Traditional craft
Shodai Yaki
小代焼
Rustic pottery from northern Kumamoto, made from iron-rich clay and splashed with blue, yellow or white straw-ash glazes in bold, free patterns.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 17 March 2003
- Type
- Ceramics
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- 小代焼
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 荒尾市、熊本市、宇城市、玉名郡南関町、長州町
Simple form, dynamic glaze
Shodai Yaki uses iron-rich clay from the foot of Mt Shodai for a simple, strong style. By changing the glaze mix and firing heat, potters create three subtle colours: ao-shodai (blue), ki-shodai (yellow) and shiro-shodai (white). Glazes poured freely over the pots give a dynamic feel within the simple shapes. It is made in Arao, Kumamoto city, Uki, Nankan and Nagasu in Kumamoto.
Straw ash and wood ash
Refined clay is thrown on the wheel or built from slabs, dried and bisque-fired at around 800°C. Glazes made mainly from straw ash and wood ash are applied by dipping, splashing and pouring, then pieces are fired at 1,300°C.
Brought by the Hosokawa
In 1632, Hosokawa Tadatoshi moved from Buzen to Higo (today's Kumamoto), and two potters who followed him, Genshichi and Hachizaemon, were ordered to make pottery, starting Shodai Yaki. In 1836 the domain built the Segami kiln to promote industry, and the techniques passed down through several potter families to today. The Hosokawa also founded Agano Yaki in Buzen.
Good to know
- At Fumoto kiln, a museum shows nearly a hundred pieces of old Ko-Shodai, near the remains of the Furuhata kiln where Shodai is said to have begun.
- Look for the poured glaze trails; no two pieces flow the same way.
Questions travellers ask
What are ao-shodai, ki-shodai and shiro-shodai?
The blue, yellow and white glaze colours of Shodai, made by changing glaze mix and firing heat.
Where is Shodai Yaki made?
Around Mt Shodai in northern Kumamoto, near the Fukuoka border.
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.