes. Its designer intended it for sake and soup stock as well as tea, and it makes a charming warm-sake pourer.

Is the Yagi teapot a good gift?

Yes, for tea drinkers, ceramics collectors or anyone born in the Year of the Goat; pair it with the bird-shaped Tori teapot for a set.

Trade pricing for design professionals

Interior designers, architects, stylists and hospitality buyers can apply to the MetropolitanDecor Trade Program for trade pricing on Ceramic Japan and the rest of our catalog, a dedicated trade support line, and help sourcing in quantity. Applying takes about three minutes, and our trade team reviews every application personally, usually within one business day.

Shipping & returns

Ships in 2–3 business days. Orders over $100 ship free by ground to the 48 contiguous states. All sales are final, so check the size and specifications above before ordering; if your order arrives damaged or isn’t what you ordered, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos and we’ll make it right.

Please note: Because this item is made to order or specially sourced, it is final sale.