Ceramic Treasures

This program takes you to potteries located throughout Japan to explore the charms, the culture, and the history of pottery. In this show, we introduce you the pottery with 400 years of history - Karatsu-yaki. The simple antique look deeply resonates with Japanese people's soul because of its strong connection with Wabi-Sabi. Even potteries that were restored with broken pieces are beautiful in this episode. We will explore the 3 fascinating features of Karatsu-yaki.

We would like to introduce you the Mashiko-yaki, a pottery that is finely adapted into people's everyday lives. This pottery became nationally well-known thanks to the Japanese folk crafts movement developed around 90 years ago. Mashiko town in Tochigi Prefecture is famous for its Mashiko-yaki. Today, many ceramic artists, regardless of nationality, moved into this town for their pottery making activities. In this episode, we will learn about Mashiko-yaki from a various point of views, including discovering the charm of "kakiyu" glaze, a representative of glaze dishes that was created by the past national treasure, Shoji Hamada, as well as the technique of "Nagashi-kake".

This program takes you on trips to potteries throughout Japan and explores the charm of the ceramic culture. Today, we introduce you the yachimun from the southern islands of Japan - Okinawa. The program features 3 charming points about it. First, it is the fish pattern dishes that reminiscent the ocean of Okinawa. Second, it is to discover the secret of the earthen jars that are use to produce the delicious Okinawan liquor. Finally, we will visit those who make these potteries and those who infiltrate the local taste onto these vessels, while we also retrace the minds of yachimun's lovers.

This program takes you on a journey throughout Japan and explores the charm of the ceramic culture. We will introduce the Hagi-yaki or Hagiware, which was used for tea ceremonies and was developed as exclusive ceramics used by the feudal domain. The subtle forms and unadorned color has received a high reputation in the world of tea. In this episode, we will look at how the antique expressions of the aging pottery are created, the techniques from Miwa Kyusetsu, a National Treasure, who mastered the modern translucent white glaze in Hagi-yaki, as well as the different viewpoints of Hagi-yaki.

This program takes you on trips to potteries throughout Japan and explores the charm of the ceramic culture. In this episode, we will introduce Onta-yaki, a pottery that has been made for the past 300 years, with a hereditary tradition of passing methods down to the eldest son. Onta-yaki was founded in a small village nestled in the mountainous terrain. Out of the 14 homes in the village, 10 are Onta-yaki kilns. The major feature of Onta-yaki is that the technique does not rely on mechanical power. All steps are performed manually, and that is one of the reasons why it was designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset. In this episode, we will learn the unique manufacturing process, the carvings of geometric patterns called tobi-kanna, and the different charms and quality of Onta-yaki.

This program takes you on trips to potteries throughout Japan and explores the charm of the ceramic culture. We will introduce Bizen-yaki, a traditional vessel that combines fire and the earth to create a one of a kind pottery. Without using any type of glaze, Bizen-yaki is fired for a period of 10 days to create variations in patterns and colors. In this episode we'll find out the secrets of Bizen clay, the effects of the ash and flame, and the different viewpoints and quality of Bizen-yaki.

This program takes you on a journey throughout Japan and explores the charm of the ceramic culture. In this episode, we'll introduce Iga-yaki or Iga-ware, a vessel in which has been highly acclaimed as a household utensil for more than 800 years. Iga-yaki can withstand many firings and the clay's properties are what support the vessels. Currently, production of the vessels has been successful by using the advantages of the soil's characteristics. Modern Iga-yaki pots have also long been popular in Japanese households. We'll take a look at the secret to producing this earthenware pot, the charms of Iga-yaki used in flower vessels and in tea ceremonies, and we'll also introduce the translucent deep green color and glaze.