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Process

Inkuyama ware has continued to create its products by preserving the traditional techniques that have been passed down since the Edo period, and completing most of the processes by hand, from refining the raw materials to mixing them.

Over time, we have come to rely more on electric machinery, but even now, the important parts are still painstakingly made by hand.

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Soil preparation (straining)

Straining is the process of dissolving dried raw soil in water and passing it through a sieve to remove large stones, sand, grass roots, etc. This is a cut from soil that was left to sit underground for over a year after elutriation. The pattern was created when the iron contained in the clay moved with the water. This can be used alone or mixed with Shigaraki (purchased) soil.

Glaze refining (ash straining)

Inkuyama ware has five types of glazes that have been handed down since the Edo period: from the left, ash glaze, straw ash glaze, green glaze, black glaze, and rust glaze. Ash straining is done to mix these glazes. Ash straining is the process of dissolving the straw and wood ash that are the raw materials for the glaze in water, removing the scum, and passing it through a fine mesh to make it usable as a raw material.

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Glaze Mixture

The glaze is mixed to fit the size.

The ingredients were mixed in the same concentration, and the mixture was then poured into a ladle.

Mix by multiplying the number of cups.

Molding

The shaping is done using techniques such as potter's wheel and tatara .

What makes it unique is that it is shaped on a hand-operated potter's wheel, and the wheel has been in use for over 100 years.

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Drying, bisque firing, glazing, kiln loading

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Honyaki

The final firing takes place in a seven-chamber climbing kiln that has been handed down since the Edo period and a new three-chamber climbing kiln.

The firing time for the final firing is approximately 50 hours, the maximum temperature is 1230 degrees, and the number of pieces fired is around 3000 (in the case of a 7-chamber climbing kiln).

The seven climbing kilns have been in the same location since the kiln first opened, and the current kiln was restored by the 9th generation owner about 50 years ago.

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The pottery studio also sells works, so please feel free to come and visit us.

Inkuyama Pottery Factory ■ Business hours: 9:00-17:00 Open all year round (no reservations required)
■649 Kunoji, Yazu-cho, Yazu-gun, Tottori Prefecture, 680-0451
■TEL: 0858-72-0278
■Email: inkyuuzan@if-n.ne.jp

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