Visiting
THE SHIGARAKI-YAKI KILN
Shigaraki-yaki is being produced in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture in the area around Koka City.
Here, at the kiln "Tsubohachi", are cups are being produced.
Geographically, Shiga Prefecture lies in the center of Japan, but Shigaraki is a rural place where the local train is scheduled to arrive only once per hour. Getting around by car, the sheer number of the iconic raccoon dog statues of different sizes looking at you, seem at times eery.
Going a bit deeper, one can witness the history of this production area. Stores showcasing large gardening pots and table and tea ware, but also vacant places that used to be full of producers and happy customers can be found.
At the entrance area of the kiln, large water pots filled with plants showcase the history of Tsubohachi. I could only imagine the power needed to handle those heavy objects. Meeting Daiki Okuda, the third generation owner of the kiln, it all made sense. A big man with a powerful physique who had been playing American Football in the past.
Stepping into the showroom, a different side of Daiki Okuda can be seen through his works. "Suikinkutsu", water jugs that lets one enjoy the splashing sound of falling water droplets, used in traditional Japanese gardens, mirror his philosophy about pottery. He makes use of the porous attribute of the clay to create these relaxing instruments.
Mr. Okuda shows us around the kiln and immediately I am impressed by the size of it. Different buildings with all their specific functions are connected with each other. The large hall where stacks of teapot molds are waiting to be processed, used to stock piles of large ceramic pipes that have been produced here in the past.
A large kiln is needed for large works. Therefore, Tsubohachi has a really big kiln.
Seeing Okuda-san's works that respects the tradition of Shigaraki-yaki, but also explores contemporary objects in a playful way, makes us looking forward to his future Shigaraki-yaki products.