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STYLE - Bizen
One of Japan's Six Old Kilns
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GUIDE TOP
STYLES TOP
BIZEN
CELADON
ECHIZEN
HAGI
IGA
KARATSU
KOHIKI
KYO-YAKI
MINGEI
MINO
MISHIMA
MUMYOI
OHI-YAKI
OTHER STYLES
PORCELAIN
RAKU-YAKI
SETO
SHIGARAKI
TAMBA
TENMOKU
TOKONAME
YAKISHIME




 

One distinctive
feature of Bizen is
hidasuki, a natural
scarlet-red fire chord
marking. Click photo for larger image.

Bizen Piece by Abe Anjin
Above Piece by
Abe Anjin



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Stoneware made in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, since the 12th century. Bizen is an unglazed stoneware usually fired with red pine wood. The clay used is also from the Bizen area of Japan (central city is Imbe).

Most lovers of Bizen pottery know that the glory days of this medieval ware spanned the late Muromachi (1333 - 1573), all of Momoyama (1573-1603), and early Edo periods (1603 - 1867). It wasn't until the 1930s that Kaneshige Toyo revived the lost ancient ways and cast the "Momoyama spell" over the twentieth century and up to where we are today. Says Robert Yellin: "I would say that at least 90% of all current Bizen potters make pots in the same shapes that were first made during Bizen's golden years, those being in the Momoyama period."

In the current Bizen scene, there are three potters who stand out in their excellence in instilling the Momoyama spirit and technique in their creations. All three have researched kilns, clay, and processes for many years and all are in their sixties. Their Bizen is quite classical and often very exhilarating; they are
Harada Shuroku, Mori Togaku, and Abe Anjin. See below links to learn about these artists, and other Bizen potters and topics.

PHOTOS: Top to Bottom, Fujiwara Yu, Yamamoto Toshu, Kaneshige Toyo, Fujiwara Kei, Harada Shuroku.

 


Bizen Piece by Fujiwara Yu
Bizen Piece by Yamamoto Toshu
Bizen Piece by Kaneshige Toyo
Bizen Piece by Fujiwara Kei
Bizen Piece by Harada Shuroku

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LEARN MORE ABOUT BIZEN
SOME PLACES TO START

Bizen Pieces by Kakurezaki Ryuichi
Bizen Ware
Unglazed stoneware usually
fired with red pine wood

Abe Anjin
Abe Anjin Exhibition
Abe Anjin Interview, Bizen History
Bizen Markings - Kamajirushi
Bizen Town - A Walk Around Bizen Town
Harada Shuroku Sake Vessels (Bizen)
Isezaki Jun
Kakurezaki Ryuichi (Bizen Anagama)
Kakurezaki Ryuichi (Bizen Unchained)
Kakurezaki Ryuichi Exhibit 2001 (Bizen)
Kakurezaki Ryuichi Exhibit 2002 (Bizen)
Kakurezaki Ryuichi Exhibit 2005 (Chawan)
Kaneshige Michiaki Sake Vessels
Mori Togaku - His Art and Kilns
Museums in Okayama
Six Old Kilns of Japan Exhibition
Suehiro Manabu

Six Old Kilns - Outside Review by Shiho Kanzaki


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