MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN 1945-1952

Made in Occupied Japan ceramics were produced between 1945 and 1952. Irene Stitt in her book, "Japanese Ceramics of the Last 100 Years" states that some fakes were made from this period of lighter weight, hollow inside and marked in orange or black (probably referring to knick-knacks).

This sake cup is most likely made by Kutani though not marked as such

I have seen many of this M.B mark but I don't know what the M.B. means yet.

 NikoNiko China made a lot of "Dragon Ware". This is a slightly less gaudy style from others I have seen.  Niko Niko can mean "smile" in Japanese. I am sure the designers were smiling (haha) when they made these as since the Japanese prefer simpler and more refined work.

     

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NORITAKE "M" mark on MIOJ 

             Tashiro Toen MIOJ tea cup.

          Four leaf Clover MIOJ Mark

************

                                       CPO (central purchasing office)

This set is in perfect condition!

Ohata China 

Chugai China

UCAGCO CHINA Hand Painted Japan

United China & Gift Company (formerly United China & Glass)

Merit China

Other manufacturers of MIOJ wares:

Chubu China

NKT (Nikko)

See  also this link to Occupied Japan at the Nagoya Ceramics Museum

http://nagoya-toujikikaikan.sblo.jp/category/899371-1.html

Kiln Hopping 🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

I have visited many kilns in Japan, so many that I can't recall all of them. I will include the ones I have documented and/or have pictures of. I will add more as I find more records.

AGANO YAKI

Jono-gama

Koshin-gama

Takada-gama

ARITA YAKI

Fukagawa-Seiji (深川製磁)

Genemon (源右衛門)

Kakiemon (柿右衛門)

Koransha (香欄社)

Seika/Shin-gama (しん窯) 

ASAHI YAKI (朝日) Uji-Kyoto

Matsubayashi Hosai

BIZEN YAKI (備前)

Korakuen (Kimura Yukei)

 HAGI YAKI  (萩)

             Tamamura Shogetsu Gama


KARATSU YAKI (唐津)

I did not get to a kiln, but this store in town had products from 35 kilns in Karatsu. 

KIYOMIZU-KYOTO YAKI (清水)

Unrakugama-gama (雲楽窯)

Yamato Toen


KODA YAKI (高田)

Agano-gama (上野窯)

Denshichi-gama (伝七窯)

KOISHIWARA YAKI

Marudai-gama

Maruwa-gama

KUTANI YAKI (九谷)

Kosen 

MIYJIMA/OSUNA YAKI

Kawahara Tosai-gama

OTANI YAKI

Yano Toen

Mori-Gama

SHIGARAKI YAKI

Ogawa Kenzo-gama

Tanikan-gama

TAKATORI YAKI

Takatori Hon-gama
Takatori Hassan

Kamei Miraku

TANBA YAKI

Chindai-gama

Chiyoichi Tokan

Nobori-gama

MASHIKO YAKI

Shimaoka Tatsuzo kiln

Hamada gama ( Hamada Shoji, Hamada Shinsaku, Hamada Tomo)

KASAMA YAKI

Sato Gama

YABAKEI YAKI

Herbs and Japanese pottery just seem so happy together!

                                       

MATSUSHIRO-YAKI (松代焼)-Ceramics of Nagano Prefecture

Matsushiro pottery is considered a folk pottery or mingei. In "Folk Kilns I" by Hiroshi Mizuo he explains some of the history of this style. It began in 1816 making all the needed wares for the local area. Many kilns were driven out of business by the mass producing kilns and the opening of the railroads. Karakida Matazō was instrumental in bringing back Matsushiro Yaki. It is oft times referred to as 信州松代焼Shinshu Matsushiro Yaki. 

I believe four kilns are producing in Matsushiro,  Matsui kiln and the Karakida kilns seem to be the most prolific. 

MATSUI GAMA (松井窯)

           MATSUI Gama MARK

Japanese Ceramic Resources on the Net-Some Favorite Sites I Frequent

I use these sites (and many, many more) to cross check and verify. These are not in any particular order. I  do not use any one site as the only source for identification. These are just helpful jumping off points. There are additional links to kiln websites under the pottery types on this blog, some of which have an English link (but most do not). You may also find my book reviews for books on Japanese pottery helpful. My library is growing. I have reference books in Japanese as well, that are not reveiwed, as they are not easily obtained outside of Japan. 

HELPFUL SITES

http://www.utsuwadouraku.com   

This is a Japanese recycle internet shop that I use for styles, names and marks because the shopkeeper usually displays the box, mark and any identification papers. It is in Japanese but it might be fun to check it out.

Katsuragi ebay. 

This site sells things from Japan. The site is machine translated English but is understandable. I use this as a reference. It is not 100% correct but often has the boxes and identification papers so I can check it out myself. 

www.rikyucha.com

This site is in English,but ships from Japan. This deals mostly with tea ceremony utensils but has some other items. The potters name is given when known. Sometimes it shows the box and identification papers. You can sign up for the newsletter which adds interesting cultural tidbits. 

http://Jisho.org

This is an on line Japanese dictionary. It requires some knowledge of Japanese but is a great asset for looking up kanji.

http://dictionaries.nihongoresources.com 

I love this one because it shows different forms of Kanji that one may encounter reading marks, names and red hanko seals on boxes. 

http://nippon-kichi.jp/

http://pukupukukichi.blogspot.com

http://shop.flimart.com/wa/goods/

http://www.imari.com/index.html

http://home.netyou.jp/77/k-okada2/yakimono.html

http://www.guinomiya.com

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~hayakaen/SOME-MENU.htm

https://sites.google.com/site/bandwresearch/home/imbande/printing-technique

http://www.h5.dion.ne.jp/~umebachi/zen.html

http://flyeschool.com/content/japanese-tea-bowl-feet

The Coin Toss and Displaying Japanese Kanji on Pottery

With a coin toss there is usually about a 50/50 chance of heads or tails. You would think that it would be the same odds displaying pottery marks on line for those who do not know Kanji. This is NOT the case. As I surf the listings on sites such as ebay, etsy and others I am amazed at how many marks are posted upside down (granted a few are sideways..but very few). My guess is that it is closer to 80% that are upside down! Why is that?

QUIZ......So which of the marks below are are right side up and which are upside down?