Kyushu is the pottery capital of Japan. The history of porcelain in the region dates back to the early 17th century and is down to geography. Not only does Kyushu provide good clay, wood to power the kilns and mountain streams for the water, it also has easy access to Korea which, unwittingly, provided the skills. According to one of Japan’s darker legends, following an aborted attempt to invade Korea then daimyo (lord) Hideyoshi Toyotomi sat down with the Chosun-rulers to discuss the withdrawal of his forces. So impressed was Toyotomi with the tableware used during this meeting that when the troops did pull out, they took Korea’s leading potters with them against their will. Over the following years a series of raids followed to snatch others that had ways with clay, decimating Korean pottery, but creating a Japanese industry that lives to this day. There are numerous types and variations of Kyushuan pottery, but the main styles are:

Arita-yaki

Distinctive and desirable, Arita-yaki is characterised by its highly-decorative designs and fine lines of golds, blues, reds and greens.

For more on Arita-yaki click here and here.

Imari-yaki

The style of Arita-yaki proved popular with European collectors in the 1600s, so much so that the potters created a style which, while similar to Arita-yaki, was designed to be particularly appealing to the Western eye. The ships carrying this new brand of pottery departed for Europe from the port of Imari - hence the name.

For more on Imari-yaki click here.

Karatsu-yaki

Created for everyday use, Karatsu-yaki’s style is sturdy, simple and characterised by simple earth tones. Karatsu-yaki takes pride of place for many a Japanese tea ceremony.

Koishiwara-yaki

Taken the back-to-basics approach of Karatsu-yaki, but adding a designer touch, the output of Koishiwara’s potters is fast becoming the pottery of choice amongst the young Japanese and visitors alike.

For more on Koishiwara-yaki click here.

If you are a pottery lover, it would be wise to time a visit to Kyushu to coincide with one the region’s pottery festivals. Festival season sees prices fall and an air of celebration fill the town. A complete listing of pottery festivals in Kyushu can be found here.

A selection of all of Kyushu’s pottery is available from Ishimaru Togei

Ishimaru Togei details

Yumutagou, Hasami-cho, Nagasaki
Telephone +81 956 85 6611
i-togei.net/