Aizu Hongo Yaki

Porcelain and pottery side by side

Aizu Hongo makes both porcelain and pottery, sometimes at the same kiln. The porcelain includes blue-and-white sometsuke painted with gosu and many-coloured iro-e. The pottery is mostly practical, with traditional amber and ash glazes. It is made in Aizu Misato in Fukushima, and it is the oldest white porcelain area in Tohoku.

Local stone and clay

Most pieces are thrown on the wheel. Potters also use slab building (tatara), hand pinching and plaster moulds. Local porcelain stone and pottery clay are the main materials, and each kiln adds its own ideas.

From castle tiles to porcelain

In 1593, when the lord Gamo Ujisato took over Aizu, he had roof tiles fired for Kurokawa Castle, later called Wakamatsu Castle, in Aizu-Wakamatsu, and pottery here began. The Aizu domain made it an official kiln in the early Edo period. In 1797, Sato Ihei set out for Arita to learn the secrets of porcelain, and his pupil completed the technique. The kilns survived the Boshin War and a large Taisho-era fire.