The Ever-changing Arita-ware

Saga Prefecture’s Arita is the birthplace of Japan’s porcelain tradition. It started in 1616 with Yi Sam-pyeong, a potter from Korea who’s still considered The God of Pottery. Japan’s unique aesthetic sense lended itself well to a rich ceramic culture, producing famous potteryware such as Imari-ware (or Arita-ware), which is renowned for its beauty and distinction around the world.

Riso Porcelain, Ltd. focuses on merging tradition with innovation. The company’s founder, Shinji Terauchi, acquired Yi Sam-pyoeng’s former home for Riso Porcelain. Terauchi is pioneering the future of Arita-ware with innovative designs. One example is a plate he collaborated with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic logo designer, Asao Tokoro. The piece brings Asao’s rich geometric designs together with Terauchi’s sublime craftsmanship. Whether one knows pottery or not, it’s hard not to appreciate this piece of art. With textured pieces such as this, colours have to be applied with care, then it has to be fired with equal care. The tension between the two artists’ work makes this a dignified piece that’s sophisticated enough for Japanese cuisine, and delicate enough for French.

Reviewing the history of Japanese pottery, Terauchi expresses an interesting perspective, ‘Japan is a bowl culture. Since the Edo Period, bowls have had a place on the table as decorations holding potted plants. These were so small that they could fit in the palm of one’s hand. Therefore, they were used to garnish the table in much the same way a candle does’, says Terauchi. He has made several of these palm-sized pots using Arita-ware techniques. Terauchi feels strongly that innovation demands understanding and applying past traditions.