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?