Japan is home to numerous kilns across the country, each preserving traditional techniques while evolving in its own way, creating captivating pottery for over 400 years.
My personal favorite is undoubtedly “Iga Ware.” Iga Ware is pottery produced near Iga City in the northern part of Mie Prefecture. Its distinctive features include “ash glaze” and “mountain cracks” that occur when it’s fired at high temperatures, resulting in scorched areas and a green glass-like glaze known as bidoro. This pottery truly embodies the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.
If you ever find yourself in Iga, I highly recommend visiting “Chuo Gama,” a kiln where you can purchase Iga Ware directly. In addition to the characteristic green bidoro, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful plates, teacups, and other pieces adorned with blue and red bidoro crafted by the fifth-generation master, Hirokazu Akino. I couldn’t resist buying several pieces myself.
Just looking at them brings me joy. I hope you too will fall in love with the charm of Iga Ware.
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