10 Things to Know about Kutaniyaki Japanese Ceramics

by Cassandra Lord | CRAFT

Japanese ceramics are highly sought-after by pottery lovers everywhere. One of the many reasons for their enduring popularity is the sheer variety of ceramic art in Japan, with almost every region producing their own specialized works (see our A-Z guide for more).

Kutaniware, or kutaniyaki, is one of the most fascinating. What’s so special about kutaniyaki, and why will you want to get some? Let’s find out!

1. What is Kutaniyaki?

© Japan National Tourism Organization, Kutani Ware Plate

Kutaniyaki is a type of chinaware characterized by its delicate, hand-painted decorations, which take the form of five different colors: red, yellow, green, purple, and blue.

Yakimono (焼き物) in Japanese means porcelain or pottery. To refer to specific types of pottery, yaki is added to the end of a word, usually a place name. In the case of Kutaniyaki, it is the village of Kutani, located in Ishikawa Prefecture to the west of Tokyo.

Kutaniyaki is made from materials produced in Komatsu, near Kutani. It then goes through several stages of molding and firing to create the final product.

2. The History of Kutaniyaki

© Ishikawa Tourism League, Ceramic Artist

In around 1655 the first Daimyo or Lord of the Daishoji Domain, in present-day Ishikawa, focused his efforts on porcelain stone that had been found in the gold mines of Kutani. He ordered a gold smelter, Saijiro Goto, to study pottery in Arita (one of Japan’s many famous Ceramic Towns). It is thought that the origins of Kutaniyaki lie in Goto’s newly acquired skills which led him to opening a kiln in Kutani.

That kiln subsequently shut down in the early 1700s, for reasons still unknown. But during that active time of about 50 years, the forerunner to Kutaniyaki was produced, and it was called Kokutani. It was highly regarded as a representative of Japanese decorated porcelain.

Chrysanthemums by Takahashi Hiroaki, 1930s

Flash forward about 100 years, and in 1805 a craftsman skilled in the art of Kyoto-style ceramics, Aoki Mokubei, came with his student, Teikichi Honda, to Kanazawa and opened a kiln. With that, Honda found good quality ceramic stone in the nearby mountains and built a new kiln, creating a Kutani revival, which is the root of today’s Kutaniyaki.

3. What’s the Difference Between Kutaniyaki and Other Japanese Ceramics?

One of the most obvious distinctions between Kutaniyaki and other styles of Japanese pottery is its five signature colors. This set of five colors is called Kutani Gosai (九谷五彩), and they are red, yellow, green, purple, and blue.

However, they are not restricted to one shade of each color. By using more pigment, the colors can be lighter or darker. When the craftsmen are working on their art, though, they cannot see the colors they are working with, as they appear once the piece has been fired in the kiln.

Another factor that sets Kutaniyaki apart is its high quality raw materials, which are sourced from within Ishikawa Prefecture.

4. How is Kutaniyaki Made?

Making Kutaniyaki is not a simple process, but one that requires a number of steps. However, there is some amount of freedom within those steps:

Clay kneading
Clay molding – Using a potter’s wheel, free-hand, or a mold
Drying
Bisque firing
Base design (下絵)
Glazing
Main firing
Top design (上絵)
Further firing

Within these steps, there are many variations. Sometimes the piece might require several rounds of painting, which means several rounds of firing, or a final layer of gold or silver.

To create the designs, pencil is used to plan first. On top of that, for the base design, the artists use gosu (呉須) which is mainly comprised of cobalt oxide, and turns a deeper color when it reacts with heat. When the porcelain is fired, the pencil disappears, leaving behind a beautiful blue. Then, for the top design and colors, the artists use Noto gosu (能登呉須) and wa-e no gu (和絵の具), a type of Japanese paint usually used for glass painting. The colors cannot be seen until it is fired a final time.

5. How do Kutaniyaki Styles Differ?

Given that Kutaniyaki is known among artisans as a relatively free art form, there are many variations.

The six most widely recognized styles are: Kokutani, Mokubei, Yoshidaya, Shoza, Eiraku, and Iidaya. However, there are plenty of variations within those styles.

Certain kilns or creators might have signature motifs, while others might stick to certain colors as the focus, such as with the red Iidaya style, or adorn their pottery with gold, such as in the Eiraku style.

6. Why is the Tradition of Kutaniyaki Important to Protect?

© Kutaniyaki Art Museum, 17th Century Kutaniware

In 1975, Kutaniyaki was officially recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a traditional handicraft. The following year the craft was designated as an Intangible Cultural Property of Ishikawa Prefecture.

With its long and varied history, Kutaniyaki is an important part of the Japanese world of ceramics, but it has also made its mark abroad. In fact, Japan gifted a Kutaniyaki piece to the United Kingdom’s Prince Charles on his wedding day.

© Cassandra Lord, Shaping Kutaniyaki at Choemon

While much of Kutaniyaki has been used purely for decoration in the past, these days many artisans create it with practical use in mind. While preserving the beautiful tradition, the art form is evolving to suit the times. It is important to keep traditions alive, especially if they can find a place in modern society.

7. How are Kutaniyaki Craftspeople Trained?

While there is no set path to become a Kutaniyaki artisan, that certainly doesn’t mean it is easy.

To be able to create Kutaniyaki, you must be able to do one of the stages to an excellent standard. Many craftspeople might study pottery at a specialist school, and slowly become more specialised in their craft, leading them to Kutaniyaki

To be able to mould Kutaniyaki, you must be able to use a pottery wheel well. To be able to paint, you must have an incredibly steady hand, as everything is done freehand.

Usually, Kutaniyaki is not completed under one roof. One establishment will create the ceramics, and another will paint the designs, so usually the craftspeople will each be skilled in one area. Even in establishments where everything is done in the same place, each artisan will have their station.

8. What is Moritsuke, and How Does It Relate to Kutaniyaki?

Moritsuke (盛り付け) is the Japanese art of presenting food. While Western restaurants and homes might favor sets and plain tableware, Japanese moritsuke focuses more on the individuality of each piece.

The basic concept of moritsuke is to make the food look presentable. This is done through the choice of food and its seasonality, the choice of tableware, and how everything is arranged.

While the potters of Kutani may not actively be considering moritsuke when they make their pieces, the colors and designs of Kutaniyaki are ideal for creating an enchanting dinner table scene. Leafy greens might be paired with blue Kutaniyaki, or pink sashimi with red. Each Kutaniyaki bowl or plate is different from the next, so even when you’ve eaten your food the table still looks like a work of art.

9. Where Can You Buy Kutaniyaki?

Kutaniyaki is only made in Ishikawa Prefecture. Many restaurants in the area make use of Kutaniyaki, displaying the bright colors with their fresh food, and many shops sell different variations of the tableware.

If you are in Ishikawa Prefecture, two of the best places to get Kutaniyaki are Choemon and Cerabo Kutani. Founded in 1879, Choemon started off as a wholesaler, but moved to producing their own Kutaniyaki after purchasing a kiln in 1941. Choemon uses their long history to their advantage, fusing tradition with designs to match modern times. Their signature motif is the flautist, which adorns a number of their pieces.

© Cassandra Lord, Making Kutaniyaki for Yourself

Cerabo, on the other hand, is a younger establishment which opened in 2019. Their goal is to provide a space where people can experience Kutaniyaki for themselves, and to keep the tradition alive by fostering interest in its creation. Here you can create or paint your own Kutaniyaki items, see how the clay is made, or simply buy a piece from their shop.

Both of these kilns are in Ishikawa, not far from the Kutani Chinaware Ceramic Art Village, where you can browse more shops all dedicated to Kutaniyaki.

You can also consider the venerable Kaburaki Kiln, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year!

However, if you aren’t in Ishikawa, you can support the craft by buying it on Musubi Kiln’s website.

10. How to Take Care of Kutaniyaki?

Each piece of Kutaniyaki is carefully sculpted and hand painted, so it should be treated with care and respect. However, there is no more risk of discoloration than a regular plate, because the color is fired on.

Hand wash your Kutaniyaki as you would any other tableware, but do not put it in the dishwasher or expose it to extremes of temperature.

Special thanks to Choemon, Cerabo Kutani, and Musubi Kiln for their help with this article.