Pottery fair guides and introductions to Japan's pottery towns.
Across Japan
When Japan's main pottery fairs — Mashiko, Arita, Hasami, Shigaraki, Bizen and more — take place, month by month.
Mashiko, Tochigi
A pottery fair held each spring and autumn in Mashiko, Tochigi. Tent villages are set up across the town alongside the kilns and shops. For dates, venues and the exhibitor list, the official sites are the primary source. This page covers the background of Mashiko ware itself, plus the Mashiko-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Six pottery towns whose kilns have been firing from the medieval period to the present day. Their history, clay and firing, based on the official materials.
Koka, Shiga
Shigaraki ware has been made in Shigaraki, in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, since the Kamakura period, and is one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Shigaraki ware began and what sets its clay and firing apart, along with the Shigaraki-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Seto, Aichi
Seto ware has been made without interruption in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, for around a thousand years, and the town gave Japanese the word "setomono", still used for ceramics in general. Of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, Seto was the only one producing glazed ware in the medieval period. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Seto ware developed and what sets its clay and glazes apart, along with the Seto-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Tokoname, Aichi
Tokoname ware has been made since the late Heian period in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on the west coast of the Chita Peninsula, and is the largest of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. Shipped by sea across the country, it also influenced other centres such as Shigaraki and Echizen. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Tokoname ware developed and what sets its clay and techniques apart, along with the Tokoname-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Echizen Town, Fukui
Echizen ware has been made since the late Heian period in Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture — the only one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan facing the Sea of Japan. Shipped from Sea of Japan ports as far as Hokkaido in the north and Shimane in the south, it grew into the largest pottery centre in the Hokuriku region. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Echizen ware developed and what sets its clay and techniques apart, along with the Echizen-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo
Tamba ware (also called Tamba-Tachikui ware) began between the late Heian and early Kamakura periods in the hills of Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, close to Kyoto and Osaka, and is still made there today. Around 60 kilns remain, and a younger generation is active too. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Tamba ware developed and what sets its glazes and techniques apart, along with the Tamba-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
Bizen, Okayama
Bizen ware has been made since the late Heian period, centred on Imbe in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture. It is fired hard over a long time with no painting and no glaze, and is prized for the "landscape" that clay and flame leave on its surface. Drawing on the official Six Ancient Kilns materials, this page outlines how Bizen ware developed and what sets its clay and firing apart, along with the Bizen-connected potters, exhibitions and shops that megu knows about.
