Aizu-Hongo Porcelain ~To-Bo (craft atelier) Irori~ 1

Varieties of porcelain wares are made all around Japan. “Arita” porcelain, which we deal with, is just one of those many. This time, I would like to introduce you a story of “Aizu-Hongo” porcelain made in a region called, Aizu.

 Aizu is in the north-east of Japan, or called, Tohoku region. It is famous for heavy snow in winter. There is an area called “Hongo” in Aizu, an area famous for its original porcelain. There are about 20 pottery ateliers at present, and they produce original-designed/taste porcelain that is different from one another. Mr. Baba’s pottery called “Irori” is one of those twenty.

 Mr. Baba opened his own pottery studio four years ago. During his stay in Kyoto, he had been strongly inspired that he wanted to devote himself to producing something creative as his lifework. He, then, decided to take up the making of Hongo porcelain at his birthplace, Aizu.

 However, he noticed that it was impossible to start with scratch. So he had become an apprentice for a neighboring potter for about ten years before he opened his own pottery. Now, he produces about 40 kinds of porcelain. Most of them are tableware, such as cup, bowl, beer mug and so on.

I will tell you how to make those in the next article.

Written by Yabuuchi