Japanese pottery and porcelain

Asama pottery 浅間焼

This type of earthenware was created by the 1st generation Idaka Kizan in 1924 by recreating Mikasa ware using the volcanic ash from Mount Asama in Karuizawa, which its revised name originates from.Since earthenware (Asama ware) could only be produced during the summer in this area, this kiln was only used as a hobby kiln by Kizan, but he continued to produce Asama ware until his late years, as he created matcha tea sets and other masterpieces. (more…)

Mikasa pottery 三笠焼

The businessman Yamamoto Naoyoshi started Mikasa Hotel in Karuizawa, Nagano in 1905 and invited Miyagawa Kozan from Yokohama to start a kiln and produce souvenirs for summer visitors. The kiln was then handed down to Kozan’s apprentice Idaka Kokei (later Idaka Kizan) and again to Kozan’s apprentice Mori Koshu of Mushiage ware but was abolished around the early-Taisho period. (more…)

Toyatei pottery 東野亭焼

This type of earthenware was commissioned by Arima Yorishige, the 11th generation feudal lord of the Kurume Domain in the late-Edo period to be fired in “Toyatei,” the villa of the feudal lord in Higashi-Nonaka. Artists from nearby kilns, such as the Akasaka ware potter Ogata Soichi and the porcelain painter Okamoto Shinkichi, mainly worked to produce works, but this kiln was abolished when the domain was abolished. (more…)

Towadako pottery 十和田湖焼

Morita Gosei, the potter from Kanazawa, came to the lake side of Lake Towada in Aomori Prefecture around 1927 to study the porcelain clay of this area. The following year, he started a kiln and gave the name of Towadako ware to the teacups, censers, incense trays, incense burners, vases, and other earthenware he produced there.He also produced earthenware bells for tourists. (more…)

Shida porcelain 志田焼

Shida ware consists of blue and white ceramics fired in Shida, Shiota, Hizen. The kiln is said to have originated during the Manji era (1652 – 1661), but its precise origins and originator are unknown.In addition, it mass-produced large platters to complement the cuisine at basket shops and teahouses from the late-Edo period and later.This kiln produced many masterpieces with delicate designs of wizards, flowers, tigers, and dragons but only produced regular plates from the Meiji era and later.In addition, it is said that there was no particular distinction with the nearby Imari ware at the time. (more…)

Hakodate pottery 函館焼

This type of earthenware was started by the Hakodate bugyo in 1857 as a way to expand local industry. Adachi Iwaji, an instructive potter from Iwamura Domain in Mino Province was invited to start a kiln in Yachigashira, Hakodate.He mainly produced blue and white ceramics and small items, but the kiln was abolished in 1862 due to economic issues caused by the cold climate and poor quality of the soil in this region. (more…)

Gennai pottery 源内焼

This type of earthenware originated during the Horeki era (1751 – 1764) in Shido in Sanuki Province (present-day Shido, Kagawa) when Hiraga Gennai made improvements to Cochin ware from China. It was an innovative type of earthenware at the time, as it contained lions, maps, and other designs on vessels with green Ryoku-yu glazes. Most of these works were produced by his apprentice Wakita Gengo, who used the name of “Shunmin,” resulting in its other name of Shunmin ware. Also, Yashima ware from the same area is a type of earthenware descending from Gennai ware. (more…)

Rakuzan pottery 楽山焼

This type of earthenware from Matsue, Shimane originated when the Hagi ware potter Kurasaki Gonbee started a kiln in 1677 at the request of Matsudaira Tsunataka, the 2nd generation feudal lord of the Matsudaira clan. This kiln lasted until the 4th generation, after which it was abolished. Later, the 7th generation feudal lord Matsudaira Fumai ordered Nagaoka Sumiemon Sadamasa to start it again. It is also called Izumo ware from the name of the region around the Meiji era. In general, Izumo ware refers to the aforementioned other name of Rakuzan ware, but it can also be used to refer (more…)

Sumida pottery 隅田焼

This type of earthenware originated when the 1st generation Inoue Ryosai started this kiln in 1866 along the Sumida River in Imado, Asakusa with the cooperation of Shimada Sobei, a wealthy merchant in Edo. He produced flower bases with heavy glazes and sculptural decorations of figures, such as wizards and sages, and animals mainly to be exported overseas and was very highly rated by foreigners as “SUMIDA,” as art deco was also popular at the time. In addition, the 2nd and 3rd generation also followed in the footsteps of the 1st generation to produce Sumida ware-style pieces with different marks (more…)

Kinzan pottery 錦山焼

This earthenware is from Shimata Village in Nogi County in Izumo Province (present-day Shimata, Yasugi, Shimane). It was founded in 1858 by Adachi Soemon (commonly known as Aburaya Soemon), who was a purveyor to the Matsudaira Domain. It was named Kinzan Ware after Nishikigaura in the region and mainly produced everyday bowls in the beginning. Since then, the Nakajima family of potters introduced glazes and techniques, and the kiln currently produces tea sets, flower vases, and other items with Shinsha-yu, Gosu-yu, Seiji-yu, and Ame-yu glazes as local traditional goods. yasugi-kankou.com錦山焼窯元 | 安来観光ガイド　-安来市観光協会が安来周辺の観光をお手伝いします- (more…)

Chinoike pottery 血池焼

Originated by the 1st generation Kojima Kanzo from Kamegawa, Beppu, Oita during the Taisho period after he repeatedly trained at kilns throughout the country before returning home to start a kiln. The name of Chinoike ware came about from Chinoike Jigoku in the nearby Kannawa hot springs. He created elegant teacups and tea sets using the distinctive red clay with high iron content from this region. The kiln is still active to this day, as it has been passed down to the 2nd generation Kojima Seu and the 3rd generation Kojima Mitsuo. Only the 1st generation created tea bowls, and (more…)

Fuji pottery 不二焼

This type of earthenware was started during the Bunsei era (1818 – 1830) in Koshinohara Village in Omi Province (present-day Koshinohara, Yasu, Shiga) and was named after Mount Mikami, which is also known as Omi Fuji. It has been said that the owner of the kiln was very fond of the arts and founded the kiln to create tea sets for tea ceremonies with cultured individuals, but the potter is unknown. Since there are also the Kofuji ware from Omi and the Fujimi ware from Seto, close attention must be paid. (more…)

Sasayama pottery 篠山焼

This type of earthenware from Sasayama, Hyogo (present-day Tamba-Sasayama) was started in the early Taisho period by the 1st generation Imamura Seisai, who was a potter from this area, and mainly involved tea bowls. Although the kiln was passed on to the 2nd generation Gennosuke, it was closed in 1935 at the passing of Gennosuke. 1st Generation Imamura Seisai 初代 今村静斎 1890 – 1922 In an attempt to revive Ojiyama ware (the kiln of the Aoyama clan, the feudal lords of the Sasayama Domain), which was abolished around 1869, he studied techniques at the Kyoto Ceramic Research Center, trained under (more…)

Bunzan pottery 文山焼

This type of earthenware from the Bunka to Bunsei era (1804 – 1830) was started by a potter named Bunjiro from Okazaki, Kyoto, who used the name of Bunzan and thrived as an expert of imitation works, as he was adept at Raku ware and ceramic production, particularly in making copies of works by Nonko, Sonyu, and Koetsu. In addition, he produced original earthenware, which includes designs of elegant pine trees and the Ebisu god of wealth on Raku teacups and rare masterpieces painted by Tosa Mitsubumi, but he was not remembered by later generations as a master potter because (more…)

Taishu porcelain (Tatekame Kiln) 対州焼 (立亀窯)

Taishu ware is porcelain from the Tsushima Tachikame region (currently Izuharamachi of Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture), and has been in production since at least before the Kaei era (1848-54), but the period it officially began and when it was abandoned are unknown. From the works that still exist, most is porcelain known as blue and white porcelain or white porcelain with a blue and white inscription of ‘Junsei Tachikame in a double circle’. The kilns are seen as drawing upon the style of Imari. Also, it is said that there were potters known as Juntaro and Uhe, but little (more…)

Sumidagawa pottery 隅田川焼

Around the Bunsei era (1818-), a potter named Sawara Kiku originated Raku-ware-style pottery, in the Edo Mukojima-Hyakkaen using the soil of the Sumida River. It was ceramics making focused on tea bowls, and for the motif, used an oystercatcher as the bowl’s design and shape of incense containers.In addition, because Sawara Kiku had close friendships with leading cultural figures of the time like Kyoto’s Ogata Shuhei, Sakai Hoitsu, and Tani Buncho, Sumidagawa ware became popular as a specialty of Edo and continued until the fourth generation. Second generation Kiku was produced as a gift for the succession of the thirteenth (more…)

Yamashina pottery 山科焼

1917-1930It was made and fired in Nishinoyama of Yamashina City (currently Yamashina Ward) in Kyoto, by Kyoto Kiyomizu second generation, Mashimizu Zoroku.He mainly fired gold brocade and Goryeo-ware. (more…)

Himetani pottery 姫谷焼

Around the Kanbun era (1661-73), pottery was produced in Himeya, Hirose Village of Fukayasu District in Bingo Province (currently Kamo town of Fukayasu district in Hiroshima Prefecture). Mainly Imari -style fired porcelain – excellent works remain, such as Aka-e (red paintings on ceramics), blue and white porcelain and celadon porcelain. Records remain of a person named Ichiemon who was a potter typical of the time. However, after his death it seemed that kilns were abandoned, there were less periods of production and so there are very few existing works. 広島県教育委員会広島県の文化財 - 姫谷焼色絵皿 - 広島県教育委員会 (more…)

Sasashima pottery 笹島焼

It is a type of Raku-ware that was originated by Maki Bunshichi (Bunkichi, also known as Bokusai), in Sasashima, Nagoya during the Bunsei years (1804-18). He later joined in with the Owari clan’s Oniwa-ware and passed on the technique to the second and third generations, but due to the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures by the New Meiji Government, kilns were abandoned.At first, the artist’s seal and signature was ‘Shinoshima’, but it was changed to ‘Sasashima’ from around the time of the second generation. So whilst it is difficult to distinguish the second generation from the (more…)

Shinjo-higashiyama pottery 新庄東山焼

Higashiyama is the common name for the hilly area in the eastern part of Shinjo City in Yamagata Prefecture, where the village is covered with a thick layer of clay. Wakui Yahei, the founder of Higashiyama-yaki pottery, was a potter from Echigo, who fell in love with the Higashiyama potter’s clay as he traveled around the region as an apprentice, and opened the kiln in 1841 as an official kiln for the Shinjo-Tozawa domain. The raw materials are still collected from the kiln’s premises, and due to the characteristics of well-fired pottery, it is highly valued for its strength and (more…)