Bizen Ware History

Bizen Ware is stoneware that is descended from Sueki pottery, a hard, blue-gray colored earthenware produced in Japan during the Kofun period (about 300 to 538 AD).

It is said that the Sueki pottery production method was introduced to Japan via Korea. Around the 5th century, with the introduction of superior kiln and potter's wheel techniques from the Korean peninsula, it became possible to produce pottery with a more elaborate shape and finished at higher temperatures, and even unglazed Sueki pottery began to be used without water leaks.

The golden age of Sueki pottery was around the 7th century, and in the area straddling Setouchi City and Bizen City, there are still remains of workshops and kilns where Sueki pottery tiles and daily utensils were made, called "Oku Old Kiln Sites". The pottery industry continued there for nearly 100 years, but when clay and other resources were depleted, their potters moved north area of Bizen City in search of more resources. The new kiln industry that began there is the origin of Bizen Ware, a tradition that continues to this day.

In the early Kamakura period (1185–1333), Bizen Ware began to be produced in the same style as today's Bizen Ware. This early Bizen Ware is called “Ko-Bizen" and is highly valued as an antique.

In the Sengoku period (1568-1600), the philosophy of the tea ceremony, which was making great strides at that time, matched the simple beauty of Bizen Ware, and those tea utensils came to be valued in the tea ceremony. Since that time, six of the main Bizen Ware potters, Kimura, Kaneshige, Mori, Ohae, Tongu, and Terami, were encouraged to produce Bizen Ware under the protection of the Bizen clan, and they continue the oldest Bizen Ware tradition.

Today, Bizen Ware is a simple yet sophisticated stoneware that captures the spirit of the tea ceremony, and in 2017, it was designated as one of the Six Ancient Kilns, a Japanese Heritage Site.

What About "Yakishime"?

Yakishime, also known as Shime-Yaki, is a Japanese stoneware firing technique used to make Bizen Ware. By firing without glaze for a long period of time at a very high temperature of about 1300 degrees Celsius (2372 F), the glass component in the clay melts and fills the spaces between the clay particles, creating a strong and solid material that is also highly water resistant.

Bizen Ware made with Yakishime is also slightly breathable, which makes water in tablewares less likely to spoil, improves the taste of sake, and mouthfeel of beer and other sparkling drinks. Simplicity of the clay itself, and its unique moist luster stimulate a contemporary sense of beauty.

Preparation of Clay

The clay used for Bizen Ware is called Hiyose, which is dug out from the fields around Bizen City. The clay is exposed to wind and rain for 1~2 years after collection, then ground with a mortar, and elutriate to extract only the finer and smoother clay. Then the fine clay is left to settle for a few weeks to a few months, then mixed with black clay and left to settle again for another six months to a few years before it is finally ready for use as potter's clay.

Forming

Bizen Ware is formed in the same way as other pottery, but because it is unglazed, it is easier to judge the quality of the form and requires a high degree of precision in its formation. Decoration is kept to a minimum in order to bring out the Yohen pattern, but sometimes a spatula is used to create decorations, or the clay is scraped off to create angles.

Firing Process

Unlike Arita Ware and Kutani Ware, which are fired several times with different temperatures in different processes, Bizen Ware is fired only once.

Bizen Ware is usually fired in a climbing kiln, using red pine firewood as fuel. The kiln is first fired with a small amount of firewood, gradually removing the moisture from the works and raising the temperature little by little, until finally a large amount of firewood is fed into the kiln and the temperature is raised to about 1300 degrees Celsius (2372F).

This kiln firing process takes from one week to ten days, and is a very large-scale operation that is carried out day and night. During the firing process, ash and straw adhere to the works, creating a unique Yohen pattern which gives each piece in the kiln a richly expressive appearance. 

By arranging pieces of different sizes, figuring out the passage of the flame and loading them into the kiln, a flow of flame is created and a variety of different expressions can be created. The pattern is not created by accident by the flames of the kiln, but by the artist's intention during the kiln firing process.

Bizen Ware firing is one of the most important shows of skill for Bizen Ware artists, and is the reason why Bizen Ware is called "the art of the flame".

Finishing

After being removed from the kiln, the works are polished by the artists and carefully inspected before being sent to the market. Each Bizen Ware work is a unique piece of art, with no two pieces having the same Yohen pattern, even if they have the same shape.

How To Care for Bizen Ware

As an unglazed stoneware, Bizen Ware may seem a little more difficult to handle than other ceramics. However, Bizen Ware is basically an everyday tableware that can be maintained with the same usage and care methods as regular ceramics, so you can refer to the usual care instructions.

How To Care for Stoneware and Earthenware?

No need for sanding

The texture of Bizen Ware has the feel of clay itself, but it has been carefully polished by the hands of ceramic artists, so there is no need to sand the surface with your own hands.

Cannot set over an open fire

Bizen Ware is modern craft but looks primitive like earthenware, but like other ceramics, it basically cannot be used over an open fire or in an oven.

Brush washing recommended 

Bizen Ware is unglazed, so it feels a little coarse to use at first, and depending on the kitchen sponge, there may be a feeling of getting caught when washing. If this bothers you, we recommend using a dish brush to clean it gently.

If you are anxious about sterilization

Pottery and stoneware are slightly porous materials that allow water to infiltrate into the piece. If a Bizen Ware piece is smelly, soak it in a pot of water and gradually increase the temperature from cold to boiling to remove the smell and sterilize it without using chemicals.