Nabeshima Kosen Kiln

Kosen Kiln specializes in products that use a variety of the three techniques that are characteristic of Nabeshima ware: iro-Nabeshima (overglaze enamel), ai-Nabeshima (sometsuke), and Nabeshima seiji (celadon). The founder, Kawasoe Tameo, dedicated himself to studying celadon porcelain, driven by a strong desire to make it accessible to many.

The current third generation, Kawasoe Takahiko, aims to "establish Nabeshima culture" and approaches celadon research from a perspective different from his grandfather. The kiln diligently works every day, striving toward a rich future of Nabeshima ware.

Read Interview

The Kawasoe family, ancestors of the Kosen Kiln, were artisans who specialized in figurines and glaze research. Their skills were passed down through generations, and in 1963, Tameo—grandfather of the current owner—founded the Kosen Kiln.

With a passion for bringing Nabeshima Seiji (celadon) to the world, he devoted himself to glaze research. At the time, celadon was so difficult to produce that it was said firing it could ruin a business. Despite this, after more than a decade of tireless effort, he successfully completed his research.

3月15日(金)伊万里鍋島出張　2日目103.jpg__PID:a39a07be-b42b-4077-8340-88b0a1abe95d

Kawasoe Takahiko is the third-generation artisan carrying on the legacy of Nabeshima ware, which traces its origins to Okawachiyama—a village long revered as the “hidden kiln village” since the Edo period (1603–1868 CE). Committed to preserving this cultural heritage for generations to come, he has embarked on the first research and development of celadon porcelain in fifty-six years. While honoring the traditional techniques of Nabeshima ware, he approaches the craft from a new perspective, distinct from that of his grandfather.

Read article