White, thin, and beautiful porcelain ”Takahama-yaki”

2009.7.132019.4.23

”Amakusa toseki” – raw material of porcelain

It is said that ceramic engineering in modern Kumamoto originated from a potter who accompanied Kiyomasa Kato and Sansai Hosokawa from Korea during Bunroku-Keicho no Eki (the war of Bunroku-Keicho). Pottery spread through each region in Kumamoto. However, with the start of the Meiji era, protection by the feudal domain was abolished and cheap products flowed in from other prefectures, resulting in a string of businesses being closed down. At present, the remaining pottery and porcelain in Kumamoto are Koda-yaki, Shodai-yaki, Isshochi-yaki, Mizunodaira-yaki, Maruo-yaki, Kozan-yaki, Takahama-yaki, and Uchidasarayama-yaki.
Amakusa produces Amakusa pottery stone that is globally used as raw material for pottery and porcelain. Pottery stone is ground into a powder. The powder is kneaded and kilned to make porcelain. Ninety percent of pottery stone used for Arita-yaki is Amakusa pottery stone. The products made of the pottery stone are strong and hard, and have a beautiful color without any cloudiness.

The beauty of porcelain that is passed on

Takahama-yaki originated when a kiln was built in Takahama by Dengoemon, the sixth generation of the Ueda Family, by inviting a potter Kiemon Sando (山道喜衛門) from Hizen. ”Sometsuke Nishikide-yaki” pieces from that period were exported to Netherlands. During the period of the seventh generation Yoshiuzu, an advanced technique was used for Sometsuke, and Takahama-yaki entered a period of prosperity. After that, although it was passed on, it was discontinued in the mid-Meiji era. After 60 years, it was rebuilt in 1952.
As a result of this history, the white, thin, and transparent Takahama-yaki that matches the current life style has come into existence, and it is widely loved. And the story about how Yoshiuzu conveyed the secrets of Nishikide to Tamikichi Kato who was the pioneer (???磁祖) of Seto-yaki is quite famous.