Sunday, November 6, 2022

NASUBIGAWA YAKI (茄子川焼)


I am researching this kind of ware. The kilns seemed to produce many styles, imitating some popular styles of the time.





 An edited rough translation of a marker by Sakamoto District Cultural Heritage Preservation Society. 

“It is said that the first time for the Nasubi river ware was around 1587, when Kichiemon Kato in Seto came to the kiln in Suwa and fired glazed pottery. In 1832, Kuemon Niwa of Hirokute tried to improve the pottery production that he started last year, and welcomed Kihei Kato from Tsumagaki Village, Toki County as his master to manufacture porcelain. In the eighth year of the same year, Toshihiraji Shinohara started making pottery in the same Hirokute, and in the fourteenth year of the same year, Shinkichi Yasuda called on the local people in front of Suwa to make porcelain. The Nasubi river ware developed after Toshihiraharu Shinohara built a five-chamber climbing kiln in 1845 in collaboration with Kakuzo Mizuno, who came from Ecchu (Toyama Prefecture). The most popular one was "Esugagawa Soma" which resembled Soma ware in Oshu, which created a unique elegant taste made by firing with namako glaze on clay. When the kiln stock system was abolished in the Meiji period, Koigahei's Kyuzaemon Fujii, in collaboration with Eihachi Suzuki, invited craftsmen from Kutani to fire Kutani-style tea utensils that are rare in the Nasubi River. There are many sales channels in the direction of Kiso, Ina, and Matsumoto, and it was sold to the people traveling on the Nakasendo Road at teahouses and potteries on the pass, and it continued until the end of the Meiji period as an important industry in the village.”

Thursday, November 3, 2022

KOKUJI YAKI (小久慈焼)-Ceramics of Iwate Prefecture

Kokuji Yaki originated in northern Iwate. By the mid 20th century it was on the verge of distinction because there were no successors to the kilns. Mr. Shimodake Takeshi went to study ceramics in Seto. He returned to the area and with Mr. Kumagai Ryutaro established an association to help train potters to revive the area ceramics industry.

 

  Basic information from this book, Japanese Ceramics visits to traditional kilns, East region. 




Tuesday, October 25, 2022

HŌJU YAKI (宝珠焼)- Pottery of Fukuoka Prefecture




A former village area in the southeastern part of Toho Village, Fukuoka Prefecture. In 2005, it merged with Koishiwara Village to form Toho Village.  There is a Hoju-yaki kiln in the coal mine ruins. 




 

Thursday, October 20, 2022

TACHIBANA YAKI-Ceramics of Aichi Prefecture

 Tachibana Yaki is most noted for making ceramic hibachi. They seem to be a subset of Tokoname Yaki of Aichi Prefecture. 


Thank you to Gina McLean for the use of her photo




Friday, October 7, 2022

Ikebana Vessel Production Ware

Work in progress: 

Hishoku Kiln (秘色窯) This is Tokoname Yaki, of Aichi Prefecture



Kōzan (光山) This is Yakkaichi Banko, of Mie Prefecture




 Sansai-En (三彩園) This is Tokoname Yaki, of Aichi Prefecture. 


Shōraku (勝楽) This is Yokkaichi Banko,  of Mie Prefecture



Yamasan (山三窯)



Yamatei 



Toyo 東洋






Oomiya Toen is a factory in Mie Prefecture. High volume ceramics. 





I’m not sure of the reading ( Seppō or Yukimine) but are made in factories at Yokkaichi Banko, Mie Prefecture. 



Kagetsu 華月



紫雅

Banko Yaki Hōgetsu









草月 Sogetsu 










           Arita Yaki Kozan kiln 琥山窯 




















Saturday, July 30, 2022

AMORIGAWA YAKI-Pottery of Kagoshima

                                        Photo used with permission from owner, Kristen Fretcher


Amorigawa Yaki is a kiln from the Satsuma Area (Kagoshima) on the southern Island of Kyushu. This is an obscure kiln settled in the area of Kirishima on the border with Miyazaki Prefecture. The area is volcanic and has onsen hot spring resorts. 
 

Saturday, June 11, 2022

SAKATSU YAKI-Ceramics of Okayama Prefecture






 http://sakazuyaki.jp/rekishi.html


Partial Google translation from the link above

■ History of Sakazu ware kiln ■

 Sakazu, Kurashiki City, where the kiln and workshop of Sakazu ware is located, is a 10-minute drive from Kurashiki Station.  Sakazu is a water source in Kurashiki City, and there is a Sakazu-yaki kiln on the banks of Sakazu Park, which is famous for its cherry blossoms.

 The first Sueyoshi Okamoto (No. Ceramics) opened a kiln in Enomachi at the foot of Mt. Tsurugata in 1869 (Meiji 2). It is a thing.

 In 1876 (Meiji 9), he heard that there was good quality pottery clay in Sakazu and moved the kiln to Sakazu. Was named "Kabutoyaki" and used a helmet-shaped stamp.  After that, Kabuto-yaki was changed to Kabuto kiln, and the kiln mark was changed to "Kabuto" or "Nishiyama" after the kiln at the foot of Nishiyama, which was built later.  Eventually, it came to be called Sakazu-yaki by the place name.  Since the first year of the Showa era, the kiln mark of "Sakazu" or "Sakatsu" has been stamped.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

KARIN GAMA Hanai Kenta- Ceramics of Tottori Prefecture

 Hanai Kenta is an independent potter who established a kiln in Kawaramachi, in Tottori City. He studied under National Living Treasure for Koishiwara Yaki Fukushima Zenzo. His signature works give the impression of moss growing on a dark base. It is called Taigen-yuu. It is beautiful work. Thank you to Stewart Dorward for the photo and Alice Gordenker for bringing this fine potter to my attention. 






Thanks to Alice Gordenker for this picture of a recent exhibit



https://www.tokyoartbeat.com/events/-/2018%2F899D

https://www.instagram.com/karin_kiln/?hl=ja



Thursday, April 7, 2022

Banshozan kiln of Izumo, Shimane Prececture.

An Izumo area ceramic style, formerly known as Kurihara Yaki, began in the Meiji period and loosely followed the Fujina style after 1892. Later the kiln moved to more folk style wares. The current kiln is Banshozan gama. 

Here is an example of their ware. It is a tea bowl, marked with the kiln seal and incised Izumo mark. 






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