Japanese Pottery Articles

Bizen pottery plates seen from above, scarlet hidasuki lines running across the surface, rims turned ochre where ash settled and the clay left rough and unglazed

Bizen Pottery History: 1,200 Years from Sueki ...

Bizen ware's history begins with Sue ware, which was introduced from the Korean Peninsula. Overcoming crises such as the collapse of the official system and the rise of lacquerware, Bizen...

Bizen Pottery History: 1,200 Years from Sueki ...

Bizen ware's history begins with Sue ware, which was introduced from the Korean Peninsula. Overcoming crises such as the collapse of the official system and the rise of lacquerware, Bizen...

A blue-and-white sometsuke porcelain guinomi sake cup catching low evening light against a dark background

Guinomi: The Japanese Sake Cup That Makes a Bet...

Around the world, people share the ritual of a nightcap. The Japanese guinomi is ideally crafted for this moment, holding a thoughtful 60–120ml that naturally slows your pace. Unlike glossy...

Guinomi: The Japanese Sake Cup That Makes a Bet...

Around the world, people share the ritual of a nightcap. The Japanese guinomi is ideally crafted for this moment, holding a thoughtful 60–120ml that naturally slows your pace. Unlike glossy...

A hand lifting an ash-glazed katakuchi sake pourer, with a matching guinomi cup on the small table below, against a dark clay wall

Japanese Sake: Types, Temperature and the Righ...

Sake, crafted from rice, koji, and water, offers diverse flavors through temperature and techniques. Elevating this experience is "Shuki" (sake ware). Factors like rim width, thickness, materials (e.g., earthenware, porcelain,...

Japanese Sake: Types, Temperature and the Righ...

Sake, crafted from rice, koji, and water, offers diverse flavors through temperature and techniques. Elevating this experience is "Shuki" (sake ware). Factors like rim width, thickness, materials (e.g., earthenware, porcelain,...

Potter's hand carving a continuous row of marks into the rim of a leather-hard piece with a looped kanna blade

Five Decorating Techniques on Japanese Pottery

Japanese ceramics possess a unique beauty derived directly from the clay, created without relying on painted decorations. This article introduces five traditional techniques: Tobiganna (rhythmic chatter marks), Shinogi (carved vertical...

Five Decorating Techniques on Japanese Pottery

Japanese ceramics possess a unique beauty derived directly from the clay, created without relying on painted decorations. This article introduces five traditional techniques: Tobiganna (rhythmic chatter marks), Shinogi (carved vertical...

Both hands of a potter throwing a bowl on the wheel, clay-wet fingers holding the turning rim while throwing rings spiral inside

How Japanese Pottery Is Shaped: Five Forming Me...

Japanese ceramics vary greatly in appearance and texture depending on the shaping technique used. Based on the 11 steps from clay kneading to firing, this guide explains five representative techniques:...

How Japanese Pottery Is Shaped: Five Forming Me...

Japanese ceramics vary greatly in appearance and texture depending on the shaping technique used. Based on the 11 steps from clay kneading to firing, this guide explains five representative techniques:...

A hand lifting a bisque plate out of a glaze bucket in a workshop, wet glaze running off the rim in a thread

Japanese Pottery Glazes: The Main Types Explained

Japanese ceramics may share the same shape, yet each piece possesses a unique color and texture. This article explains the basics of "glaze" (yuyaku), the key element that defines their...

Japanese Pottery Glazes: The Main Types Explained

Japanese ceramics may share the same shape, yet each piece possesses a unique color and texture. This article explains the basics of "glaze" (yuyaku), the key element that defines their...