Tour No.02 "Bizen Ware in Okayama"
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Date : 2006.1.8
Location : Okayama
It was very long time ago, when I visited a Bizen studio - almost 20 years
ago. I was a newly-appointed manager of Japanese table ware department
of Daimaru department store. I remember that I was astonished to see how
speedy and accurately the artisans shaped potteries on their wheels. Their
techniques looked as if magic! Accurately same shapes cups were made one
after another at a glance. At that time I was not familiar with the role
of manager yet, and couldn't relax and could not remember many things.
After they had introduced their work, the potter brought us to 'Shizutani
School', which is the now existing oldest school (established in 1670)
for common folk. In olden times educations was only for samurai and upper
class minorities. So Shizutani School was very epoch-making at the age
of feudalistic Edo period. Shizutani School is in the calm rural district,
and its old building and garden are very beautiful. I can still remember
the very relaxed feeling I felt at Shizutani School. In olden times at
this school the ideal was born, and grew to all over Japan! Here are some
photos of Shizutani School.
Roof tiles are said to be made of Bizen ware. If you have a chance to visit
Okayama, we recommend you to visit Shizutani School besides Bizen ware
studios.
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Recently I go to Okayama once a month to attend a kimono auction, which
is held in the old hotel in the Okayama city. From our office it takes
about three hours by car. So, visiting Okayama city becomes a common small
business trip for us. As symbolized by Shizutani School, Okayama is very
sophisticated and cultured city, and people have a fever for education.
Mr. Hiroyuki Wakimoto is one of the very famous Bizen potters among the
400- 500 potters in Bizen. My old friend Yamane san introduced him (without
Yamane san, we could not ask him to offer his items on our site), and we
were going to visit his kiln when he was firing. Once a year, Mr. Wakimoto
fires his kiln for 20 days. Kiln is fired day and night, and they operate
firing around the clock on three shifts. But on the day of our appointment
it snowed heavily all of a sudden, and highways are closed, trains also
stopped in places, and we couldn't reach Bizen. I have never visited a
climbing kiln when it is fired, and looked forward to see fires. I was
very disappointed, but he took many photos while firing for us!
After the fire was extinguished, we visited his kiln. Potteries were carried
out, and arranged for precise check. What an honor Wakimoto san showed
us everything to us!
All his Bizen wares have creative shapes and warm clay favor. We strongly
hope to introduce his wares to our customers. His pottery has not only
modern creative taste, but also traditional Japanese beauty which has been
inherited from ancient Japan.
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Wakimono san's climbing kiln. |
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Red Pine Woods are piled near the kiln for firing. |
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His Bizen ware has earthy and strong impression. |
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