Traditional craft
Koishiwara Yaki
小石原焼
Folk pottery from the mountain village of Toho in Fukuoka, decorated with rhythmic chatter marks, brushed slip and poured glazes.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 10 May 1975
- Type
- Ceramics
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- 小石原焼
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 朝倉郡東峰村
Patterns made by rhythm
Koishiwara Yaki is known for its decoration: big platters with brushed hakeme slip and jars covered in tobi-kanna, rows of tiny cuts made by a springy metal blade bouncing over half-dry clay. Combed lines, finger drawing and poured glazes are used too. Pots, tableware and vases are still made in much the same way as long ago, in Toho village in Fukuoka.
No bisque firing
The tobi-kanna, slip and hakeme techniques were established in the late 17th century. Pieces are decorated, then glazed without a first bisque firing and fired once.
Chikuzen's first kiln
Koishiwara is the first kiln of Chikuzen, opened by the Kuroda domain in 1682. At first it was called Nakano ware and made large porcelain jars and bottles. From the early 18th century it turned to pottery and became known as Koishiwara ware.
Good to know
- Koishiwara lies at the foot of Mt Hiko; it was once a key training place for yamabushi mountain monks entering Hikosan.
- Mashiko uses tobi-kanna too: compare with Mashiko Yaki.
Questions travellers ask
What is tobi-kanna?
A pattern of small cuts made by a springy metal blade bouncing across half-dry clay on the wheel.
Is Koishiwara ware bisque-fired?
No. It is glazed raw and fired once.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.