🗺️ Koishihara小石原

Koishiwara is located in the eastern central part of Fukuoka Prefecture, in the village of Asakura Tōhō. Early practitioners planted cedar trees in the tranquil mountains at an altitude of 200 to 500 meters, forming a giant tree forest, and the ceramic material known as "red clay" was extracted from the nearby mountains and forests. It has been a renowned pottery-producing region for 350 years, with its origins tracing back to 1682 when the third lord of the Fukuoka domain began producing pottery products, inspired by the porcelain-rich Imari. The pottery used in daily life in the Koishiwara area has been called "Koishiwara-yaki" since ancient times. The black clay body is covered with a decorative clay, and techniques such as the "hiki-bori" method, which involves applying regular fine engravings with the tip of a tool, and the "fude-me" technique, where patterns are brushed onto the white clay body while it is being spun, are characteristic of Koishiwara-yaki. Additionally, the "kake-nagashi" technique, which involves dripping glaze from a certain height onto the surface while the clay body is spinning, is also a unique feature of Koishiwara-yaki. Another distinctive technique is applying glaze directly without bisque firing. The pottery has an elegant quality, and after solid kiln firing, it becomes sturdy and durable. Influential figures in the Japanese pottery world, such as Bernard Howell Leach and Yanagi Sōetsu, have praised Koishiwara-yaki as the "ultimate beauty of utility." Currently, there are about 40 kilns in the Koishiwara area, and a "Minpotai Matsuri" (Folk Pottery Festival) is held in May and October in conjunction with the opening of the kilns.

The elegant design and texture are uniquely charming. The warm patterns are durable, making it a highly favored type of everyday pottery. The "Minto Matsuri" is held in the spring and autumn seasons.