The following is a list of Japanese ceramic terminology that appear frequently in this dictionary, translated into English. We hope you find it useful.
Aka-e → Overglaze red enamels
Anagama → Underground cellar kiln
Annam → Vietnam ware
Bakumatsu period → 1853-1868
Soji → Bisque
Chokoku → Sculpture
Choza award → The award honors Ina Chozaburo, founder of LIXIL corpolation, and is a gateway to success for ceramic artists.
Chusho → Abstract ceramics
Dendo Rokuro → Wheel Throwing
Edo period → 1603-1868
Funseisaki → Buncheong ware
Gama / kama → kiln
Ginsai → Silver painting
Gosu → Zaffre
Gumi → Group
Hakeme → Brush marks
Hatsugama → First fire work at the kiln in the year
Heisei period → 1989-2019
Henko → Circular flat vase
Hidasuki → Flame marks
Himodukuri → Coiling
Icchin → Slip-trailed decoration
Ido chawan → Well type tea bowl / iIdo tea bowl
Issuikai → A Western-style art organization founded in 1936. The Ceramics Department was newly established in 1958 with Arakawa Toyozo, Sakaida Kakiemon, and others.
Iro-e → Overglaze enamels
Japan Kogei Association → Organization of traditional crafts artists and technicians, mainly Living National Treasures.
Jagama → Snake Kiln
Jiki → Porcerain
kai → Society / Association
Kaiseki → Traditional Japanese Cuisine
Kakehana → Wall hanging vase
Kakiotoshi → Sgraffito
Kase → Weathered
Kataoshi → Embossing
Kensan → Jian bowl
Kenyo → Jian ware
Keshogake → Engobe
Kingama → A kiln used to burn overglaze paintings
kinrande → Gold brocade
Kisshu → Jizhou ware
Kobiki / Kohiki → White slip ware / Powder glaze
Kochi-yaki → Cochin ware
Kogei → Craft art
Korai-seiji → Goryeo ware
Meiji period → 1868-1912
Mushikui → Vermiculated work
Nagashikake → Pouring the glaze with a ladle
Nanban → Southeast Asian style ※From the 16th century, it was mainly the Portuguese items that came through Southeast Asia.
Neriage / Nerikomi → Marbled ware
Nitten → Japan’s largest comprehensive art exhibition, following in the footsteps of the National Exhibition of Contemporary Art.
Noborigama → climbing kiln
Nogime-tenmoku → Hare’s fur
Richo → Korean ware in Joseon Dynasty
Rokuro → Wheel
Ronuki → Wax resist
Sabi-yu → Iron-oxide glaze
Sanzai → Three-color glaze
Saodoka → Tea practitioner
Seihakuji → Blue celadon
Sekki → Storen ware
Shonzui → Chinoiserie in blue
Somenishiki → Blue and white with overglaze enamels
Sometsuke → Blue and White / Blue flower
Showa period → 1926-1989
Taisho period → 1912-1926
Tajukake → Multi-layered glaze
Tamadukuri → Pinching
Tanka → Carbonization
Tatara-dukuri → Slab building
Tebineri → Hand molding / Hand building
Tenmoku → A Tianmu tea bowl is a ceramic tea bowl fired with an iron glaze called Tianmu glaze, which was used in temples in the Tianmu Mountain area of China.
Tobi-kan’na → Chatter decoration
Toen → Pottery studio / Gallery
Toki → Pottery
Yaki → Ware
Yakimono → Ceramics
Yakishime → High-fired unglazed pottery
Yohen → pottery that changes color when fired
Zogan → Inlay