Japanese Pottery- Bizen Ware

I am preparing to part with 2 of my favorite sake cups I bought in Japan. They are to a friend soon to have a baby, and I suspect will need them more than me for the first few months ;)

This was the first potter that I met in Japan on our 10 day journey to visit a number of different potters, kilns, styles of pottery found in Japan. This was definitely one of my favorite types of pottery and places to buy it.  Bizen ware near Okayama, Japan.

Nobuhara Katshshi

備前焼  bizen yaki is one of Japan's six ancient kilns, it is tied to Sue pottery from the Heian period in the 6th century

Nobuhara Katshshi Studio
1. fires his kiln twice a year spring and fall
2. participates in the spring and fall pottery festival
3. Nobuhara is the old kiln keeper for the community

What I love about this pottery is that it is all fired in a wood fired kiln and the "glaze" is really the result of different types of ash melting on the ceramic. Yes, ash melting! It gets so hot that the ash melts and creates this amazing colors and textures. 

These are some of the pieces I bought. I am giving away the gray sake cups to a friend. I love them, and I'm glad they will be used and appreciated by a good friend. The Clay in the middle is how dark the clay looks before being fired. Amazing the transformation.

So when you first walk up to his studio you see wood. Lots of it. It takes days of burning wood 24/7 to do a full firing. No wonder he only does 2 firings per year. 

Piles and piles of wood. Another stack behind this one. 

Okay here's a closer look a the Kiln.

The rings are use to determine how hot the fire is and if more fuel or air is needed. 

I love the he also does little figurines too in addition to his amazing functional ware. 

Really the whole experience is incredible. Nobuhara Katshshi is a humble man who not only creates amazing pottery, but is also the town's kiln keeper for the ancient kilns in town. It was such an honor to meet the man, and experience where he does his work.

The best part of these unique works of art is getting to use them!