Japanese pottery and porcelain

Kameyama porcelain 亀山焼 (甕山焼)

Around 1804 in Nagasaki Kameyama, a kiln was opened under the orders of Nagasaki magistrate Hida Bungonokami Yoritsune, and production was mainly done by a potter called Ogami Jingobei. Also, in 1854, when Kyoto’s Miura Kenya visited Nagasaki to study shipbuilding techniques he helped with producing ceramics and such, but it gradually fell more and more into decline and kilns were abandoned. In 1859, he aimed to revive the industry around the time Okabe Suruganokami Nagatsune was magistrate, but there were financial difficulties which immediately led to the complete abandoning of kilns. Many of the products are Imari-style blue and (more…)

Kanei Kiln 鐘渓窯

A kiln in the name of Kawai Kanjiro. The kiln is named Kanei which comes from the name of its town (Kanei Town of Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto City), and was inherited from the fifth generation Kiyomizu Rokubei in 1920. At the time he was producing early Chinese and Joseon dynasty-style work, he made them using Kanei kiln as the signature for the boxes and ceramic seals, or Kanei kiln for just the boxes only. However in 1926, he came to take part in Mingei Undo(Folk Crafts), and from then on he gradually had a style of putting ‘Kan’ on (more…)

Nanki-Otokoyama porcelain 南紀男山焼

Nanki-Otokoyama ware is centered on blue and white dyed porcelain that was started by Sakiyama Rihe under the patronage of the Kishu Domain, after his experience with Takamatsu-ware in 1827. A kiln was opened at Hachimangura in Wakayama castle town Minamihiro Village. Although he continued to produce after the Meiji Restoration, when Rihe died in 1875, the quality of the work fell along with sales, and the kiln was abandoned in 1878. Still, even now there are works that have the Otokoyama inscription, but they are simple souvenirs that retain the traditions, such as sake cups and tea cups. The (more…)

Nanki-Takamatsu pottery 南紀高松焼

It is ceramics of Kii Province (Wakayama). It preceded Kosobe-ware, which prospered as Kishu Domain’s Oniwa-ware, opening its kiln in 1827. A potter called Sakiyama Rihe made trial pottery at a kiln at Wakayama castle town Takamatsu, and it is one type of pottery that was only fired for a short time and extremely few exist. As with Otokoyama-ware, the style centers on blue and white dyed porcelain, and produced cylindrical shaped vases and tea implements. Again, hardly any Aka-e or painted works remain. (more…)

Mizoro pottery 御菩薩焼

Though it is a type of Kyo-ware, it is said this pottery still has many mysteries to this day. First, there is one theory that in the early 1600s, a potter by the name of Manemon started to make replicas of Chinese, Goryeo, and Shigaraki on the banks of the Midoro-ga-ike Pond in Rakuhoku, Kamigamo, after which he produced thin tea implements represented by Kyo-ware. However, there is another theory that at a later time a potter who called himself Gensuke, who had been a student of Ninsei, had built a kiln there to make Ninsei-style colored pottery. To this (more…)

Iwakura pottery 岩倉焼

There is a prevailing theory that when Ninsei’s students became independent, they built a kiln in Iwakura, Rakuhoku in Kyoto, but there are many unclear points about details beyond that. Works other than Ninsei’s colored art that remain, include things like blue and white dyeing and Sabi-e (rust painting). Also, it is believed that Iwakurayama Kichibe who made pottery in Awataguchi in later years, may be a descendant of Iwakura-ware potters. (more…)

Hyochien 瓢池園

1873-1909Kawahara Noritatsu who was the secretary of the ceramics factory office at the Vienna World’s Fair took over after it dissolved there, and from a factory setup in 1873 which specialized in ceramic painting to be exported, he ordered unglazed ceramics from Seto’s Kato Shigeju and Arita etc., gathered brilliant ceramic painting craftsmen, and developed realistic painting in a Japanese-like style. That technique was evaluated many times at exhibitions in Japan and overseas, and although built for a period of time, in the later years they fell into financial difficulties and became the exclusive factory of Morimura Gumi (currently Noritake (more…)

Mori pottery 母里焼

This is a type of Izumo ware. Matsudaira Naooki, the feudal lord of the Mori Domain, a subsidiary domain of the Izumo Matsue Domain, invited Ishihara Zenemon and opened this kiln. It was later moved to Tenma in Higashi-Mori Haradai but was abolished soon after. Ueda Musashi inherited this kiln in 1847 and operated it under the name of Kamitenma ware. However, the kiln was moved to Toyooka in 1850, and the works were called Toyooka ware. Then, after the abolition of the feudal domains and establishment of prefectures, Inagaki Mohei returned to the original land and opened a kiln (more…)

Ito porcelain 意東焼

This is a type of Izumo ware and a general term for the works produced when the ceramic production locations of the Matsue Domain (the Ito ware kiln, Nagatoshiyama ware kiln, Hatogamineyama ware kiln. etc.) were moved to Ito Village in Ou Country in Izumo Province (present-day Higashi-Izumo, Yatsuka, Shimane) during the late-Edo period (there are theories that this happened in 1832 or during the Bunka era). Other potters and Arita (Imari) painters were invited under the management of the domain to produce a wide range of teacups, incense burners, and other items based on the tastes of the feudal (more…)

Tokoji pottery 東光寺焼

The 2nd generation Nakano Geirin from the Karatsu ware Nakano kiln started this kiln in Hagi in 1881 and mainly produced tea-things for green tea and handicrafts, but the kiln was abolished when Geirin passed away. Matsumura Shichiro reopened the kiln later, and it has been passed down to the current 4th generation Matsumura Takuo. db.yamahaku.pref.yamaguchi.lg.jp東光寺焼花瓶 (more…)

Nanzan pottery 南山焼

This type of earthenware was also known as Shusai ware and originated when Asai Shusai, the wealthy merchant from Osaka, retreated to Hatogamine, Yawata in Yamashiro Province (present-day Minamiyama Yawata, Kyoto) in 1758 during the Edo period and started a kiln there to start firing earthenware. He brought soil from various domains and provinces and fired copies of various vessels from around the country. These works were collectively called “Yahata Nanzan kiln” and were highly treasured in Kyoto. This type of earthenware came to an end when Shusai passed away at the age of 80, but was restored during the (more…)

Oshikoji pottery 押小路焼

This type of earthenware is said to have been started by “Shozaemon” and “Sukezaemon,” the sons of Kuemon from Sanmonjiya (the originator of Awata ware), who opened a kiln in Awataguchi in Kyoto and was the teacher of Ninsei, at Oshikoji Higashinotoin Higashi-hairu in 1624. In addition, Kenzan’s ceramic technique book of secrets states “In east Yanaginobanba, Oshikoji, Kyoto, there is one called Sukezaemon from Ichimonjiya who is a teacher of Oshikoji ware who has inherited methods of the Chinese for firing in an inner kiln.” It continued until the Meiwa era (1764 – 1772), and many copies of Ninsei’s (more…)

Imado pottery 今戸焼

This is a general term for terracotta ceramics fired in Imado, Hashiba, and its surroundings in Edo (northeast Asakusa). Everyday bowls, tea-things, clay figurines, braziers, flowering pots, tiles, and other items were produced. Shirai Hanshichi was a famous potter from this kiln. Sumidagawa ware, which was favored by the cultured and tea ceremony masters, was located nearby. www.city.taito.lg.jp今戸焼作り　台東区ホームページ (more…)

Wakasa pottery 若狭焼

Oka Zenbei took over his family business of creating tiles and other earthenware in Wakasa, Echizen during the mid-Edo period, but he went to Kiyomizu, Kyoto when he was around 17 years old to train under Aoki Mokubei regarding Kyo ware with a focus on tea sets for green tea. He also trained in Bizen and other places before returning home at the age of 40 to produce teacups and originate this style of earthenware. He produced teacups, ornaments, hot plates, pots, and various other items with a focus on terracotta. His pots were particularly favored, and he created thin, (more…)

Kozan pottery 菰山焼

This type of earthenware is from the Ise Province (Mie Prefecture) and lasted for 3 generations from the late-Edo period (Koka era from 1848 – 1848). At first, the name of Kozan ware was bestowed on the work produced by the village potter Doi Ichizo (Bokubokusai) by the feudal lord Hijikata Yamashiro no Kami. He mainly fired elegant tea sets and tea bowls. The kiln was abolished temporarily, but the 1st generation Miyata Rakuoku regretted this and opened a kiln in 1926 to restore Kozan ware. It has been passed down to the current 4th generation owner Miyata Hozan. (more…)

Yashima pottery (Tohin pottery) 八島焼 (陶濱焼)

This type of earthenware was made in Takamatsu in Sanuki Province during the Tenpo era (1830 – 1844) in the late-Edo period. It was started by Akamatsu Itaro, the son of Akamatsu Rosen, the potter from Takamatsu, and it came to be known as Tohin ware from the name that he gave himself. He created many Aka-raku ware tea sets were made using the soil from the site of the Battle of Yashima during the Genpei War and received protection from the domain to produce works commissioned by them. However, the name of the style changed to Yashima ware (a (more…)

Ryoanji pottery 龍安寺焼

The 1st generation Shima Kahei, a potter of the Daigo kiln, produced this type of earthenware, which included Raku ware tea bowls, through a recommendation from the 58th generation Matsukura Shoei from Ryoanji Temple. The bottom of the cursive “Ryoanji” mark contains the rounded square “Rakuami” mark. “Rakuami” comes from the name of “Rakuami” that was given to the 1st generation Kahei. (more…)

Otafukuan pottery (Daigo pottery) 於多福庵焼 (醍醐焼)

This type of earthenware is from Daigo in the southeast of Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Prefecture) that is believed to be from the late-Edo period (1830 – 1855). The potters are also not made clear, but there are the 1st and 2nd generation who went by the name of Otafukuan and used the following mark. Therefore, this name remains, but the works were also called Daigo ware from the location of the kiln. The style is similar to Banko ware, as the works were fine and included masterful handicrafts, such as pots and small plates, However, hardly any of the works (more…)

Kameyama pottery 花明山焼

This kiln was started by Deguchi Naohi, the 3rd generation founder of the Oomoto religion, in 1954 in Tenonkyo, Kameoka, Kyoto. It was named Kameyama since Kameoka was also called Kameyama, but with different characters. It started when the old kiln in Kyoto of the potter Uno Sango was inherited and Kaneshige Sozan of Bizen ware was invited to direct this kiln. At the start of this kiln, works by Kaneshige Toyo and Ishiguro Munemaro, in addition to Sozan, were fired here. Since then, works were created, with Hyuga Yoshihiro from Oomoto playing a central role. High-quality soil from the (more…)

Murasakino pottery 紫野焼

Kakutei, the owner of an aburi-mochi shop in Monzen, Daitokuji, Murasakino, Kyoto, fired Raku ware tea bowls with the marks of “Murasaki” and “Murasakino” written by the Buddhist priest Chuho from Shogetsuan in Daitokuji around the Bunka era (1804 – 1818) in the late-Edo period to start this style of earthenware. It has also been restored by Fujii Kaido, the Buddhist priest from Daitokuji, in the Showa era, resulting in Murasakino ware from the Edo period and modern Murasakino ware. (more…)