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Japanese Pottery StylesJapanese Pottery has many diverse and distinctive styles which are concentrated in towns and areas all over Japan. These pottery styles have developed over the centuries. I have tried to provide a snapshot of the rich history and the characterisitics of different Japanese ceramics styles. Arita-yaki
One of the most world-renowned Japanese pottery styles is Arita-yaki. Arita-yaki was Japan’s first porcelain and it was produced in Akita, which is located on the island of Kyushu in Southern Japan.Arita-yaki began in the 17th Century, when Korean potters were brought to Japan from Korea, after a failed invasion by the Japanese of Korea. One of the Korean potters Ri Sampei produced the first porcelain in Japan, and also built the first porcelain kiln in Arita. Arita-yaki are usually decorative pieces which are white, and decorated with underglaze cobalt blue. Arita-yaki is world-renowned for its excellent craftsmanship, and has always been in high demand by European collectors and Royal families. Historically in Japan, Arita-yaki was reserved for only the elite class of society, but today most families own Arita-yaki which is used on a daily basis.
Bizen-yaki
One of Japan’s oldest Japanese pottery styles is Bizen-yaki. Bizen-yaki is named after the village Imbe in Okayama prefecture in Japan, which was previously known as Bizen province.Bizen-yaki is stoneware made from iron-rich clay found in rice paddies. Bizen-yaki is unglazed and fired over a long period of time. It is a reddish-brown colour, and has simple markings made often from straw or ash.
Hagi-yaki
Hagi-yaki is easily recognised, and is one of my favourite Japanese pottery styles. Hagi-yaki is high-fired stoneware which originated in the 16th Century. The Hagi pottery style was developed by two Korean potters, Li Sukkwang and Li Kyong who were brought to Japan from Korea. The Hagi ceramic style is said to be influenced by the Korean Chosen period.The Daimyo Lord Mori Terumoto gave them permission to build a kiln, and requested Hagi pieces which could be used in the tea ceremony and for gifts. Hagi-yaki is made from soft clay glazed in a milky white glaze.
Tokoname-yaki
The Japanese pottery style Tokoname-yaki, originated in 1100AD in Tokoname, located in Aichi prefecture in Southern Japan.Originally Tokoname-yaki was used for religious purposes, for example to hold Buddhist scrolls, but later large storage jars were used to hold liquids and grain. Tokoname-yaki is stoneware that is high-fired and ash-glazed. Tokoname-yaki is made from clay rich in ferric oxide. The ferric oxide reacts with the tannin in green tea and said to remove the bitterness from green tea. Tokoname-yaki is famous for producing the popular red clay teapot, which most Japanese families own and use to enjoy green tea. Shigaraki ware
Shigaraki ware was was named after the town Shigaraki, located in Shiga prefecture in southern Japan.Shigaraki ware is unglazed stoneware, which is high-fired, and was developed in the 12th Century. Originally large storage vessels and bowls were made, and later tea masters in the Muromachi and Momoyama periods in Japan adopted the natural simplicity of this Japanese pottery style to produce tea untensils. Shigaraki ware has a rough, orange-rustic appearance. Tamba-yaki
Tamba-yaki is a very traditional Japanese pottery style which originated in the medieval period in Japan.Tamba is located in Hyogo Prefecture. Tamba-yaki is made from iron-rich clay and historically storage jars and vases were made in the Tamba style. Tamba-yaki is a reddish-brownish colour. Seto-yaki
Seto-yaki originated in the 14th Century in Seto-city in Aichi prefecture, and also in Mino city in Gifu prefecture.Seto-yaki is high-fired, ash and iron-glazed ceramics. Vases and jars are produced in this Japanese pottery style.
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