Takatori Biography

In the late 17th century, the great warrior-general Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched several military campaigns against neighbouring Korea. During this time, entire families of skilled Korean potters were forcefully brought back to Japan. Their kidnapping and relocation to Kyushu coincided with a demand for 'Wabi-Cha,' a style of tea ceremony wares that rejected the luxury preferred by the elites in favour of simpler wares and natural materials. These Korean potters and their descendants were soon greatly valued and placed under the protection of the Kuroda clan. Their refined and elegant ceramics are known and respected all over Japan today.

These ceramics are the work of the current head of the family and his son, who are the 13th and 14th generations. They are made at the wheel using local clay and natural glazes, and fired in a 'Norobigama' wood fired kiln. Firing takes place twice a year and lasts several days during which the family does not sleep. The kiln requires constant supervision to achieve and maintain the correct temperature and conditions. They must imagine the path of the flame as it rushes through the kiln and use this intuition to paint the pieces with fire. It then takes several days for the kiln to cool before the ceramics can be removed and the results observed—a moment of great anticipation!

Takatori-Yaki ceramics have a quiet, subtle elegance very much in tune with the place and spirit in which they are created. Spend a little time around them and their refined simplicity becomes apparent.

'Now I am the 13th generation of and heir to the Takatori-Yaki art which has a particular and traditional technique....I will pass on the traditional method to the next generation and try to make superior pottery to the best of my ability.'

Courtesy Tristan Hoare Gallery, London. Text: Hassen Takatori.