Discover Takatori ware and Koishiwara ware from Fukuoka Prefecture.
Visit the ground floor at Japan House London to discover two distinct ceramic traditions from Koishiwara in Fukuoka Prefecture and learn about the craftmanship. A selection of handmade ceramics from six kilns is also available to purchase.
Takatori ware began in 1665, combining techniques brought by Korean potters with local clay and Akadani stone. Used to make vessels and utensils for chadō, the Japanese Way of Tea, its kiln later became the official supplier to the Fukuoka domain.
In the 17th century, Takatori potters received guidance from the Kyoto tea master Kobori Enshū, and began producing tea ceramics incorporating his aesthetic of kirei-sabi, combining rustic simplicity with quiet refinement. The refined, thin-walled forms, elegant marks left by the potter’s wheel, and sophisticated use of amber and black glazes are also found in flower vase and mukōzuke serving dishes featured in this display.
Koishiwara ware began later, in 1682, when potters from Imari (in present-day Saga Prefecture), another well-known pottery region, were invited to settle and established Nakano ware, the precursor of present-day Koishiwara ware. Archaeological excavations have confirmed that its development was influenced by the ceramic techniques of Takatori ware.
In the 20th century, Koishiwara ware found wider recognition through the Mingei (‘folk craft’) movement, which celebrated everyday objects made by unnamed craftspeople. Yanagi Sōetsu first encountered it in 1927 and later introduced British potter Bernard Leach to the community. This exchange with local makers fostered new perspectives and creative developments within the Koishiwara ware community.
This display has been made possible through the generous support of the Koishiwara Ceramic Museum, Tōhō Village Board of Education, and Hikosan Jingū, together with three Takatori ware kilns, Onimaru Setsuzan Kiln, Takatori Souke, and Takatori Hassen Kiln, and the Koishiwara ware kiln Yanase Honkamamoto.
Explore Takatori ware and Koishiwara ware online and instore.
Photo: ZEKKA PRODUCT INC.