It originated in the late 16th century when local rulers who had participated in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea had potters they brought back from Korea fire kilns.
Until the Meiji Restoration, it flourished as the official kiln of the Hirado Domain. During the time when the Hirado Domain managed the kiln, pottery stone was discovered in the Amakusa region, leading to a dramatic development of technology and techniques, and that tradition continues to this day.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. The molding shall be done by wheel-throwing, mold pressing, stamping, hand-turning, or by bag-casting or "double-casting" which involves scraping and finishing the entire surface of the base material so that it has properties equivalent to those obtained by these molding methods.

  2. When decorating the base material, the following techniques may be used: openwork, line carving, relief carving, plastering, raised decoration, slip trailing, "dancing kana" patterns, chamfering, weaving, or fabric texture.

  3. When applying underglaze, use line drawing, smearing, touch-up, ink splattering, or scraping. In this case, the paint used shall be "cobalt blue pigment."

  4. Glazing shall be done by "dip glazing," "pouring glaze," or "brush application." In this case, the glaze shall be "lime glaze," "oak ash glaze," or "celadon glaze."

  5. When applying overglaze decoration, the method shall be line drawing, smearing, brush painting, scraping, or lacquer sprinkling. In this case, the paints shall be "Japanese pigments" or "gold and silver pigments."

   

  raw materials

  The ceramic stone used for the clay layer shall be Amakusa ceramic stone or a material of equivalent quality.

• Work scene

  Work scene

  Step 1: Crushed stone

  MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain) ware uses high-quality Amakusa pottery stone, sourced from Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture. The raw stone is crushed and then further refined with a stamper. This process continues all day until it turns into a white powder.

  

  Step 2: Sedimentation

  The coarse particles are allowed to settle and are removed in a tank, and then the mixture is squeezed with a filter press, leaving only the fine ceramic powder, which becomes clay. Finally, the air is removed from the clay using a vacuum drain machine. This is the "pottery clay" used to fire pottery.

  

  Step 3: Molding

   

  

  The pottery also employs techniques such as "openwork carving," "hand-building," and "applied molding."

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

   

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

   

  

  工程4： 乾燥

  The surface of the pottery, which has been dried in the sun, is sanded and finished to make it smooth.

  工程5： 素焼き

  The pottery is placed in a kiln and bisque-fired. At 900 degrees Celsius for about 8 hours, it hardens to the right consistency, making the subsequent painting process easier.

  

  Step 6: Underpainting, shading

  The underpainting is created using a pigment called "gosu." The outlined drawing is then given varying shades of gosu ("dami"). While gosu appears blackish, it transforms into a beautiful cobalt blue after firing. This is another area where the skill of the artisan shines through.

  

  Process 7: Glazing

  After the painting is finished, glaze is applied to the vessel. When fired at high temperatures, the glaze melts and becomes like glass, forming a beautiful, glossy, and strong coating.

  

  Step 8: Final firing

  It is baked at 1320 degrees Celsius for 20 hours. Once baked, it is allowed to cool slowly to prevent the pottery from breaking, and then it is finally time to take it out of the oven.

  

  Step 9: Applying the overglaze

  After the initial firing, bright colors such as red or yellow may be applied to the surface of the pottery. After applying the overglaze, the color is fixed in a process called overglaze firing, which takes place in a 750-degree kiln for 7 hours.

   

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  The brilliance of white porcelain, the shades of blue

  The thin white porcelain vessels, painted in a single shade of blue, may appear plain at first glance, but when held, they emit a delicate shimmer. Mikawachi flourished as the official kiln of the Hirado domain, and in recent years has mainly produced tableware for commercial use, but is now exploring the creation of pottery for general households.

   

  The brilliance of white porcelain

  Mikawachiyama, near Sasebo in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Just before the Tenmangu Shrine is the Hirado Koshogama kiln. It is a prestigious kiln with a history of serving the Imperial Household Ministry from the Meiji era until 1941, and is a direct descendant of Nakazato Ei (also known as Koraiba), one of the potters who played a major role in the establishment of the Hirado Domain's official kiln 400 years ago.
  In the gallery next to the workshop, white porcelain painted in varying shades of blue shone beautifully in the sunlight.
  Ichiro Nakazato, the 17th-generation head of the family and a traditional craftsman, and his wife, Yumiko, are both traditional craftsmen. Ichiro is in charge of shaping the pottery and managing the kiln, while Yumiko single-handedly handles the painting. As she applies the shading with gosu (a blue pigment), Yumiko smiles and says, "It can't be completed unless both my husband and I work on it together."

  

  Ichiro Nakazato, a traditional craftsman, is also a first-class certified skilled worker under the national certification system.

  The History of MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain): From Official Kilns to Folk Kilns, From Commercial Use to Home Use

  MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain) can be said to have shone brighter amidst a turbulent history. Located near the ports of Nagasaki and Hirado, which flourished as Nanban trade ports in the Middle Ages, Mikawachi's Sarayama pottery district began when Koseki, one of the Joseon Dynasty potters brought back by Matsuura Shigenobu, the 26th lord of the Hirado domain, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea, established a kiln in Mikawachi, a place rich in pottery stone. A pottery workshop for the domain was opened, and it flourished as an official kiln, while at the same time, the development of pottery for export to the Netherlands and China also became active.
  In 1868, when the Tokugawa shogunate fell, Mikawachi, which had been a shogunate kiln, also became a private kiln. However, it could not compete with neighboring Arita and Imari, which had a long history of operating as private kilns, and it faced a crisis of survival. Subsequently, thanks to efforts such as expanding sales channels and establishing a design training center, it recovered, and the production of commercial tableware used in restaurants and other establishments became its main focus. In recent years, it has also been focusing on producing tableware for general households.

  

  The turnip design (kaburae) is a representative motif of Hirado Kōshō Kiln. It originates from the fact that Matsuura Takanobu, the lord of the Hirado domain, encouraged turnip cultivation in the hope of prosperity for his descendants.

  Carrying on the tradition of MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain)

  Hirado Koshō Kiln produces a wide range of products, from high-end items to everyday tableware. Recently, they have also been focusing on tableware for elderly care. The elderly care tableware made by Mr. and Mrs. Nakazato is popular for its ease of use, thanks to its beautiful and warm white porcelain, which is unique to MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain), as well as its thoughtful design that makes it easy to hold.
  Ichiro grew up surrounded by kilns, as his family owned a pottery studio. By the time he was in middle school, he was helping with firing the kilns and handling the clay. "It's like I grew up with the kilns," Ichiro says.
  Even for a pottery studio with a 400-year history, carrying the banner of Mikawachi pottery as an industry is no easy feat. While upholding the traditions inherited from their ancestors, they strive to create new things that meet the demands of the times. Once one form is perfected, they constantly create something new to keep consumers from getting bored. It's a continuous cycle. "We are constantly searching and exploring until people say, 'This is good,'" Ichiro says.

  

  Preliminary drawing. A mug designed by Ichiro for elderly care, with an easy-to-grip handle.

  Successors who will lead the new era

  Taiyo Nakazato, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Nakazato, was selected last year as a trainee for the Young Craftsmen's Overseas Training Program. From October 2000 to February 2001, he spent six months studying underglaze painting and coloring in Delft, the leading pottery-producing region in the Netherlands. "It was a very valuable experience that will be crucial for my future endeavors," said Taiyo. He was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to gain two weeks of hands-on experience at the Royal Porcelain Fress Company, the Royal Dutch Porcelain Factory. Traditional craftspeople require a long time to become fully proficient. "While cherishing the traditional underglaze painting of Mikawachi, I want to find something that is uniquely my own, something that my father didn't have," Taiyo said, expressing his aspirations, which made him seem very promising.

  

  Taiyo-san is currently undergoing training in Delft, Netherlands.

  Perfect as a wedding gift!

  At Hirado Koshō Kiln, they started making custom-ordered pottery to better meet the individual needs of each customer. They even draw the pictures and patterns according to the customer's preferences. By ordering directly from the kiln without going through a wholesaler, you can get a complete set of everyday Japanese tableware that is a grade higher than commercially available tableware for the same price. A set of small bowls painted by his wife, Yumiko, was a huge hit as a wedding favor at their daughter's wedding. "We can create a one-of-a-kind set of Japanese tableware within your desired price range. If you're looking to furnish your dining table, please feel free to contact us," says Ichiro.
  A unique piece of tableware, hand-painted by a traditional craftsman. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have your newlyweds' dinner table adorned with the brilliance of white porcelain? In this day and age, where people are willing to spend money on things they love, this kind of slightly luxurious way of enjoying things might become more common.

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  Hirado Koshō Kiln
  889 Mikawachi-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture 859-3155
  TEL 0956-30-8606FAX 0956-30-8632
  E-MAIL:hirado_kohsyo@pop01.odn.ne.jp
  (Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)

  Anecdotes

  A gift presented by a Chinese boy, from the official kiln of the Hirado domain.

  The Karako (Chinese children) motif of MIKAWACHI Yaki (Porcelain) depicts adorable Chinese children chasing butterflies with fans and playing near pine and peony trees. Karako paintings were designated as "forbidden ware," meaning they could not be fired anywhere other than Mikawachi, the official kiln of the Hirado domain. Depending on the number of Karako depicted, those with seven Karako were presented as "tribute items" to feudal lords throughout the country, those with five Karako were official domain goods, and those with three Karako were general-purpose items, which were not permitted for use by commoners until the Meiji era.
  The beauty of this thin white porcelain was not limited to Japan, but also expanded its market to other countries. During the Age of Discovery in the 17th century, thin coffee cups and other items were exported from the port of Hirado, which prospered through trade with the West, to the Netherlands and China, and were cherished by royalty and nobility.

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