Keep it long, treasure it long.

Skillful brush strokes

Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture is located in the northern part of Nagasaki Prefecture and has a population of about 250,000. A beautiful landscape is formed by the intersection of 208 large and small islands called "Kujuku Islands" and a cape. Mikawachi ware is a 400-year-old pottery in the city.

One of the kilns of Hirado ware, Koungama. Classic mountain water, lions, and dragons drawn with skillful brushstrokes and fine lines. Furthermore, the whale motif unique to the climate of Nagasaki, where the whale culture blends in. The techniques unique to this kiln convey the tradition of Mikawachi-yaki and at the same time create unique vessels that can be understood at a glance.

High technology inherited

During the Edo period, Hirado ware was protected by the Hirado domain as a kiln and improved its technique, and the beautiful tableware and craftsmanship caught the hearts of Europeans. It has a history that was so fascinating that it was stored in the British Museum and European museums. From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, it was known for its delicate tableware, including purveyors to the Imperial Household Agency. However, nowadays, handicrafts and craftsmanship are being reviewed, and it is a pottery that is attracting attention not only in Japan but also from all over the world.

Techniques that require advanced techniques, such as "openwork" and "egg shell (porcelain made light and thin like an egg shell)", which were born from the history of being protected as a kiln, have been handed down to the present day. The beauty of the dyeing is one of its features. The unique dyeing that is drawn in clear blue color on the white skin, which has been described overseas as "just like a picture", makes use of the shade of Kuresu to create the representative pattern "Karako" of Mikawachi ware. At the beginning, all motifs such as Sansui paintings and flowers are expressed in a lively manner.

One of the Hirado ware kilns, the Hojugama, is a kiln that has been passed down from generation to generation since its inception. I mainly produced Japanese-style tableware that was mainly dyed using porcelain, but in response to the demands of the times after that, I developed a colorful and color-oriented product with overpainting on dyeing. doing. A kiln that is active in combining dyeing with something that has never existed before, such as black glaze that sprays non-dyed patterns with black glaze. Traditional motifs such as Tang dynasty, wave rabbits, and bird and beast caricatures are refined in composition and margins, and are drawn with soft lines and strong and weak shades to create modern vessels.

Bean plate that colors your life

It is said that the bean plate originated from a hand-salt plate that is filled with salt, and it appeared on the dining table in the Edo period, and soon it was used not only for salt but also for various things such as soy sauce and condiments. Not only can it be used as a soy sauce dish, but it is also a good size for serving a small amount of pickles, regular dishes, and leftover side dishes the day before. Even if you have a busy meal time in the morning or lunch, having one of your favorites will enrich your meal time.

The design and atmosphere of each kiln is different, but even if the kilns are different, the pottery from the same production area has a strange sense of unity when it comes to the table. There are many auspicious patterns, and it is nice to choose it as a gift with a feeling of celebration and support.