How Kazoku Tiles Are Made: Hand-Glazed in Small Batches in Japan
31 August 2026 · Tile Touch
Kazoku is a family of Japanese porcelain tiles, and the short answer to how they are made is this: they are pressed as porcelain, then hand-glazed in small batches in Japan. That last part is why no two tiles look identical. The glaze sits a little thicker in some spots and thinner in others, so light catches the surface differently across a finished wall.
This guide walks through the whole Kazoku family, starting with our own hand-made Japanese line, Hatsu, and then the Sabi and Osaka ranges that sit alongside it.
What does hand-glazed in small batches actually mean?
Machine-glazed tiles are coated to look the same from one box to the next. Hand-glazing is different. The glaze is applied by hand, batch by batch, so colour depth and gloss shift slightly from tile to tile. On a Kazoku wall you get gentle movement in tone rather than a flat, uniform field.
For anyone laying these tiles, the practical tip is simple: open several boxes at once and mix tiles as you go. That way the natural variation spreads evenly across the wall instead of clustering in one area. If you love a perfectly consistent finish, this is worth knowing before you order. If you want a surface with life in it, the variation is the point.
The Hatsu range: our hand-made Japanese line
Hatsu is the heart of the Kazoku family and comes in three shapes, so you can carry one glaze story across different formats.
Hatsu Long Brick
The Long Brick is a slim porcelain brick, 47.5 x 304 mm, with a gloss finish. It comes in Aqua and Wheat, both made in Japan with a P2 slip rating, plus an Espresso Burgundy option. The long, narrow shape reads well stacked vertically to add height, or laid in a running bond for a more classic brick look. It suits kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls.
Hatsu Square
The Square is a 72 x 72 mm porcelain tile in gloss, made in Japan with a P2 rating. It comes in Espresso Burgundy and Mahogany Burgundy, two deep, warm tones. A grid of small squares gives a wall texture and rhythm, and the format works nicely on a feature wall or behind a vanity.
Hatsuborder
Hatsuborder is the smallest Hatsu shape at 23 x 153 mm, a fine porcelain border in gloss, made in Japan. It comes in White, Wheat and Mahogany Burgundy. Because it is so slim, it works as a run of detail, a border course, or a whole wall of tight, linear coverage where you want a finer scale than a standard subway tile.
The Sabi range
Sabi brings a matte option into the family. Sabi Charcoal is a 45 x 195 mm porcelain tile with a matte finish, made in Japan, and it carries a P4 slip rating, which is a higher slip resistance than the gloss Hatsu tiles. That makes it worth a look for areas where you want a less slippery, non-reflective surface. Sabi Khaki Green sits in the same range as a green colourway. The matte face reads softer and quieter than a gloss glaze, so Sabi suits a more understated wall.
The Osaka range
Osaka is a 45 x 195 mm porcelain tile in gloss, made in Japan, offered in Green and White. The size is the same as Sabi, so you can compare a matte finish against a gloss one at the same format. The elongated shape lends itself to horizontal running bond or a vertical stack, and the gloss glaze picks up the hand-applied variation clearly. Osaka White is an easy starting point if you want the character of a hand-glazed tile in a neutral colour, while Osaka Green adds more colour to a splashback or bathroom wall.
How to choose across the Kazoku family
Start with shape and scale. The Hatsu Long Brick and the Osaka and Sabi tiles are long and slim. Hatsu Square is a small square. Hatsuborder is the finest of all. Then think about finish: most of the family is gloss, while Sabi Charcoal is matte with a P4 rating.
Because these are hand-glazed, colours read differently under showroom light, daylight and warm home lighting. We recommend ordering samples before you commit, especially for the burgundy and green tones, which shift with the light. Samples are available, and you can see the full family in person at our Waterloo showroom in Sydney. We ship Australia-wide.
Frequently asked questions
Are all Kazoku tiles made in Japan?
The Hatsu Long Brick Aqua and Wheat, the Hatsu Square colours, all three Hatsuborder colours, Sabi Charcoal and both Osaka colours are listed as made in Japan. They are porcelain tiles, hand-glazed in small batches, which is where the tile-to-tile variation comes from.
Why do the tiles vary in colour from one to the next?
Hand-glazing means the glaze is applied by hand rather than by machine, so its depth and gloss change slightly across each batch. This gives the finished wall gentle movement in tone. Mixing tiles from several boxes as you lay them spreads that variation evenly.
Which Kazoku tiles are best where slip matters?
Sabi Charcoal carries a P4 slip rating and has a matte finish, so it is the higher slip-resistance option in the family. The gloss Hatsu tiles that list a rating, such as the Long Brick Aqua and Wheat and the Hatsu Square colours, are rated P2. Always match the tile to the wet-area requirements for your project.
What sizes do the Kazoku ranges come in?
Hatsu Long Brick is 47.5 x 304 mm, Hatsu Square is 72 x 72 mm, and Hatsuborder is 23 x 153 mm. Sabi and Osaka are both 45 x 195 mm. That range of formats lets you mix scales while keeping the tiles within one family.
Can I see and order Kazoku tiles in Australia?
Yes. Tile Touch stocks the range and ships Australia-wide, and samples are available so you can check colour and finish in your own light. You can also view the tiles at our Sydney showroom in Waterloo.