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Jump to Photo Tour Keshiki Landscapes When looking at a pot there are many ways to describe it - by shape, color, function, or style. The Japanese have taken it one step further and view the landscape (keshiki) on a piece. Some will say that the keshiki is good or that a piece has a boring keshiki. Keshiki involves how the glaze flows, stops and pools, or the color of the clay, the creating process, or how certain kiln occurrences play out on the surface. Describing keshiki has been a joy for chajin (tea people) for centuries. It even affects the value of pieces. Certain keshiki are found on certain styles more than others, for example hi-iro (fire color) on Shigaraki or Shino wares but hardly ever seen on Karatsu. Being able to know the different keshiki will only deepen your appreciation of Japanese pottery. This page introduces you to some of the more common keshiki.

Amamori A 'leaky roof' grouping of stains or spots - mostly found on kohiki wares. Bebera An accidental break in a piece, usually on the lip where a potters trimming tool has hit or skipped over an impurity. Bidoro 'Vitrified glass' taken from the Portuguese word for glass. Found mainly on Iga wares. Also sometimes called a tombo no me (or dragonfly's eye). Goma 'Sesame' colored natural glaze from pine ash that fuses and melts on a pot. Some goma are called nagare-goma (flowing goma) or tobi-goma (spotted flying goma). Hakeme White slip that has been applied with a stiff brush. Hidasuki 'Fire cord' markings from straw that was wrapped around a pot and burned off in the kiln. Found mainly on Bizen wares. Hima A place where glaze has not been applied and the quality of the clay can be seen. Hi'tsuki A place on a pot where a piece from another pot has broken off and fused on the surface. Ishihaze A 'stone explosion.' Often found on Bizen and other yakishime (high-fired unglazed stonewares) - mostly accidental but some potters add stones for an intentional ishihaze. Kairagi Crawling of the glaze - mainly seen on Karatsu and Hagi wares around the kodai (foot). Kamakizu A crack that happens in a kama (kiln). Usually these pieces are not thrown away. Kawakujira Found mainly on Karatsu wares - an iron band is drawn around the lip - said to resemble whale's skin. Koge 'Scorch' markings found on Ki-Seto and Iga wares. Me or Me-ato Spur marks left on a pot after stacking in a kiln. Tanpan Copper green marks found on Ki-Seto wares. Tsuchiaji The 'flavor' of the clay. Yamamichi A 'mountain path' lip - sometimes also called Gokaku or Gohou for the lip looks like five mountains from China. Yohen 'Kiln changes.' Most often a build up of ash on a yakishime piece and deep blues, browns, and reds - often seen on Bizen. Yubi-ato Finger impressions left after a potter has glazed a piece - often found on Shino wares.