Explore Japanese Ceramics

Echizen Ware: Characteristics

Echizen ware refers to pottery manufactured in Echizen area, Nyu-gun in Fukui prefecture, mainly in Miyazaki and Oda districts.

Echizen clay is of rich iron content, possesses high fire resistance and is good for unglazed stoneware fired at very high temperature. As is fired at about 1,200-1,300 degrees, the pottery is very hard without [...]

Echizen, one of Japan’s Six Old Kilns originates in late Heian period (794-1192). People had already manufactured Sue ware since Nara period (710-794). In accordance with growth of agriculture, people needed more pottery, and then they built the very first kiln in Echizen town.

Thanks to the production of rich and fine clay, Echizen developed into [...]