tourism

Karatsu ware is a pottery produced in the eastern part of Saga Prefecture and the northern part of Nagasaki Prefecture. The tradition is said to have originated in the 1580s from the Hata clan, lord of Kishidake Castle. The pottery later spread from the port of Karatsu to Kyoto, Osaka, and other parts of western Japan. It became so popular that the pottery was collectively referred to as Karatsu mono, the “things of Karatsu.” As exemplified by a common saying in the tea ceremony world that ranks pottery traditions, “First Raku [ware], second Hagi [ware], and third Karatsu [ware],” Karatsu ware is also a favorite of tea ceremony practitioners.

Kentaro Murayama, the owner of Kentaro Kiln, creates a unique materiality in the kiln’s work through repeated research on clays and glaze, rooted in the traditional techniques of ancient Karatsu. With the aim of achieving a modern “functional beauty,” the kiln’s relatively simple and familiar style results in pottery that can at once be used in traditional tea ceremonies, but also incorporated into everyday life. All the raw materials that go into the vessels, such as clay and glaze, are collected on walks in the surrounding mountains.

First choose from a selection of unglazed vessels on which to paint your own design. Then move on to this program’s highlight, building and using a wood-fired kiln. Watch as an artisan skillfully raises the kiln’s temperature by controlling flames with the power of wind, creating mesmerizing changes to the fire’s color and sound. The colors and patterns of the pottery change depending on their placement within the kiln, along with how the flames strike each vessel’s clay and glaze. This process brings to mind the more ancient methods of pottery-making that were widespread even before the beginning of Karatsu ware.

While your pottery is being fired, relax in the workshop with a cup of tea while enjoying a luxurious moment overlooking Karatsu Bay and the Nijinomatsubara Pine Grove. Watch the kiln’s steady flames, browse the Kentaro Kiln gallery, and listen to stories about Karatsu Ware. After firing is complete, gently shape the pottery with sandpaper to complete the process.