Image: Wikimedia Commons
Inkyuzan Ware (Inkyuzan Yaki) is pottery fired at a kiln in Kunoji, Yazu Town, Tottori Prefecture. It is said to have begun in the Meiwa era (1764–1772) of the mid-Edo period, when a potter from Kyoto, invited by Lord Ikeda, the lord of the Tottori Domain, built a kiln, and the domain had it fire tea utensils and other wares as its official kiln. The name 'Inkyuzan' comes from Kunoji in Inaba Province, where the kiln is located. The kiln still fires its seven-chamber climbing kiln, in use since the Edo period, with firewood. Local clay rich in iron is finished with glazes such as straw-ash glaze (warabai-yu) and namako glaze. Its style is rustic yet conveys a sense of dignity, and alongside its central tea utensils it also makes vessels for everyday use such as teacups (yunomi) and coffee cups. It is designated a Tottori Prefecture Local Craft, and the Ashizawa family, who run the kiln, carry on the tradition.
Origin
Inkyuzan Ware is said to have begun in the Meiwa era of the mid-Edo period. It is said to have started when a potter from Kyoto, invited by Lord Ikeda, the lord of the Tottori Domain, built a kiln in Kunoji, and the domain had it fire tea utensils and other wares as its official kiln. An official kiln of the domain (goyo-gama) was a kiln that took orders from the domain and fired vessels for use by the lord and the domain. The kiln's name, 'Inkyuzan', comes from its location, Kunoji in Inaba Province.
History
Inkyuzan Ware was protected for generations as the official kiln of the Tottori Domain. The seven-chamber climbing kiln built in the Edo period still remains and continues to be fired with firewood as fuel. The kiln has been handed down in the Ashizawa family, and Tottori Prefecture's materials introduce the ninth generation, Ashizawa Yoshinori, and the tenth generation, Ashizawa Yasunori. The kiln is said to be now in the time of the tenth generation, and it is also designated a Tottori Prefecture Local Craft.
Features
Inkyuzan Ware is pottery that is rustic yet conveys a sense of dignity. Using local clay rich in iron, it is finished with glazes such as straw-ash glaze, green glaze, namako glaze and shinsha (copper red). Forms that make use of curves, together with the calm colors of the straw-ash and namako glazes, create a traditional atmosphere. Authentic tea utensils for use at tea gatherings are central, but affordable teacups and coffee cups are also made.
Techniques
Wood-fired climbing kiln
Wares are fired in a seven-chamber climbing kiln in use since the Edo period. While kilns fired with heavy oil or gas are common nationwide, Inkyuzan Ware still uses firewood as fuel. The vessels are fired amid the crackling of the firewood and the rising flames.
Kerokuro (kick wheel)
The kiln keeps to the traditional forming method of shaping vessels on a large wooden wheel turned by kicking it with the foot. Forms that make use of curves are one feature of Inkyuzan Ware's style.
Straw-ash glaze and namako glaze
Straw-ash glaze is a glaze made from the ash of rice straw, and it gives Inkyuzan Ware a distinctive character. Namako glaze is a glaze that produces uneven coloring resembling the skin of a sea cucumber (namako). In addition, green glaze and shinsha, which uses copper to produce a red color, are also used.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
因久山焼窯元（芦澤家）
A kiln at 649 Kunoji, Yazu Town. Descended from the official kiln of the Tottori Domain, it preserves a seven-chamber climbing kiln in use since the Edo period. Tottori Prefecture's materials introduce the ninth generation, Ashizawa Yoshinori, and the tenth generation, Ashizawa Yasunori. Besides tea utensils, it also makes vessels for everyday use.
Official site →How to Buy
- 因久山焼窯元
- You can consult about purchases at the kiln at 649 Kunoji, Yazu Town. It is said to be open from 9:00 to 17:00 every day of the year, but you need to contact it by phone (0858-72-0278) before visiting.Where to buy →PR
- Hometown tax donations (furusato nozei, ふるなび)
- A hakeme (brushed slip) coffee cup and saucer (one set) offered by the Inkyuzan Ware kiln is listed as a return gift. The cup is about 8 cm in diameter at the rim and the saucer about 13.5 cm in diameter, for a donation of around 14,000 yen. Because they are handmade, each piece varies in shape and pattern.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. Where does the name 'Inkyuzan' come from?
A. It comes from Kunoji in Inaba Province (present-day Kunoji, Yazu Town), where the kiln is located. Inaba is the old provincial name for eastern Tottori Prefecture.
Q. Are there vessels other than tea utensils?
A. Yes. Inkyuzan Ware centers on tea utensils used at tea gatherings, but affordable vessels for everyday use, such as teacups and coffee cups, are also made. Besides inquiring at the kiln, you can also find them listed as return gifts for hometown tax donations.