Tanaka Sōkei (60 years old in 1595), Black Raku tea bowl named Isarai (Shallow waters) © Raku Museum. All rights reserved.

The direct ancestor of the Raku family, Sōkei left behind important works though he is not counted among the official generations.

The reasons remain unclear, standing as one of the enduring mysteries of the Raku family.

Raku Museum. Raku Generations, Unsung Heroes: Familial Bonds and the Raku Legacy - 9 August – 21 December 2025