As a direct descendant of Nakazato Ei, a Korean-born potter and one of the founders of Mikawachi ware, Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln has carried on its tradition for over 400 years. Now led by 18th-generation potter Taiyo Nakazato, the kiln is celebrated for its refined sometsuke and chrysanthemum ornamental work on luminous white porcelain.

This kiln has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, including by the Imperial and Royal Families. Their creations have gained increasing esteem as works of art.

The Korean potter, Geo-gwan, the founder of the Hirado domain imperial kiln in Nagasaki Prefecture from the end of the 16th century, invited Goryeo-tteog, one of the potters who established the Karatsu Ware in Saga Prefecture, to establish the Mikawachi Ware together. The kiln of Hirado Kohsyo Danemon is a direct descendant of Goryeo-tteog.

Goryeo-tteog had a Japanese name, Nakazato Ei. The current owner, Taiyo Nakazato, who is the 18th generation, mainly produces works with white porcelain with Sometsuke (cobalt blue underglaze). He also produces a variety of daily tableware as well as decorative items using the chrysanthemum decoration technique.

Since the 18th century, as a result of export to foreign countries, Hirado Kohsyo has earned high praise in Europe incl. royal courts and even today it is exhibited in world-renowned art museums such as the British Museum and the V & A Museum of art and design, and is widely loved all over the World.

In 1928, Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln was also appointed by the Imperial Household Agency and offered a gift to the Emperor Showa at his wedding ceremony. In addition, the company has also presented the items to His Majesty the King on several occasions for the further development of cultural exchange between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the State of Japan.

Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln specializes in chrysanthemum decoration work, which is made of porcelain clay using thin bamboo tools with delicate and outstanding technique. It is, so to speak, a porcelain flower sculpture. Each petal is carved by hand by artisans. When carved, each petal stands out sharply, but when glazed and fired, it develops the softness of a natural chrysanthemum.

The work was designated as an intangible cultural property of Sasebo City in 2014, and as an intangible cultural property of Nagasaki Prefecture in 2021. This traditional technique has been handed down from generation to generation in their kiln.

For centuries, the artisans of Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln have refined the delicate art of porcelain craftsmanship. But it wasn’t until recent decades that the world came to appreciate the intricate chrysanthemum carving technique, a tradition that has been passed down since the late Edo period.

In this video, we meet 17th-generation master Nakazato Ichiro and 18th-generation successor Nakazato Taiyo as they share their journey of preserving and evolving this time-honored craft.

Nakazato Ichiro grew up surrounded by the craft of ceramics, helping at the family kiln before school. The work was tough, but over the years, he refined his technique, learning that true craftsmanship is built through dedication and experience.

In this video, Nakazato shares his journey from childhood hardships to becoming a master of Mikawachi ware. He reflects on the challenges of the craft, the meaning behind his work, and what it takes to carry on a centuries-old tradition.

For Nakazato Taiyo, the 18th-generation master of Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln, preserving the art of Mikawachi ware is a lifelong pursuit. Specializing in intricate chrysanthemum engravings, he continues a craft that has been refined for over 400 years.

In this video, Nakazato shares how his experiences abroad shaped his perspective on Japanese ceramics, leading him to rediscover the unique artistry of his family’s kiln.