Tokoname ware :Japanese Traditional Crafts-Global Shipping-TakumiJapan

About Tokoname ware

Tokoname ware has a characteristic smooth, silk-like texture and glossy, red-brown color. It is produced by firing unglazed, iron-rich clay at high temperatures.
●Designated as a Traditional Craft of Japan in 1979

Techniques and developments

Tokoname ware has a long history going back to the late Heian period (794-1185). At the time, there were several thousand kilns producing various everyday items in mass. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), production of large, sturdy jugs and urns flourished. From the late Edo period (1603-1868), tokkuri sake bottles and teapots came to be made. It was during this time that the iconic Tokoname Shudei red teapot was born.

Tokoname ware today

From the Meiji period (1868-1912) onwards, modernization led to the production of Tokoname ware clay pipes, building tiles, and other architectural clay items. Nowadays, a wide variety of items are available, from popular tea utensils and tableware, to flower and bonsai pots, as well as bathroom earthenware.