Izushi ware is white porcelain. The ware is synonymous with a porcelain surface which is said to be a “white that is too white,” and the porcelain engraving that takes advantage of this. Izushi ware has been designated a traditional craft of Japan.
Izushi kiln had been a kiln for pottery wares, but in 1789, Chinzaemon Nihachiya struck on the idea of firing porcelain. He borrowed money from Izushi Domain and spent several weeks in Arita learning porcelain production before returning to Izushi with potters.
from Arita. He then attempted to start porcelain production, but met with little success due to lack of finances.
In 1799, the Izushi Domain decided to take over direct management of the kiln. Around this time, high quality pottery stone was discovered in Kakitani and Taniyama. With this, the domain relocated the kiln to Taniyama and seized the opportunity to start porcelain production at the domain kiln. The wares produced at the kiln at this time were high-quality blue and white wares in the vein of Imari ware and white porcelain pieces. Ceramics production at Izushi finally took off during the Tempo era of the Edo period (1830–44). However, the kiln was not managed well and ended up being consigned by the domain to private management.
Finally, with the appearance of the company Eishinsha, the roots were laid for the “white that is too white” porcelain that we know today. The company was established in the early years of the Meiji period in 1876. It brought together potters who had lost work with the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures that took place during bakumatsu times and went on to improve Izushi ware. As a result, a cool, clear and sophisticated white porcelain came into being. These porcelain wares were displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris and were highly acclaimed, making the name “Izushi ware” famous throughout the country. In 1904, Izushi ware went on to be awarded gold medal in the St. Louis World’s Fair.
Unfortunately, Eishinsha was dissolved in 1885, but the heritage that the company left behind was significant, and potters continued to develop the white porcelain of Izushi ware.
