Etchu Seto ware is a representative pottery of Toyama Prefecture with a history of over 430 years.

During the Tensho and Bunroku periods, under the patronage of the Maeda family, potters from Owari's Seto ware district built large kilns and climbing kilns to fire glazed pottery, marking the beginning of its history.

Various types of pottery clay are still produced at the foot of Mount Tateyama.

White clay, in particular, has fine particles and high refractoriness, so when fired in a high-temperature kiln, it results in a fine and delicate finish.

Currently, there are five kilns in operation in Tateyama Town, and the five ceramic artists who operate them formed the "Kanakure-kai" group in 2011.

"Kanakure" is a local word meaning "pottery shard."

In 2013, it was selected as the first designated traditional craft of Toyama Prefecture.

The ceramic artists of "Kanakurekai" create tableware and tea ceremony ceramics rooted in everyday life amidst the rich natural environment of Tateyama Town.

The artist's personality and way of life are conveyed through their work.

The significance of this exhibition lies not in simply following trends, but in questioning the true essence of pottery through the works of local kilns in Toyama.

Toshiaki Kato is the head of the Shirohachi Kiln, a pottery studio in Etchu-Seto.

They usually create everyday tableware, as well as tea ceremony utensils, flower vases, and jars.

She started learning about sencha (green tea) two years ago, and now she's working on making easy-to-use teapots.

This "carbonized teapot" is made using red clay rich in iron, and when fired in a reducing atmosphere, the iron reacts in various ways, making it endlessly fascinating.

The "black tea bowl" is a traditional Etchu Seto ware item, made by mixing local stone powder with iron to produce its black color.

Mr. Kato creates his pottery by seeking the ideal form of his vessels within the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Fumi Kitamura's journey into pottery began after experiencing pottery making at the "Tounokan" (Pottery Farming Hall) in Tateyama Town.

I received instruction on Etchu Seto ware from Mr. Satoshi Kato, but by chance, I met ceramic artist Hoan Nakazato on the day of cherry blossom viewing, and that led to me learning Karatsu ware techniques from his son, the 14th generation Tarouemon Nakazato.

After four years of training in Karatsu, I built the Karesusuki Kiln in Tateyama Town, where I continue to operate to this day.

The "Etchu Seto Black Tea Bowl" is a cylindrical tea bowl inspired by Oribe black ware, and its shape is absolutely beautiful.

"Etchu Seto Straw Ash Glazed Water Jug" is a piece inspired by the gourd-shaped water jug of Goryeo celadon, and I challenged myself to create it using locally sourced, firm clay.

Ms. Kitamura is exploring her own style while learning from classical works.

Yukio Shakunaga is the head of the Shōraku Kiln, a pottery studio in Etchū-Seto, and is a leading ceramic artist representing Toyama Prefecture.

That work was also loved by the late Steve Jobs of Apple Inc.

The "Glazed Winged Water Jar" is made using local white clay and features a winged shape with red, yellow, and green applied between vertical stripes.

The "Yonsei" in "Yonsei Shinogi Tea Bowl" refers to an opaque glaze made from straw ash rich in silica, which exhibits a clear blue color when fired in a reducing atmosphere.

The inside of the tea bowl is engraved with a ridged pattern, creating a profound form that is unique to Mr. Shakunaga.

Amidst the rich natural environment of Tateyama, he earnestly creates his works while confronting the finest soil and questioning his own true purpose.

Tomoko Yamada's works have solid designs and attractive decorations.

Looking at his ceramics background, it says that after graduating from the Japan Design College, he enrolled in the Kyoto Prefectural Advanced Technical School for Ceramic Arts, and after graduating, he studied under ceramic artist Yasutaka Shimizu.

I worked as an intern at the "Tounokan" (Ceramics and Agriculture Hall) in Tateyama Town, and this year I established my own workshop in Tateyama Town.

The "Two-Color Dot Pattern Tea Bowl" features a dot pattern in two colors, red and blue, using straw ash glaze.

The "Drawn Line Pattern Water Jar" features a pattern of white glaze on a black background, resembling splashes of rainwater, and the knob is shaped like a knot.

Mr. Yamada's work spans a wide range, from everyday tableware to vases, tea ceremony utensils, and sculptures, and we hope that he will bring a fresh new style to Etchu Seto ware.

Yoshino Kogaku is the third-generation owner of the "Senju Kiln," a pottery studio in Etchu-Seto.

After graduating from the Department of Ceramics, Faculty of Design, Kyoto Seika University, I trained at the Shiga Prefectural Shigaraki Ceramic Art Forest and the Kyoto City Industrial Ceramics Research Institute before returning to "Senju Kiln" in 1995.

The "Ash Glaze Chirashi Flower Vase" is made using a technique that has been passed down since my grandfather's generation, and its highlight is the bold, scattered ash glaze.

The "Sansai Mizusashi" is a modern piece made by shaping a wheel-thrown cylinder into a triangle and applying three different colored glazes to it.

In order to achieve the stoneware effect of firing in a climbing kiln, there are parts where the glaze has been intentionally left off.

Its distinctive feature is that the scenery changes depending on how it's placed.

Mr. Yoshino is preserving the traditions of Etchu Seto while also taking on new challenges.

Addendum

Although he is not participating this time, there is another member of the "Kanakure-kai" group, Yo Shakuei, from "Yo Shakuei Pottery Studio".

Since there are no works on display, there is no explanatory text, but I will introduce the name.

Koichi Mori (Art critic, Standing Director of the Japan Ceramic Society)