Shodai Ware

  • Ceramic
  • Kumamoto

Shodai Ware Shodai Yaki

Shodai Ware is known for its rustic, powerful character created from iron-rich Shodai clay and for bold flowing glazes made from materials such as straw and wood ash. Variations in glaze composition and firing produce distinctive colors known as Blue, Yellow, and White Shodai. It was designated a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government in 2003.

Description

What is Shodai Ware ?

Shodai Ware is a traditional form of pottery produced mainly around Mount Shodai in northern Kumamoto Prefecture. Its principal production areas include Arao, Kumamoto, Uki, Nankan, and Nagasu. On March 17, 2003, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government.

Shodai Ware is traditionally made using iron-rich Shodai clay and related ceramic clays, giving the body a rustic and robust appearance. Products include tea utensils, flower vessels, tableware, and decorative objects.

One of its most distinctive characteristics is the dynamic application of glaze. A representative technique known as uchikake-nagashi involves throwing or pouring glaze vigorously across the surface so that the natural flow, overlap, and dripping of the glaze become part of the decoration.

Differences in glaze composition, firing temperature, and flame conditions create a range of colors traditionally known as Ao-Shodai, Ki-Shodai, and Shiro-Shodai, referring to blue, yellow, and white-toned variations.

The nationally designated traditional techniques include the use of wood-ash glaze, rice-straw-ash glaze, bamboo-grass-ash glaze, miscanthus-ash glaze, and iron glaze. Traditional glazing methods include dipping, ladle pouring, uchikake-nagashi, spraying, brush application, slip trailing, janome glazing, and double glazing.

The clay surface may also be decorated using techniques such as carving, inlay, brush marking, faceting, line carving, combing, stamping, applied decoration, petal-shaped rims, openwork, tobikanna chattering, and itchin slip decoration.

Shodai Ware has also traditionally been known as Gotoku-yaki, or "Five Virtues Ware," based on a local belief that the vessels possessed five beneficial qualities. Today, this is best understood as part of the historical folklore surrounding the craft rather than as a claim of proven physical effects.

History

The origins of Shodai Ware are traditionally traced to 1632, during the early Edo period.

In that year, Hosokawa Tadatoshi was transferred from Kokura in Buzen Province to Higo Province. Two potters who accompanied him, Gen-shichi, founder of the Hinnokoji family line, and Hachizaemon, founder of the Katsuragi family line, were appointed as official potters and are said to have begun producing ceramics near the foot of Mount Shodai.

Under the patronage of the Hosokawa family, Shodai potters produced tea utensils as well as everyday dishes, bowls, braziers, and other household wares. Historic kiln sites associated with this tradition, including the Kameyaki and Segami kilns, remain in present-day Nankan.

In 1836, the domain official Segami Rinemon established the Segami Kiln as part of a program to promote local industry. A number of potters worked there, and production expanded significantly during the late Edo period.

After the Meiji Restoration, the loss of domain patronage and changes in production and distribution led to a decline in the industry. Nevertheless, the techniques continued to be preserved by local potters.

During the Showa period, craftspeople including Chikashige Jitaro and Jojima Heijiro worked to revive Shodai Ware, preserving traditional techniques while developing new forms of expression.

Production continued around Mount Shodai, and on March 17, 2003, Shodai Ware was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government.

Today, craftspeople continue to use Shodai clay, ash-based glazes, and traditional techniques such as uchikake-nagashi to create pottery that combines the distinctive character of the clay with dynamic glaze effects.

Production Process

  1. Step 1: Collecting and Drying the Raw Clay
    Shodai Ware is traditionally made using locally sourced ceramic clay, including iron-rich Shodai clay. After extraction, the raw clay is thoroughly dried before being prepared for further processing.

    Drying makes the clay easier to crush and helps prepare it for the subsequent levigation process, during which unwanted particles are removed.
  2. Step 2: Levigation and Preparing the Clay Body
    The dried raw clay is crushed and mixed with water. A traditional process known as suihi, or levigation, is then used to remove sand, small stones, and other impurities.

    Under the nationally designated traditional techniques for Shodai Ware, the clay body is prepared using this levigation process. The clay particles are separated in water, the suitable fine material is collected, and the moisture content is adjusted to produce a workable clay body.
  3. Step 3: Aging and Wedging the Clay
    The prepared clay is allowed to rest so that its moisture and plasticity become more uniform. This aging process makes the clay easier to handle and prepares it for forming.

    The clay is then wedged thoroughly to create an even consistency and remove as much trapped air as possible.
  4. Step 4: Forming
    The clay is shaped using different methods according to the form and intended use of the piece.

    The nationally designated traditional techniques specify five principal forming methods: wheel throwing, press-mold forming, hand forming, slab building, and coil building.

    In wheel throwing, the clay is shaped on a rotating potter’s wheel. In press-mold forming, clay is pressed into or over a mold. Hand forming, slab building, and coil building are also selected according to the desired shape and expression.
  5. Step 5: Refining and Decorating the Clay Surface
    After forming, the piece is allowed to dry partially before trimming and refining the shape and thickness.

    Shodai Ware is also characterized by a wide range of decorative techniques applied directly to the unfired clay surface. Nationally designated techniques include carving, inlay, brush marking, faceting, incised lines, combing, stamping, applied decoration, petal-shaped rims, openwork, tobikanna chattering, itchin slip trailing, and nina-jiri decoration.

    These methods create lines, textures, patterns, and relief effects on the surface of the clay.
  6. Step 6: Drying
    After forming and decorating, the piece is thoroughly dried while carefully controlling the process to reduce the risk of warping or cracking.

    Because drying rates vary according to the thickness and shape of the piece, moisture is gradually removed until the clay is ready for bisque firing.
  7. Step 7: Bisque Firing
    The fully dried pieces are placed in a kiln and bisque-fired at approximately 800–900°C.

    Bisque firing stabilizes the form while leaving the clay body sufficiently porous to absorb glaze during the next stage.
  8. Step 8: Preparing the Glazes
    Shodai Ware uses a variety of traditional glazes, many of which are based on plant ash.

    The nationally designated traditional techniques specify five principal glazes: wood-ash glaze, rice-straw-ash glaze, bamboo-grass-ash glaze, miscanthus-ash glaze, and iron glaze.

    Ash, iron-bearing materials, and other ingredients are blended with water to achieve the appropriate consistency. Differences in glaze composition and firing conditions produce characteristic color variations such as Ao-Shodai, Ki-Shodai, and Shiro-Shodai.
  9. Step 9: Applying the Glaze
    Glaze is applied to the bisque-fired piece using a variety of traditional methods.

    The nationally designated techniques include dipping, ladle pouring, uchikake-nagashi, spraying, brush application, itchin glaze trailing, janome glazing, and double glazing.

    Among these, uchikake-nagashi is especially characteristic of Shodai Ware. Different glazes are cast or poured vigorously across the surface so that their natural flow and overlap become part of the decoration. The movement of the artisan’s hand and the behavior of the glaze create unique effects on every piece.
  10. Step 10: Loading the Kiln and Final Firing
    The glazed pieces are carefully arranged in the kiln so that they do not touch one another or become joined by flowing glaze during firing.

    They are then fired at a high temperature of approximately 1,300°C. Inside the kiln, the glaze melts and reacts with the clay, ash, iron, heat, and flame, producing the distinctive colors and glaze effects associated with Shodai Ware.
  11. Step 11: Unloading and Finishing
    After the final firing, the kiln is allowed to cool sufficiently before the pieces are removed.

    Each piece is inspected for glaze color and flow, firing quality, cracks, or distortion. The foot may be polished or refined as necessary before the final inspection is completed, marking the completion of the Shodai Ware piece.

Facility Information

Kumamoto Perfectural Traditional Craft Center

Kumamoto Perfectural Traditional Craft Center Photo:Kumamoto Prefecture

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