Pottery
Pieces of held heritage
A culture of creating originating as early as Japan’s Jomon Period (14,000 and 300 BCE), with roots in the very soil of Japan itself, Japanese pottery and ceramics possess a remarkable range and impeccable craftsmanship. From the subdued, earthy tones of agano-yaki, beloved in tea ceremonies for their embodiment of wabi-sabi philosophy, to the bold and bright tones of kutani-yaki featuring depictions of nature and wildlife, the rich heritage of pottery within Japan continues to be shaped, even into modern times.
As an artistic practice, Japanese pottery has countless connections to other creative fields and aesthetic principles. Beyond the tea pot, the tea cup plays an undeniably essential part of tea ceremony, where observing the design and shape of the ceramics is a crucial part of the ritual. In culinary arts, presentation is also crucial, with teishoku meals composed of an overwhelming array of plates, cups, and bowls all serving different seasonal offerings. With kintsugi, broken pottery lives on, elevating imperfections into art and sustaining the beauty for endless future generations. Far more than just a vessel, Japanese pottery contains the very spirit of Japanese style.
Get hands on with Japanese pottery, through workshops led by master potters and studio tours to witness the secrets behind the work of each expert artisan.
Pottery Experiences
Visit a workshop specializing in the Akahada pottery style, and craft your own vessel according to traditional techniques.
Explore the Mikawachi Kiln and Museum, culminating in a hands-on pottery painting experience. After a final firing, you will receive your work of art in the mail.
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.
Mending Pottery Experiences
Under the host’s guidance, fill the damaged areas of your selected antique, then sprinkle with gold or silver powder for a final product that celebrates the beauty of the bowl in all its imperfections. After drying, the host will package your completed bowl to take home.
Select which antique piece of pottery you’d like to work on and learn how to repair it with lacquer and 24-carat gold dust. While it dries, learn about the fascinating history of kintsugi while drinking freshly prepared matcha from antique tea bowls repaired with kintsugi by the instructor.
Experience truly authentic kintsugi techniques, utilizing pure gold or silver dust and natural lacquer which takes months to dry, which will happen over a 5-month period during 6 sessions. In addition, you’ll be making your own bamboo tools to use in the process, learning the details of how to prep the chipped area and how to work with natural Japanese lacquer, allowing you to deeply explore kintsugi.
Learn about the history and techniques of this Kuutani ware and Kinsai, then do the experience of "Toubako (Ceramic-box)" decoration with Kinsai techniques.
Visit a kintsugi atelier and learn the techniques of traditional Japanese lacquer repair. Then, restore your own vessel to take home under the careful guidance of the kintsugi master.
Learn about the history and techniques of kintsugi and repair a broken item using gold dust and lacquer under the guidance of a master. Select a ceramic to repair and collaborate with the master on the final steps. While your pottery dries, observe and assist the master with other kintsugi processes.
Incorporating 100% natural urushi lacquer, this private workshop is a rare opportunity to learn about truly historic kintsugi techniques. You’ll get to apply the finishing steps on an antique Japanese ceramic piece that’s been prepared in advance with urushi, which takes months to dry, then take home your one-of-a-kind ceramic.
Discover more about pottery
The art of Japanese pottery offers boundless aspects to explore, with a range of visually-distinct styles and renowned areas of production. Immerse fully into Japan’s rich heritage of pottery and ceramics.
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