Made by Yanase Hon Kamamoto
Koishiwara-yaki Mug
Koishiwara-yaki Mug
Profile
Yanase Hon Kamaoto boasts a 350-year history and a distinguished Mingei tradition, and is one of 10 kiln sites who sustains the development of Koishiwara-yaki in the Chizuken region.
From its inception, the Koishiwara crafting technique could only be passed down to one son within each family, never to outsider nor to women. To this day, this cultural heritage remains unbroken. Motohisa Yanase is currently the 14th generation head of the family keeping this craft alive.
Ｗhether decorating through Tobikanna-chattering or Hakeme slip brushing, Koishiwara-yaki is known for undulating rhythm on its surfaces. Its history is closely related to another Mingei tradition Onta-yaki. Both have been recognised as Intangible Cultural Asset by the Japanese government and pinnacle examples of Mingei by Soetsu Yanagi.
While stylistic developments vary from generation to generation, the Yanase family maintains the same techniques, anagama kiln firing, clay reserve and natural resource use for the last three and half centuries.
The family shares clay reserve from nearby mountains with other nearby family kilns. They leave out making individual pottery marks on the wares to collectively uphold the Koishiwara style.