BIZEN POTTERY

This is 'KIBUSHI clay'is mixed wood tips.It mix to Bizen clay.

This is 'YAMATUCHI'that takes from mountain in Bizen. Mix Bizen clay and Shigaragi clay and Yamatuti in the ratio of 10to1to2.

Filter(Separate from stone and clay. )

Finished the clay of Bizen pottery

Making of Bizen pottery.

These pottery are dried for 1 month. If it was not good condition,it would be easy to broken.

Put Bizen pottery into Bizen kiln,it is very important for making beautiful Bizen pottery.

A shape of Bizen klin. We have 2 kilns.

It takes 2or3 days to get up temprature.(600F)If it rose rapidly,it would be easy to broken.

'HONDAKI' Powerfull flames leap from the chimney at final temperature -2300F.

Just put firewood.

After 10 seconds.

After 1 minutes.

Smoke

Put charcoal that start between 8 days and 12days on firing.

Use 1400lb charcoal.

Charcoal. stoked directly over the ceramics at the final temperature, causes many colorful effects.It calls 'SANGIRI'.

Thermometer.

Cool down for one week.

Just open the Kiln.Everybody worry about pottery that makes good or.....

Put out pottery from klin.

This is the first room of klin that called 'UDO'. Get the color of 'GOMA' in this room.'GOMA' refers to pine tree ash which is drawn through the Klin, stiking and melting to the surfaces to form a natural glaze.

This is the second room of klin that called 'ICHIBAN'.Get the color of 'SANGIRI'.SANGIRI is charcoal, stoked directly over the ceramics at the final temperature, causes many coloful effects.

This is the third room of klin that called 'NIBAN'.

This is the last room of klin that called 'KEDO'.

This is tunnel that through the fire.That called 'SUANA'

This is 'KOROGASHI'.It lay on the ground in the Klin.Almost pottery are broken or bad condition.If it is perfect,it is the most expencive in Bizen pottery.

This is a fail Bizen.

'BOTAMOCHI'Its shape is like a rice cake(Japanese says 'MOCHI').That's why,we call 'BOTAMOCHI'. It put on Bizen pottery to decorate before firing.After firing,take off 'BOTAMOCHI'.We'll get a nice design.

After firing,we have to polish Bizen pottery.For this time, we employ part-time job that an elderly women to live in neighborhood.However,they are professinal!!! Their sharp eyes always check the pottery .

GOMA