Bizen Hozan Kiln

Hozan Kiln is a long-established Bizen Ware kiln located in Imbe, Bizen City, the hometown of Bizen ware, and is directly descended from the Six family of Bizen ware potters. It has produced many masterpieces of tea ceremony utensils, sake cups, and works of art since long ago. The fan-shaped ceramic stamp (brand mark) used today at the kiln is known to have been stamped on a large jar from the 16th century.

About Hozan Kiln

Bizen Ware has been shaped over more than 1,000 years. Hailing from the small village of Bizen - one of the six ancient Japanese kilns - its artists have been refining their techniques ever since. In the Bizen Ware, there were six families that had been under the protection of the shogunate (government) since the 17th century. Hozan Kiln is known as one of them and continues to this day as the legitimate successor of Bizen Ware.

Bizen Ware has a unique style of stoneware called Yakishime, which is unglazed and fired at high temperatures for more than ten days, and it has an artistic pattern created by the fire in the kiln. As a traditional Bizen Ware potter, Hozan Kiln is committed to creating distinctive and vibrant pieces that incorporate new modern sensibilities while maintaining the traditional beauty of Bizen Ware.

Artists of Hozan Kiln

Yasushi Mori

Yasushi Mori is a veteran ceramic artist who has been creating Bizen Ware for over fifty years as the 18th generation of Hozangama.

He has taken the tradition of Bizen Ware and incorporated new elements into his work in a diligent manner. He has held solo exhibitions throughout Japan for long time, and since 2000 he has been also working in his new studio in Hiroshima, also teaching young ceramic artists.

His works are unique, playful, and elegant, representing a modern Bizen Ware while preserving its traditions.

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Toshiaki Mori

Toshiaki Mori is a 19th generation ceramic artist at Hozan Kiln. He not only learned ceramics techniques from his father, Yasushi, but also earned a bachelor's degree in cultural heritage studies, convinced of the importance of Bizen Ware in Japanese culture.

He holds the belief that "Bizen Ware is not a tradition for the artists, but a culture for the people" and emphasizes the cultural value of Bizen Ware, which enriches people’s lives by embodying wabi-sabi, a traditional Japanese aesthetic that embraces the beauty in imperfection. Today, Toshiaki aims to spread Japanese culture to the world through Bizen Ware, with a style that suits the tastes of modern people.