The Hizen Nabeshima Clan's official kiln has been located in Okawachiyama, Imari City, Saga Prefecture since the late 17th century, where high-quality Imari Nabeshima ware has been produced as gifts for the shogunate and the Imperial Court. Hataman Touen was founded in 1926, at the dawn of the Showa period (1926-1989), in this area known as the "home of secret kilns" and boasting techniques that are still unknown to the public.

For about 90 years, the company, started under the name "Manshogama" by the first generation, Mantaro Hataishi, has been actively engaged in the development of new products and technological innovation while carefully preserving and passing on the techniques of the kiln.

In the 1990s, Masatsugu Shinji, the current president and fourth generation, developed Hina dolls, objets d'art, and perfume bottles. The porcelain's ease of handling and the delicate painting that expresses the beauty of Japan's natural environment made it popular.

Today, together with his son, Shuji, who is the next-generation leader of the company, he is working hard to create a new generation of Nabeshima ware, actively collaborating with famous companies such as BEAMS and NIKE, and pursuing a new "aesthetic sense" that is in line with the times.

The traditional technique of Nabeshima ware is characterized by a pale blue color reminiscent of the morning of the Okawachiyama in a light mist. Hataman has taken on the challenge of creating a new expression of celadon porcelain, and has created matte-textured "moist" series with a sandblasted finish. The moist texture is very smooth to the touch, and the fresh green gradation gives a cool and refreshing feeling.

The aesthetic style that Nabeshima ware has carefully maintained as a traditional rule since the Edo Period is composed of one "Sometsuke" color (blue) and three "Aka-e" colors (red, yellow, and green). Those painted in only blue color are classified as "Sometsuke" style. The extremely fine, carefully drawn lines and the light gradations that are repeatedly layered within them create a dignified appearance. The traditional patterns of Nabeshima, which were offered to the nobility, are designed in a sophisticated manner, yet with a sense of glamour.

The fine line drawing with fine-point brushes and the outstanding painting with a thick brush. Each of Hataman's pieces is carefully painted by skilled craftsmen, including traditional craftsmen. The artist takes great care in drawing the veins of each leaf to create a precise line, and also creates beautiful gradations with the use of shades of paint and brush strokes.

There are two processes in the painting process. One is underglaze painting, which is done on the unglazed clay before firing to produce a cobalt blue color called "Gosu-sometsuke," and the other is overglaze painting, in which red, yellow, and green are used to paint on the white clay after firing. The exquisite color scheme and the amount of colors without being overly flamboyant are the traditions of Imari Nabeshima ware. They pursue the possibilities of expression with a three-dimensional feel created by layering glassy glaze.

Dignified tableware enriches daily life. Each piece is designed to fit comfortably in one's hand, to be easy to use, and to be adorned in one's living space. At Hataman, they pursue a form that is relative to the glaze of the painting, which is a characteristic of Imari Nabeshima ware, and realize a particular shape by a manufacturing process that spares no time or effort, such as the process of face-down firing.

Hataman is dedicated to the whiteness of the base material in order to accentuate the glossy Imari Nabeshima ware painting. Using the highest quality natural clay among the Amakusa pottery stones, the transparent white porcelain is produced by reduction firing at a high temperature of 1,320 degrees Celsius (2408°F) for 24 hours.

Using the pieces as a canvas, the composition is exquisitely arranged, and the beauty of the margins is valued as various patterns are placed on the pieces. At Hataman, they aim to create works that actively incorporate new designs while preserving the DNA of Imari Nabeshima ware.

Imari Nabeshima ware has a 400-year history. Inheriting the spirit of craftsmen who have boldly taken up the challenge of meeting the demands of their predecessors, Hataman is taking on the challenge of developing new products with high-precision processing, such as perfume bottles, adopting new materials and manufacturing processes, and collaborating with domestic and overseas creators to create new products never seen before.

Photo by Courtesy of Hataman Touen