Artistry in Constant Motion: The Borderless Beauty of Agano Yaki

Details

• Private experience

• Location: Tagawa District, Fukuoka

• 2 hours

• 6 people max. Minimum of 2 participants required.

• Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in English
  (French/German/Spanish interpretation may be available upon request)

Simplicity, Silence, and Style

With earthy tones and a subdued, natural elegance, Agano-yaki has been favored throughout the centuries, intricately connected to tea ceremonies, beloved by both Sengoku period warlords and Edo era daimyo leaders alike, and praised by Mingei practitioners. However, the origins of this storied artistic practice have origins beyond the borders of Japan, all the way to the shores of the Korean peninsula. Military expeditions into Korea resulted in the movement of Korean artisans into Japan as living bodies of knowledge and craft. The influence of this craft remained linked to migration, spread beyond Kyushu by the practice of sankin-kotai, or alternate exchange, in which feudal lords altered between serving in the Edo capital, and ruling over their home domains. Even in modern times, agano-yaki remains highly exalted for the subdued colors achieved in its glazed finish and the tranquility the pottery expresses. In this experience, observe the creation of this singular pottery style, which prioritizes simplicity and silence, by a 12th-generation master artisan. Utilizing clay sourced from neighboring deposits and glazes developed from natural materials by scratch, each completed piece of pottery retains unique connections to nature and deep ties to the region's cultural history.

What you’ll do

Receive an in-depth workshop tour by an agano-yaki master. Examine a nobori-gama style kiln up close that is still being actively used. Observe the master’s creation process and end with a light snack and tea in the gallery.

Who can attend

Children must be 15+

Availability

Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (14:00 - 16:00)

Access

40 minutes from Kokura station

Cancellation Policy

Please make your booking at least 2 weeks in advance. See cancellation policy here.
* A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.