Japanese Ceramics Care Guide

The more you use Japanese ceramics, the deeper their beauty becomes.

My grandmother had a rice bowl she had used for decades. A small chip at the rim, and the faint colour of years of tea absorbed into the clay. And yet — or rather, because of that — it was beautiful.

Japanese ceramics hold a concept called ichishō-mono (一生もの) — a piece for life. Mass-produced tableware is treated as a consumable, but handmade japanese pottery and porcelain, properly cared for, can outlast a human lifetime and be passed to the next generation.

Japanese ceramics, however, have properties quite different from machine-made tableware. Earthenware absorbs water. Some glazes are sensitive to heat or certain chemicals. Handle them without knowing this, and even a remarkable, one-of-a-kind piece can be damaged before its time.

This article explains the correct care method for japanese ceramics, by material — so that the pieces you love can be loved for a long, long time.

Material Properties Every Japanese Pottery Owner Should Know

Care methods differ significantly by material. The first step is understanding what your piece is made from.

Earthenware: Properties and Special Care Requirements

Earthenware (tōki, 陶器) is fired at relatively lower temperatures (approximately 1,100–1,300°C) using clay as its primary material. Its key properties:

Water absorption: Earthenware has fine pores on its surface that absorb moisture, oils, acids and alcohol. This is the very basis of how a piece “grows” and develops character with use — but handled incorrectly, those same pores can absorb stains and harbour mould.

No dishwasher, as a rule: The sudden temperature changes of a dishwasher cycle (high-temperature wash plus a drying phase) stress earthenware, potentially spreading glaze crazing (kan’nyū, fine hairline cracks in the glaze) or cracking the clay body. Some modern high-durability earthenware is dishwasher-safe, but this varies by artist — confirm with the piece’s documentation, and when in doubt, hand-wash.

Careful with the microwave: Earthenware decorated with gold or silver (kinzai / ginzai) and pieces repaired with kintsugi cannot go in the microwave. Earthenware without metal decoration can generally be microwaved briefly, but extended heating should be avoided.

Representative kiln regions: Bizen ware, Shigaraki ware, Hagi ware, Tamba-Tachikui ware, Mashiko ware, Echizen ware.

Porcelain: Dense, Low-Maintenance Japanese Ceramics

Porcelain (jiki, 磁器) is fired at higher temperatures (approximately 1,300–1,400°C) using feldspathic stone (containing kaolin). Its key properties:

Virtually no water absorption: The dense, pore-free surface does not absorb liquid. Stains are less likely to penetrate and are easier to remove when they do.

Dishwasher-friendly in most cases: Japanese porcelain without gold, silver or platinum decoration is generally dishwasher-safe, though it is always advisable to check the product documentation first.

Microwave-friendly in most cases: Porcelain without metal decoration can usually go in the microwave without concern.

Representative kiln regions: Arita porcelain, Kutani ware, Hasami ware, Tobe ware.

To learn more about the unique characteristics of each material, please explore our guide below and enjoy discovering their differences:

Japanese Pottery: Earthenware, Stoneware and Porcelain Explained

Medome Seasoning: The Japanese Technique for New Pottery

Now that you understand the differences between materials, let us turn to earthenware care specifically. In Japan, a traditional process called medome (目止め) is performed before using a new piece of earthenware for the very first time.

What Is Medome Seasoning?

Medome is the process of pre-sealing the fine pores of earthenware before first use. Because earthenware absorbs liquid so readily, performing medome causes the clay to absorb a neutral liquid in advance, significantly reducing subsequent absorption of stains, mould-causing residues and unwanted odours. Benefits:

・Prevents early staining and colour transfer
・Blocks penetration of mould-causing residues
・Extends the working life of the piece

How to Perform Medome Seasoning

Using flour-dissolved water or rice-washing water (togijiru, the cloudy milky liquid left after rinsing uncooked rice)

Add flour-dissolved water — or the milky, starch-rich water left after rinsing uncooked rice — to a pot
Place the piece inside so the liquid covers it completely
Heat slowly over low to medium heat and remove from heat just before boiling
Leave to cool completely in the liquid (30 minutes to 1 hour)
Remove, rinse under running water and allow to dry fully

The starch in the flour or rice seals the pores of the clay.

Which Pieces Need Medome and Which Don’t

Medome is recommended for earthenware in general — Hagi ware, Shigaraki ware, Tamba-Tachikui ware and similar pieces. Porcelain does not need medome. Bizen ware and other pieces made using an unglazed kiln-fired technique (yakishime), which have naturally lower water absorption, generally do not require medome either.

Daily Care for Japanese Ceramics by Material

Here is a practical guide to maintaining earthenware and porcelain for the long term.

Caring for Earthenware

Wash promptly after use: Even after medome has been performed, food oils and acids left in contact for extended periods can penetrate the clay. Wash as soon as possible after eating.

Wash with lukewarm water and a soft sponge: Use either no detergent at all, or a very small amount of mild neutral detergent — particularly important for vermilion clay teapots and Hagi ware. Detergent residue trapped in the pores can leach out during the next use and affect flavour.

Dry completely after washing: Storing while still damp is a primary cause of mould. Wipe off excess water with a cloth, then place upside-down in a well-ventilated spot to dry fully before storing.

Protect pieces when stacking: The textured surface of some earthenware can scratch adjacent pieces if stacked directly. When stacking japanese pottery, place a soft cloth or paper towel between each piece to prevent surface damage.

Caring for Porcelain

Porcelain is significantly easier to care for than earthenware, but a few points deserve attention.

Dishwasher caution: Porcelain decorated with gold, silver or platinum may have its decoration stripped by the dishwasher. For decorated pieces, hand-washing is the safe choice.

Take care with thin-walled pieces: While japanese porcelain is resistant to moisture, thin-walled pieces are more vulnerable to impact damage. Handle with extra care when stacking.

Avoid bleach: The temptation to use bleach to restore porcelain’s whiteness should be resisted — bleach can damage glazes and painted decoration.

Caring for Nanbu Ironware

This section covers Nanbu Ironware (Nanbu tekki, 南部鉄器) — which, while different from japanese ceramics, is one of Japan’s most sought-after craft items and frequently returns home with visitors as a souvenir or gift. Its care requirements are unique and worth understanding.

What Is Nanbu Ironware?

Nanbu Ironware is a traditional cast-iron craft (imono) produced in Iwate Prefecture (Morioka City and Oshu City) for approximately four hundred years. Its distinctive weight and substantial beauty, which deepens with long use, are celebrated not only in Japan but internationally — it is known and admired in Europe and North America as “Nanbu Ironware.”

Three defining features make it remarkable:

Exceptional heat retention and thermal conductivity
As a solid iron object, it retains heat once warmed and distributes it evenly to food. Steak seared in Nanbu ironware comes out crisp outside and juicy within; water boiled in it tastes remarkably smooth and mellow.

Iron supplementation
During cooking and water-boiling, ferrous iron (easily absorbed by the body) is released into the liquid. It is known as a gentle kitchen tool for those prone to low iron.

Extraordinary longevity
Said to be passed “from parent to child to grandchild,” these pieces can last a hundred years or more with proper care.

Why “Nanbu”?

During the Edo period (17th–19th century), the Nanbu Domain — which governed the northern part of what is now Iwate Prefecture — invited tea kettle craftspeople from Kyoto, and that is how the tradition began. The industry, drawing on the region’s exceptional iron resources, was protected and developed as a key regional specialty of the domain.

In modern times, responding to demand from France and other countries, Nanbu Ironware began to be produced in vibrant colours — red, blue and gold — alongside the traditional black. This development gave a tradition-rooted craft item a global following, fitting naturally into the contemporary kitchen.

Caring for Nanbu Ironware Teapots and Kettles

Nanbu Ironware requires care quite different from japanese ceramics.

Never wash with detergent: Detergent is strictly prohibited for ironware. Rinse with hot water only and nothing else.

Dry completely after every use: After use, place upside-down to dry fully. Any remaining moisture causes rust.

Never wipe the interior: Wiping the inside of the piece with a cloth can strip the protective oxide patina that forms naturally with use and is essential to the piece’s longevity.

Remove exterior rust with hot water: If rust appears on the exterior, pour a small amount of hot water over it and brush gently with a scrubbing brush. Do not scrub too aggressively.

Common Japanese Ceramics Problems and How to Solve Them

Mould

Earthenware stored while still damp can develop mould. If this happens:

Wash the surface with lukewarm water to remove visible mould
Apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda mixed with water, leave for 30 minutes
Gently scrub away with a soft brush
Rinse thoroughly under running water and allow to dry completely

If mould has penetrated deep into the clay, performing medome again to reseal the pores is the most effective remedy.

Tea Stains and Deep Staining

Highly absorbent earthenware can absorb tea stains and other residues into the clay body. In this case:

Soak the piece in bicarbonate of soda water (1 teaspoon bicarbonate to 200ml water) for 1–2 hours
Gently rub with a soft sponge
Rinse thoroughly

Note: for Hagi ware, the absorption of tea colour is a welcomed and cherished phenomenon known as shichi-bake (七化け, “seven transformations”). There is particular beauty in leaving it as it is, rather than removing it.

Chips and Cracks: Kintsugi Repair

A small chip does not mean the piece is finished. Repair — and a long life beyond — is very much part of the philosophy of japanese ceramics.

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is a traditional Japanese repair technique in which chipped or broken areas are joined with urushi lacquer and finished with gold powder. The repaired piece is transformed into something arguably more beautiful than it was before. Rather than treating a chip as something to be ashamed of, it is accepted as part of the history the piece carries. This is one of the deepest expressions of Japanese wabi-sabi culture — finding beauty in impermanence and imperfection.

For larger cracks or multiple chips, kintsugi can be commissioned through local craft shops or pottery studios, or learned at home using a purpose-made kit.

Changes in Glaze Colour

Glaze colour may change over years of use.

Welcome changes (to be cherished): Hagi ware’s shichi-bake, the evolving surface character of Bizen pottery, the growing mellowness of Tokoname vermilion clay ware — these are intentional changes that develop over time and are fundamental to the appeal of these japanese pottery traditions.

Deterioration (to be addressed): Glazes flaking, gold decoration fading, or sudden dramatic colour changes may indicate a problem with how the piece has been used or stored. Reconsider dishwasher and microwave use.

One of the greatest charms of Japanese tableware is how it "grows" with use. To learn more about this unique experience, please explore our guide here:

Japanese Ceramics That Grow: How Handmade Pottery Changes and Deepens with Every Use

Storage Tips for Long-Lasting Japanese Ceramics

Store Earthenware and Porcelain Separately

Where possible, store earthenware and porcelain separately. Porcelain is harder, and stacking it directly on earthenware can scratch the earthenware surface.

Use Protective Materials When Stacking

When stacking pieces, place thin washi paper, felt or a silicone mat between each one. This prevents surface scratches while maintaining ventilation.

Store in a Low-Humidity Location

Earthenware is susceptible to moisture. Store pieces in a drier location — on upper shelves rather than in the humid space under the kitchen sink.

Use and Air Pieces Regularly

Even during extended periods of non-use, take pieces out every few months, wash them and allow them to dry. Left untouched for long periods, pieces can absorb ambient moisture and develop mould or unwanted odours.

Caring for Japanese Ceramics Overseas

Advice for those who have brought pieces back from Japan or had them shipped internationally.

Adapting to different climates: In climates drier than Japan — much of Europe and North America — earthenware may dry out more rapidly. For the first few weeks, we recommend using the pieces daily to allow them to acclimatise gradually to their new environment.

Hard water: Many parts of Europe have hard water, high in calcium and magnesium. Hard water can cause white mineral deposits to build up on the inside of japanese pottery over time. Rinsing periodically with lemon water or diluted vinegar removes these deposits effectively.

Living Alongside Your Japanese Ceramics

Caring for japanese ceramics is not difficult. The essentials are simply: wash promptly after use, and dry thoroughly. That is all. A small amount of knowledge and a small amount of care will keep a single piece beautiful for decades.

And pieces that have been truly lived with accumulate a quality that machine-made objects can never achieve — the beauty of time. A Hagi ware tea bowl with its shichi-bake colour development. A Bizen yunomi grown mellow with years of use. A porcelain plate restored with kintsugi gold. These are not diminished pieces — they are works with a rich, layered history that belongs to you and you alone.

Begin your long life with a piece you love, here.

Where to Buy Japanese Ceramics Online

Looking for authentic japanese pottery for sale, or searching for the perfect japanese gift ideas to give someone who loves fine craft? Nokaze connects you directly with Japanese ceramic artists and kiln studios across Japan, with full details on material, firing method and artist background for every piece.

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