AGANO YAKI (上野焼き), KAWARA (Denkō) Yaki, Chuai Yaki-Ceramics of Fukuoka Prefecture

Agano Yaki has a history that dates back to 1602. It was one of the seven favored styles of pottery of the great tea master, architect and garden designer Kobori Enshu. It was supported by the clan through the Edo period but when the Meiji period came, and the patronage of the clan was eliminated many wares, like Agano Yaki, disappeared for a while, but were later revived. Agano yaki is probably best known for its blue green glaze with hints of iron spots, but there are other styles as well. The Hongama, or original kiln is Totoki Gama. It usually has the characteristic carved swirl in the foot, along with a postage stamp shaped mark with the Shirakawa Family ____ mark. there are currently (2019) 16 kilns around Tagawa town that produce Agano Yaki.

2025-September

I attended the 46th year of the West Japanese Pottery Festival 

西日本陶磁器フェスタ　

I met Mr Jōno (城之豊三) of the Jōno kiln. He makes both traditional and modern styles of Agano Yaki. 

The more traditional blue/green glazes don’t sell as well these days so many of his works are updated to colors of deeper blues and purples to meet the demands of younger customers. 

He was a sumo wrestler but sustained injuries that ended his career. He turned to pottery making, and seems to be a very happy potter. He was very kind and generous to me. 

Me holding cups made by Mr. Jōno. 

I still adore the more traditional Agano glazes.

Agano Yaki Jōno Gama

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Tea Bowl by Koushin Gama (庚申窯)

Agano Bowl

Mark used by Hosho from c1800, currently used by the Shiragawa /Totoki kilns

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KOZURU GEN

Agano yaki tea cup by Kozuru Gen (高鶴元)

Additional mark of Kozuru Gen

Gen Kozuru wrote the Agano & Takatori volume in the Famous Ceramics of Japan series by Kodansha International in 1981.

Generic Agano Yaki (no marks)

Agano Yaki Futaoki

十時窯十代甫元 白川硯山作 上野焼茶碗 

                                       The mark is not clear but may be from the Kozuru kiln

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I believe these are by 15th Kumagae Koyo (熊谷江陽)

Shisō te yū 柴蘇手釉

Kumagai Hongama marks

AGANO KILNS (some may no longer be producing wares)

Aoyagi Furoen

Fuji gama

Hachiman gama

Hotta gama

Jono gama

Kajiwara gama

Kajiwara hongama

Koshin gama

Koushyu gama

Kouzuru gama

Kumagae hongama

Mamoru gama

Motohiko gama

Muzou gama

Nakamura gama

Seizan gama

Shibanoto gama

Shirakawa gama

Shouryuu gama

Takada gama

Takanashi gama

Tengo gama
Totoki gama

Watari gama

                    上野窯元 Agano Kamamoto
青柳不老園（あおやぎふろうえん）Aoyagi Furoen 
梶原本窯（かじわらほんがま) Kajiwara Hon-gama

梶原窯（かじわらがま）Kajiwara Gama
熊谷本窯（くまがえほんがま) Kumagae Hon-gama
光修窯（こうしゅうがま）Koushyu Gama
庚申窯（こうしんがま）Koshin Gama
高鶴窯（こうづるがま) Kouzuru Gama
柴ノ門窯（しばのとがま）Shibanoto Gama
城之窯（じょうのがま）Jōno Gama
昇龍窯（しょうりゅうがま) Shyouryuu Gama
白川窯（しらかわがま）Shirakawa Gama
清山窯（せいざんがま）Seizan Gama

高田窯（たかだがま）Takada Gama
天郷窯（てんごうがま) Tengou Gama
十時窯（とときがま）Totoki Gama
中村窯（なかむらがま）Nakamura Gama
八幡窯（はちまんがま）Hachiman Gama
不二窯（ふじがま）Fuji Gama
堀田窯（ほったがま）Hotta Gama
守窯（まもるがま）Mamoru Gama
無造窯（むぞうがま) Muzou Gama
元彦窯（もとひこがま）Motohiko Gama
渡窯（わたりがま) Watari Gama
　

Kōzuru Kazan

Totoki Kamamoto Honkei (original family)

There are additional kilns in Kawara town called AGANO KAWARA YAKI

http://aganoyakikawara.wix.com/aganoyaki

                                                              Kawara (香春) MARK ( also referred to as Denkō yaki)

      

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            Inotake Gama 飯岳窯

YABAKEI YAKI (耶場系焼き)-Ceramics of Oita Prefecture

*Updated August 2019

The Yabakei kiln sign

The gorge at Yabakei

Yaba Mark

Tea cup (probably 60-70 years old per conversation with current kiln master Yoshimura Isao 7/2019)

This is Yabakei pottery of Oita prefecture. It stands in the shadow of Oita's most famous pottery, Onta. It carries with it some of the colorings of nearby Agano ware which is what led me to first believe it might be from there. The hand moulding and pinching technique makes it a bit unusual and gives it a natural feeling. The mark on the bottom reads YABA. There is precious little in either Japanese  or English that I could find, being a style of its own.  It comprises of only one kiln to my knowledge, Yoshimura Shougetsu-en with origins dating back to 1902. 

http://www.d-b.ne.jp/yabayaki/index.html

https://www.ny-ikik.net/index.php?action=seller_infomation&cd=10082

Updated AUGUST 2019 My visit to Yabakei

Yabakei is a small town in the mountains near Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. It is about a 25 minute bus ride from Nakatsu station through small villages. The location is famous for the Yabakei Gorge. Right near the gorge is the Yabakei kiln, Yoshimura Shogetsu-En. They have been making pottery since the Meiji period. They once fired their wares in an anagama, but these days they find it easier, less expensive and more reliable to use a gas kiln. The current master is Yoshimura Isao. He is the 4th in the line, and unfortunately he may be the last as he does not have an heir that will take over the kiln. We enjoyed our visit with him very much. First he served us some cold barley tea ( it was a very hot day). He then shared the history of the kiln, showed us his shop, examples of his work and earlier master’s works, and then invited us to see his kiln and work areas. He discussed the future of his kiln. I told him about my blog. He gave me permission to share pictures and information. Interestingly enough, the tea cups at the top of this page, after showing pictures of them to Mr. Yoshimura, he said he had never seen that style, but that it was indeed Yabakei Yaki. He says they must be 60-70 years old and must have been made by his father or grandfather.

Kiln pamphlet

Kiln history  and calling card

Made by Yoshimura Souyou, 3rd master of the kiln

Made by the current master

SHIGARAKI YAKI (信楽焼き )-Ceramics of Shiga Prefecture

Shigaraki-yaki is pottery of Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is one of the six old Japanese kilns. 

September 2025 West Japan Pottery Festival

Business man turned potter, specializing in Shigaraki and Shino. Sadaki Kido of Haizuka Kiln 

Haizuka kiln

Yamazaki Katsumi

Works by Yamazaki Katsumi

Works by Yamazaki Katsumi

Notes from Alice Gordenker

The piece is contemporary.  There are two names on the paper, both last name Kato (or Katoh).  The first one listed, whom I presume is senior, is 加藤整治which I believe is read Kato Seiji.  His art name is  艸云Soun, which is also the name of the kiln.  He died in March 2016.   The other name on the paper is probably his son. Both are listed as having "supervised" this work, so I don't know if that means that one or both of them made it, or some assistant made it under their supervision.  I assume the latter. As I said, the kiln is in Koga in Shiga Prefecture, which is Shigaraki ware territory.  I see that signature on all his boxes, so I believe the box goes with the piece and isn't a mismatch.

Takahashi Rakusai

Soutou-en 宗陶苑




















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Tanikangama-This kiln began around 1870. We enjoyed our visit at Tanikangama and Mr. Tanii was very welcoming. The showroom included samples of both 2nd Tanikangama (Shinzan) and and 3rd Tanikangama (Hozan).  

Vase made by Shinzan, 2nd generation Tanikangama

Shinzan MARK

Tanii Hozan MARK

Small bowl made by Tanii Hozan, 3rd generation Tanikangama

Ogawa Kenzo Tobo (小川顕三 )

www.ogawa-kenzo.com/

I enjoyed a visit to Mr. Ogawa's Kiln along with some friends who were visiting Japan. He was very kind to show us through the kiln. He is a famous Shigaraki potter.

A guinomi (sake cup) by Ogawa Kenzo

Ogawa Kenzo MARK

Marujyugama (丸十窯 )-This kiln began in 1937

(www.010gama.co.jp/)

Large Vase by Maruju gama

Box for Vase. The kanji for the kiln is to the far left, meaning circle ten kiln.

Sansai (三彩  )-

Large bulb vase by Sansai

Sansai MARK

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SHOUZAEMON GAMA (庄左右門窯)

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Shigaraki tea bowl

Generic Shigaraki MARK

Large vase with Dragon or snake design

Unmarked

Unmarked

Unmarked

Churoku mark

                                                                   Kawasaki かわさき

http://www.kawasakibiken.com/company.html

LIST OF KILNS

https://www.e-shigaraki.org/shop/?c=pottery