Shinogi: The Carved Ridges on Japanese Pottery

Among the surface decorations of Japanese ceramics, few carry as quiet a presence as shinogi. There is no painting and no showy color — only the shadow of carved grooves and the gradation of glaze running through them.

The name derives from the shinogi-suji of a Japanese sword, the raised ridge along the side of the blade. On pottery, shinogi means carving the surface into repeated ridges and hollows, wrapping the piece in three-dimensional cut marks.

Rather than drawing on top as painting does, it carves the body itself, so the pattern is integrated into the piece as part of it.

How it is carved

When the clay has dried to leather-hard, the maker cuts the surface away with a trimming tool or rib. Slicing thinly leaves a ridge beside each cut, and repeating the action forms a continuous, rhythmic run of ridge and hollow.

Shinogi shows its quality at the moment of firing. Glaze runs thin over the raised ridges and pools in the carved hollows, so even a single-color glaze produces a beautiful gradation.

Under a celadon or matte white glaze, the expression shifts with the angle of the light, giving a simple piece quiet movement and depth. Because the speed and pressure of the cut appear directly, no two pieces carry the same face.

Why shinogi is loved

• Depth from a single glaze　Glaze flows and pools in the carved lines, turning one color into varied expression.
• A pleasing touch　The relief the fingertips meet raises the pleasure of picking up a cup or bowl.
• Flavour that grows with use　Over years the glaze settles and takes on a soft sheen. It is pottery for enjoying keinen bika.
• Every piece one of a kind　The rhythm and individuality only handwork gives live in each carved groove.

Shinogi against faceting

Two shinogi makers Nokaze carries

Yamamoto Masanori (Shigaraki ware)

Working in a traditional kiln inherited from his grandfather, Yamamoto Masanori makes finely hand-carved shinogi work against the background of Shigaraki ware.

His clearly defined, beautiful ridges run across rimmed plates, soup cups, curry plates, tea cups, mugs, small bowls and sake ware, sitting gently with the hand and with food at the daily table.

• Yamamo Masano

Kinooto Kobo, Sato Akane (Aizu-Hongo ware)

Working at Kinooto Kobo in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, Sato Akane carves soft, even shinogi in settled matte white and matte black finishes.

Rooted in the tradition of Aizu-Hongo ware, she works to the theme of pottery you want to use every day. Some pieces are painted; others carry shinogi with a modern, calm expression. Distinctive as they are, they settle naturally onto any table.

• sato akane

Related terms and guides

Related terms

• Mentori: The Faceted Surfaces of Japanese Pottery
• Kodai (Foot Ring): The Part Collectors Check First
• Celadon (Seiji): The Blue-Green Glaze of Iron and Fire
• Keinen Bika: Pottery That Gets Better With Age
• Rokuro: How a Pot Is Thrown on the Wheel
• Japanese Pottery Glossary | Terms, Techniques & Kilns

Read further

• Five Decorating Techniques on Japanese Pottery
• Shigaraki Ware: Why Its Clay Sparkles After 1,200 Years
• Japanese Pottery Glazes: The Main Types Explained
• Japanese Plates: Which Size and Shape for Which Dish

Pieces available at Nokaze

• Shinogi | Japanese Pottery with Hand-Carved Ridges