A guide from ZenKiln
Japanese ceramics & craft
A guide to pottery regions, makers and the names you see on a piece.
A Kutani cup and a Shigaraki vase carry the names of ceramic traditions. Yakushigama names a brand; Edo Kiriko names a glass craft. Knowing the difference makes it easier to compare pieces and understand who made them.
Pottery regions
Begin with the place, then look more closely at the piece. Workshops within the same region can use quite different materials and methods.
Ishikawa
Kutani 九谷焼
Colour and decoration
Kutani is a ceramic tradition from Ishikawa, known for coloured decoration. Its range includes broad areas of colour, fine red drawing and gold decoration, as well as contemporary designs. On a cup or plate, notice how the pattern sits around the rim and how much of the surface it covers.
Saga & Nagasaki
Arita & Hasami 有田焼・波佐見焼
Two neighbouring porcelain centres
Arita in Saga and Hasami in Nagasaki are distinct production centres with closely connected histories. Arita has a long tradition of blue-and-white and coloured porcelain. Hasami is closely associated with everyday tableware. For a set you will use often, compare the shapes, sizes and stacking space of the individual pieces.
Shiga
Shigaraki 信楽焼
Clay, glaze and the shape of a vessel
Shigaraki is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. Older unglazed wares are known for their grainy clay and firing colours; the region also makes glazed tableware, figurines and contemporary vessels. For a vase, look at the opening and overall height as closely as the surface.
Gifu
Mino 美濃焼
Many styles within one region
Mino ware includes a wide variety of pottery and porcelain. Shino, Oribe, Kiseto and Setoguro are among its historic styles. The name covers many different appearances, so it helps to compare the particular glaze, shape and material rather than expect one regional look.
Mie
Banko 萬古焼
Cooking pots and tea brewing
Banko ware, centred on Yokkaichi, is especially associated with donabe cooking pots and purple-clay teapots. Choose a donabe by its capacity and the heat source specified for that model. A regional name alone does not establish direct-flame, microwave or dishwasher compatibility.
Aichi
Tokoname 常滑焼
Teapots and a long history of large vessels
Tokoname is one of the Six Ancient Kilns, with a history of large jars and a later tradition of red-brown teapots. Its range also includes lucky-cat figures such as the example shown here. When choosing a kyusu, compare its capacity, handle and strainer with the way you brew. The maker’s instructions are the guide to cleaning the particular pot.
Brands & makers
Look here for a named brand or company, and the region it belongs to.
Seto, Aichi · Chugai Toen
Yakushigama 薬師窯
Yakushigama is a brand of Chugai Toen, the Seto ceramics company founded in 1952. It makes lucky cats, zodiac figures and seasonal decorations. Compare the pose, expression and dimensions when choosing a figure for a shelf, entrance or shop counter.
Mino ware · AWASAKA
Jinpoh 仁峰
Jinpoh is an AWASAKA tableware brand within Mino ware. The company describes a range of decoration methods, including transfers and pad printing. The range centres on porcelain pieces for everyday meals.
Arita, Saga
Koransha 香蘭社
Koransha was established in Arita in 1875 and makes porcelain tableware and decorative pieces. The company won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition in 1878. When comparing older pieces, the pattern, mark and documented date are more useful than a regional label alone.
Arita, Saga
Fukagawa Seiji 深川製磁
Founded in 1894, Fukagawa Seiji is another Arita porcelain maker, with its own workshop history and designs. Its range includes blue-and-white decoration and coloured work. It is a separate company from Koransha; each maker’s own records are the starting point for identifying its pieces.
Glass, iron & lacquer
These crafts often share the table with ceramics. Their materials call for different choices and care.
Iwate
Nambu ironware 南部鉄器
Nambu ironware includes kettles, teapots and wind chimes such as the double-bell design shown here. Cast-iron kettles and teapots serve different purposes. A tetsubin is made to boil water. An enamel-lined iron teapot is for brewing tea with water heated separately. Do not put an enamel-lined teapot on a stove unless its maker expressly permits it. Follow the model’s instructions for the heat source and care.
Tokyo
Edo Kiriko 江戸切子
Edo Kiriko is a cut-glass tradition. Repeated cuts form patterns such as interlocking circles, hemp leaves and latticework. Compare the pattern, the glass and the size of the drinking vessel. The broader word kiriko means cut glass; look for a specific Edo Kiriko attribution on the product.
Wakayama
Kishu lacquerware 紀州漆器
Kishu lacquerware includes the Negoro finish, in which red lacquer lies over a black layer. It is one of several finishes within this tradition. For a tray or bowl, read both the base material and coating description, along with its washing instructions.
Links marked “Related collection” include pieces from more than one region or tradition. Check the attribution on the product page.
Back to contents ↑Choosing and understanding a piece
What does a Japanese pottery name tell me?
A name such as Kutani, Mino or Shigaraki identifies a ceramic tradition or production region. A name such as Yakushigama or Koransha identifies a brand or maker. Look at both, then check the material and making details recorded for the individual piece.
Are all Japanese ceramics handmade?
Making methods vary, including throwing, moulding, casting, painting and printing. A regional name does not identify which steps were done by hand. On ZenKiln product pages, we describe the methods supported by the available product records.
How do I choose a piece for everyday use?
Start with its size, capacity, shape and care instructions. For cookware, check the permitted heat source. For tableware, check microwave and dishwasher guidance for the exact piece, especially when it has metallic decoration.
What are Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns?
Bizen, Tamba, Tokoname, Echizen, Seto and Shigaraki. The name groups six historic pottery centres whose production has continued from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Further reading: Six Ancient Kilns. Regional recognition, a maker’s award or a decorative crest is not proof of an individual object’s certification or provenance.