Rozan pottery 露山焼
This earthenware came under the patronage of Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto around the Bunsei era (1818 – 1830).At its early stage, works were fired in Yamashina and by Takahashi Dohachi at Seikanji Temple. (more…)
Sobokai pottery 祖母懐焼
Sobokai also read as Ubagafutokoro. To this day, there are various theories, and a clear kiln location has not been identified.It is said to have been started by Kato Kagemasa, the potter from Seto. The signature of Ubagafutokoro was found on Ofuke ware from around the Genna period (1615–1624), while symbols from this kiln are also found in works fired at Toyama in the Owari Domain. We anticipate further research to identify the kiln. Sobokai clayThere is a legend that “the potter Toshiro (Kato Shirozaemon) found suitable clay for pottery in Seto, Sobokai, and settled in Seto to make pottery (more…)
Uchide pottery 打出焼
It started in present-day Uchide Town in Ashiya City in Hyogo Prefecture, around the Meiji era.The Kyo ware styles were mainly used, and Sakaguchi Sazan fired tea sets and flower vases.It would go on to be absorbed by another kiln due to the housing development of the surrounding area. The 1st generation Tozan was from this kiln. (more…)
Tozan pottery 東山焼
It started in present-day Higashiyama in Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture.It mainly focused on blue and white Arita ware and eventually came under the patronage of the Sakai clan in Himeji Domain.Around the Tenpo era, the kiln was moved to Otokoyama. In addition to blue and white pottery, it creates a wide range of earthenware including the celadon and gold leaf styles. (more…)
Nishiura Porcelain 西浦焼
This is porcelain from Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture.This kiln opened during Bakumatsu with a focus on pottery stemming from Imari porcerain.It began manufacturing porcelain in earnest due to the abolition of Domains in Meiji 4 (1871) and made efforts to exporting after gaining national acclaim in the Meiji 30s, but it came to an end when its factory was closed in Meiji 44 (1911).It incorporated Western technologies and studied raised designs and underglazing in particular from an early stage.It created many designs that represent the Meiji era. www.tajimi-bunka.or.jp西浦焼 ｜ 所蔵品カテゴリ ｜ 多治見市美濃焼ミュージアム (more…)
Shiga pottery 志賀焼
Around Kyoho 11 (1726), Hirayama Ishun built this kiln in Izuhara on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture under patronage.Around the Kansei era, it became a public kiln that mainly fired tea bowls.Around the Bunka era, Yoshida Mataichi copied Korean teacups with good qualities.It was then succeeded by Kyuemon (2nd generation), Aisuke (3rd generation), and Yasuhito (4th generation) before closing as a kiln. (more…)
Kotoura pottery 琴浦焼
Wada Kujuro opened a kiln in Taisha Village in Nishinomiya in Meiji 34 (1901). His second son Masae (1st generation Tozan) moved the kiln to Higashi Sakuragi Town in Amagasaki City and named it Kotoura Kiln after the local area as the origin of this style.At first, only Raku ware was fired, but it has fired various types of earthenware to date.The 4th generation Wada Tozan, who is currently in charge, was born in Showa 22 (1947).He thrived as the head of the Hanshin Chapter Muko-higashi Youth Group.It stands out for its yakishime (high-fired unglazed) earthenware that utilizes splendid and (more…)
Kinkazan pottery 金華山焼
Kinkazan ware has a long history, as earthenware made by Kato Kagemasa (3rd generation Fujishiro), the potter from Seto, around the Einin era (1293 – 1299) serves as its origin.There are two theories regarding the origin of its name. The first states that this earthenware is made using soil from Mount Kinka in Gifu Prefecture, while the other states that the color of the glaze after it has been fired is beautiful like a golden flower.After the years passed since then, Oda Nobunaga gathered potters from Seto during the Sengoku period and offered them patronage to create pottery at the (more…)
Isuzu pottery 五十鈴焼
This type of earthenware started in Mie Prefecture in 1910 by becoming independent from Akogi ware, which was a type of earthenware that represented this prefecture from before. At the time, it was known as Isuzu-gawa ware, since it was created near the Isuzu River, but the “gawa” portion of the name was gradually dropped, as it would come to be traded as Isuzu ware.To add, Morishita Mokuji, who is known for his Tokoname ware, is included among the representative potters of this style. (more…)
Sanda celadon 三田焼
Sanda celadon was an attempt by Japan to recreate the Chinese Longquan celadon. During the mid-18th century, in Sanda city of the present-day Hyogo prefecture, the potter Uchida Chube sought financial investment from the wealthy merchant Kanda Sobe. Kanda responded to Uchida’s passion and with his support, Uchida began his work. Later, in Kyoto, he met the master craftsman Kinkodo Kamesuke, and they focused on the mass production of excellent molded ceramics. They were successful in making celadon that rivaled even the Longquan celadon, and the fame of the “Sanda celadon” grew rapidly.The Bunka and Bunsei eras (1804-1830) were a (more…)
Mumyoi pottery 無名異焼
Mumyoi is a type of red soil which contains a rich amount of iron oxide which is produced from around the Gold Mine, and the Mumyoi pottery uses it as its pottery clay, which is then baked at high temperatures. The character of the clay is such that it requires special work such as polishing while raw and then polishing it with sand after baking it. In addition, the pottery clay goes through “elutriation” – a way to get rid of sand and impurities in the process of balancing the clay particles – using a 200-mesh sieve which makes the (more…)
Uji pottery 宇治焼
This is a type of Kyo-yaki pottery from Uji City, Kyoto, which is thought to have been produced during the Kan’ei period (1624-1644). It is mentioned in an old book called “TokiRui-shu”. (more…)
Isooniwa pottery 磯御庭焼
The kiln was built in 1855-1860 as a clan kiln with the support of Shimazu Nariakira, the head of the Satsuma clan.He made full use of brocade and gold brocade to produce the highest quality Satsuma ware.The kiln was closed in 1862. (more…)
Ippodo pottery 一方堂焼
One of the Kyo ware. This pottery was made by Suminokura Gennei (1800－1873), who invited Ninami Dohachi to build a kiln at his cottage in Sagano during the Tenpo period (1800－1873).Mainly tea ceremony pottery and there are few relics. (more…)
Kagamiyama pottery 鏡山焼
Also known as Unkanji ware and Hakoishiyama ware.It is now presumed to have been fired in the mid-Edo period in the vicinity of Mikami village, Yasu-gun, Shiga Prefecture.There are many thinly made and very good tea ceremony utensils. (more…)
Inkyuuzan pottery 因久山焼
Inkyuuzan ware was mentioned under the name of Kunoji ware in the Inaba Mindanki book, which was published in 1688.In the mid-18th century, Kiyomizu Rokubei was invited from Kyoto to Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, and the kiln was built. The kiln was later supported by Tottori’s Ikeda Domain and became one of their domain kilns. In the Bunka period, the Shigaraki potters, Kansuke and his son, Kanzo, implemented Shigaraki and era-specific techniques.After that, their business declined rapidly from the Meiji period. In 1925, the kiln was reformed and their business expanded greatly.They made many products including tea utensils, flower vases, (more…)
Awaji pottery 淡路焼
This type of earthenware was created by Kashu Minpei from Iga Village in Mihara District on Awaji Island during the Bunsei era in the late Edo period and even came under the patronage of the Tokushima Domain in the late Tenpo era.Its designs, which include copies of Kyo ware, which were made under the guidance of Ogata Shuhei, copies of Cochin ware, and sancai ware, are varied and diverse.Minpei fell ill during the Bunkyu era and had Sanpei, the son of his younger brother, succeed him before retiring. It converted to the corporation of Tantosha in the Meiji era.It is (more…)
Asagiri pottery 朝霧焼
A pottery of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture. It is a type of Akashi ware.It is said that Tezuka Magoichiro, an Akashi magistrate at that time, invited Yamazaki Kikutaro to fire this pottery.It was most popular in the mid-Edo period (17c) and continued until the Meiji period (19c).Famous potters of Asagiri ware include Toda Yoshitaro and Seitaro Akimine. (more…)
Arashiyama pottery 嵐山焼
The pottery of Kyoto Sagano. Also known as Saga ware.In the mid-1800s, a copy of Kiyomizu ware was fired and sold as a souvenir.The kiln was destroyed in the early 1900s. (more…)
Akogi pottery 阿漕焼
It is believed that Akogi ware was founded by Nunami Suiga, apprentice of Nunami Rozan, the founder of Banko ware. With an invitation from the Todo clan, Suiga established a kiln in the village known as Anto Village at that time, and started making pottery. (Mid-Edo period–Late Edo period.)That is why it was called Anto ware at first. After that, the kiln was moved to the Baba Family Residence, near the castle town. From that time on, they have taken the name “Akogi ware” after Akogiura, and their kiln was used as the official kiln for the domain. They mainly (more…)