The first time I made my own clay pot, I must have been six or seven years old. My mother’s family comes from Poltava, the central region of Ukraine famous for its arts and crafts, and ceramics in the town of Opishnya have a long tradition. My great-grandmother Asya visited the town every summer to select new dishes and pots and she must have taken me along. My memories of that visit are fragmentary, but I recall the softness of the clay, the brilliance of the green glaze, and a slight disappointment that my pot didn’t come out as symmetrical as I thought it should have been. However, that experience made me fascinated with ceramics and the way rough soil can assume the most exquisite of forms.
I rekindled my passion for ceramics while working and traveling in Asia. In Japan, the ceramic arts have a strong reputation and many different styles of pottery and porcelain exist, from the natural-looking Bizen ware to the ornate Imari ware. One could travel from the north of the country to the south and discover ceramics studios in every region, each showcasing a specific style of pottery. During one such trip, I discovered the colorful charm of Kutani ware.
Kutani ware is a style of Japanese porcelain originating from the southwestern Ishikawa prefecture. Different forms of Kutani exist, but they are all vibrant and joyous. Some artists say that the long winters in the region made people long for light and color, and they captured this desire in their pottery.
Traditionally, Kutani techniques are classified into several types. “Aote” (using blue background) and “Gosaide” (using vivid colors) are particularly lively and brilliant. Gosaide, for instance, includes green, blue, yellow, red, and black. Not only do the cups or plates look beautiful, they make the food even more appetizing.
What’s more, each Kutani piece contains a world of symbols. Ume, plum blossoms that bloom in winter, are admired for their fortitude and are considered a lucky charm. Some Kutani pieces combine ume and chrysanthemum in a graceful interplay to represent winter and autumn respectively. Gourds represent protection and prosperity. The crane is a symbol of longevity and happy marriage.
Looking at the bowls decorated with song birds and blooming branches, flower buds, or intertwining reeds, I can’t help but smile. When I make my morning tea in a cup decorated with pink blossoms or serve rice in a bowl painted with yellow asters, I feel that my day is off to a good start. I like that I don’t have to buy matching pieces or full sets, and my table still looks harmonious.
Like many artisans around the world, Kutani artists are likewise experiencing flagging demand and raw material price pressures. Competition from mass produced ceramics means that kilns are struggling to survive. Some Kutani kilns experiment with modern techniques such as silk printing to transfer designs onto porcelain, which means that the prices can still be affordable, while the hand-crafted aspect is retained. One such example is Seikou kiln, which produces tableware for everyday use. Their patterns are transfer printed onto the porcelain, finished by hand, then glazed and fired again.
Another kiln I like is Ginshu. Their pieces are painted by hand in modern whimsical styles that hold onto the classical Kutani vibrancy. The colors are soft and gentle–peach, pink, lavender, pistachio, turquoise.
Atelier Yu is produced by a team of female artisans, and their aster-ornamented plates, tea cups, and bowls are among the pieces I use every day. They boost my spirits with their delicate patterns and smooth textures. It’s as if I’m caressing the flower petals.
I started buying my Kutani pieces while still in Japan, and right on the eve of the pandemic, I was planning a trip to research this fascinating ceramic style further and visit the ateliers whose works I admired. Something about Kutani’s hues and forms stirred up the childhood memory of making my own ceramic bowl. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen. Nor could I return to Ukraine to visit Opishnya again. Nevertheless, I hope that in the new year, such projects will become possible. In the meantime, I use my favorite Kutani ware pieces with pleasure, reminding myself that beauty and color brighten up the darkest of days.
Where to find Kutani ware outside of Japan:
Kutani ware is not nearly as popular outside of Japan as some other types of Japanese ceramics. Where to find it at good prices depends on where you live. In the US, you are much luckier, because the Japanese community is larger, the trade agreements are better, and you can easily find specialty shops offering different types of tableware. In Europe, the situation is markedly different. The mark up on Japanese products is so high that it’s still less expensive to buy in Japan (even considering shipping, VAT, and other fees.) So, below are the places I’ve used to buy Japanese ceramics.
Musubi Kiln is a Japan-based online store that ships all over the world. I bought many times from them over the past year or so, and every purchase felt like a gift; a stunning furoshiki wrapping is included free of charge. They offer discounted shipping, which makes their offer more interesting. They work directly with the artisans, and I admire the way they support them. Musubi Kiln also has a great blog section with articles about different types of ceramics, table styling, and other suggestions. (No longer affiliated.)
Global Kitchen sells different types of kitchenware equipment as well as tableware. They also offer a small selection of Seikou kiln items. They’re fast and reliable, and if you like browsing kitchenware stores, you’re in for a treat. Global Kitchen is also based in Japan.
Seikou Kiln ships abroad, and if you like their items, you might want to buy directly from them. Of course, the shipping charge will be predictably high. If not for buying, their website is fun to browse. They explain well how their create their patterns and decorate the plates.
* If you live in the EU, please be aware that purchases from Japan incur import and custom duties. The process by which these duties are applied has been arbitrary in my experience, with the same type of shipment characterized according to different tariff codes. Also, be aware that if you select DHL Express free shipping, you will still end up paying VAT on the shipping costs, if the shipper doesn’t indicate shipping costs on the label.
*If you live in the US, and if your package is under $800, it is exempt from duty.
If you enjoy Japanese ceramics, please let me know what you like and which style is your favorite.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
27 Comments
Angela: I also love ceramics and Japanese ceramics are extraordinary. You’re right, there are so many styles and types. My favorite is Bizen ware for its wabi-sabi feeling. December 13, 2021 at 9:54am
Victoria: Yes, one can explore them and keep on discovering more. What I like is that many ceramics have utilitarian purposes, for tea or tableware, for instance. And since Japanese tableware is meant to be picked up while eating, the texture, finishes, and weight vary a lot. I love Bizen ware too. It looks like something that formed on its own in nature, although of course, it’s one of the most challenging types of ceramics to create. December 13, 2021 at 10:18am
Kristy: How beautiful! Thank you for bringing this style of pottery to our attention. December 13, 2021 at 9:54am
Victoria: Glad that you liked it! Enjoying these colorful pieces have been a major boost during the darkest moments that this year has brought. But my favorite pieces (like that little yellow vase) were like my talismans and reminders of beauty and everything joyful. December 13, 2021 at 10:22am
ClareObscure: Thank you for the lovely article about Japanese pottery, especially Kutani ware. Some of your prose was so touching that I was moved to take notes of the phrases; redolent of images of hope in dark wintery days. The photos are inspiring and the yellow vase, the tea pot & cup and the black cat thrilled me. December 23, 2021 at 5:09am
Abhi Rao: Such a delightful post–it has brightened my day! Kutani pottery is one of my favorite styles too, and I am an avid collector of Imari. Making pottery has been a saving grace for me to keep my sanity 🙂 I hope you are able to make a trip to Japan and Opishnya. Have a wonderful day. December 13, 2021 at 10:13am
Victoria: How wonderful that you make your own pottery! I’d love to see it.
And I was planning to go to Opishnya to take lessons, so I hope that I can do it next year. In the meantime, I’ve been reading a lot on Japanese pottery and meeting and speaking to Japanese potters via internet. As for Imari, their color combinations are stunning. What I love is how airy the designs feel even when they are highly ornamental. December 13, 2021 at 10:27am
Abhi: I shall plan on sending you pictures of my pottery! Japanese pottery is such a fascinating subject. I am currently reading The Unknown Craftsman on Japanese aesthetics by Soetsu Yanagi–an enlightening read and a definite recommendation. I agree that Imari feels quite airy. It almost feels a conscious aesthetic to balance the intricate pattern with a sense of lightness. I feel it has to do with the brushstrokes and the spirit of qi. December 15, 2021 at 11:34am
Victoria: I also read The Unknown Craftsman and enjoyed it. Also, Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows is another famous piece of writing on Japanese art and sense of beauty. December 16, 2021 at 7:49am
Nina Z: I love the vase in the main photo! I actually collect Japanese antiques, including tansu and ranma, which look wonderful in my craftsman house. Then I discovered during the pandemic that there are a lot of unloved vintage Japanese ceramics on eBay, including Kutani, that no one bids on. Some prices are very low.
I tend to buy from the US, but saw some wonderful things from England and Germany, as well as direct from Japan.
Just wanted to share that option for people who want to buy. December 13, 2021 at 3:02pm
Victoria: Ebay is a good recommendation. And some prices are indeed very low! I haven’t used it much lately, because of the customs fees (in Belgium we pay a flat-rate processing fee per package + 21% VAT,) so I prefer to buy from the stores that offer a selection of things I need. In Europe, Japanese goods are so expensive that buying in Japan + shipping + VAT still comes out significantly less. December 14, 2021 at 4:31am
Kathy: Thank you for sharing this! I may become a copy-cat (Kat), as that beautiful tea pot is still for sale at kutaniware.com! December 13, 2021 at 3:28pm
Victoria: I love the aster pattern very much! I also have plates with that pattern, except that the flowers are pink and purple. December 14, 2021 at 4:01am
Gabriela: Victoria, I am now totally in love with Kutani ceramics, thank you so much for this article. I have just purchased a vase I found online. Would love to buy more but shipping is so expensive. I will check Japanese shops here in Barcelona. December 14, 2021 at 10:33am
Victoria: Aren’t they lovely! The colors are so vivid, and the patterns are fun. Enjoy exploring! December 16, 2021 at 7:46am
Aurora: Thank you very much for this tour of Japanese ceramics. The motifs are lovely, my favorites are those showing fauna.
I only own just one small Japanese porcelain dish blue with a flower motif which is displayed in my kitchen.
I’m going to make a search on eBay.uk December 14, 2021 at 11:41am
Victoria: I have a soft spot for blue motifs, and Japanese ones are especially lovely. While originally inspired by the Chinese patterns, they became completely different. You can search for sometsuke and see what I mean. December 16, 2021 at 7:48am
Elizabeth Golz Rush: It’s a pleasure to dip into your site and enjoy the wide variety of your interests! I share your love of ceramics and was very fortunate to have the opportunity to design tableware produced in Japan and other countries. The quality of Japanese craftsmanship is hard to match! My website shows a few of the many steps involved in designing and working with the skilled artisans who create the final ceramic pieces. December 14, 2021 at 4:33pm
Victoria: How interesting! Thank you for sharing. On a related note, I loved your drawings, and the floral ones are just gorgeous and so delicate. December 16, 2021 at 7:49am
N: I’m in the US and I like miyacompany.com and I’ve visited the Miya store in Princeton, NJ too. They don’t sell precious tableware, but I like it for everyday use. December 15, 2021 at 10:46pm
Victoria: Thank you! December 16, 2021 at 7:50am
OnWingsofSaffron: Such very happy ceramics: they remind me of post WWII ceramics, and 50-ies. The topic of chinaware — ceramics & porcelain — is yet another invitation to stumble down the very next rabbit hole of must haves!
I am crazy about German porcelain: Berlin KPM for instance (take the wonderful „Urbino“ Bauhaus collection), Bavarisn Nymphenburg (take the elegant Ted Muehling objects, like the red coral spoon), or the Saxony Meissen Christmas tree decoration (acorns and pine cones in clay coloured Böttger stoneware)! December 18, 2021 at 2:50am
Victoria: German porcelain is gorgeous, and yes, that’s another rabbit hole altogether. If you browse Japanese websites, especially second-hand stores like Mercari (more like an online flea market, where individual sellers offer their goods,) you’ll see a lot of porcelain very similar to Meissen. It’s made in Japan and has a uniquely Japanese twist, but the source of inspiration is elsewhere. Very interesting. The nice part of Japanese tableware is that it can be combined freely and there is no need to match everything.
German Christmas ornaments are in a category of their own! I usually bargain-hunt after the holidays to add a new piece to my collection. December 18, 2021 at 10:33am
Miwa: Kutani’s colors are amazing! When I traveled in Kanazawa city, it was pleasure for eye to see so many Kutani wares there. The city is know as “mini Kyoto (sho-Kyoto)” to Japanese, because of its own rich and unique culture. Wajima lacquerware is also famous in the area, and quite lovely, too. Kutani is definitely one of my favorite styles. Another style I adore is Hagi for their beautiful pastel colors (pink, purple, orange, white, etc.). But, for daily use, I tend to go for Tobe, which are more sturdy, durable, and easy-care. December 22, 2021 at 1:33am
Victoria: Aren’t they! They just brighten everything up.
Hagi ware is another favorite for the same reason. I can’t get enough of their peach tints. I have a few pieces, but they are not exactly my everyday items, because they are water-absorbent and so prone to staining. Tobe or Mino ware are much sturdier. Kutani porcelain is also easy to handle. December 23, 2021 at 4:39am
Miwa: Thank you for your response, Victoria! Sorry for commenting on your not-the-newest blog post–I was too excited by the subject! Hagi ware is said to transform seven times during its life. It is a little heartbreaking to see it slowly loses pretty pastel colors and smooth texture and starts showing small mesh cracks on its glaze from tea stain, etc., but it’s a process, I think. At the end, you will have a truly your own Hagi ware. I don’t own Mino, yet, but will be looking for. My mother loves Oribe, which is one of the Mino styles. Thank you again! I look forward to your future postings! December 23, 2021 at 5:09pm
Victoria: The processing of “growing” is one of the pleasures of Japanese ceramics, although I admit that with Hagi ware I regret seeing the pale tones become earthier, since that’s what drew me to Hagi in the first place. Still, I like how kannyu (cracks) become more defined and form a personal geography of their own. So, each piece becomes your own in the end.
Oribe is one of my favorites too. I find its dark green glaze so beautiful! December 24, 2021 at 3:36am