KAGOSHIMA
LOCAL POTTERY
Naomi's father is a potter
" 'He made this one,' Naomi said, handing a bowl of rice crackers to Caitlin. Caitlin took the full bowl, held it level with her eyes and turned it slowly in the light from the windows--the dark glaze seemed to drizzle down the bowl and swirled with deep rusty hues." (PAGE 51)
| The local Kagoshima pottery, Satsumaware, comes traditionally in two forms, white and black. Both styles were developed by Korean potters who were forcibly brought to Japan in the 16th century to produce pottery for the Satsuma lords. One group of these potters founded the village of Naeshirogawa, also known as Miyama, northwest of Kagoshima City, and descendants of the original Korean settlers still produce pottery there. White Satsumaware or shiromon is ivory in color, sometimes intricately carved, and painted with elaborate detailed designs. Simple black Satsumaware or kuromon was developed for daily use by commoners. Pottery kilns like the one where Naomi’s father, Carl, apprenticed dot the hilly Kagoshima region. For an insightful memoir of an American’s apprenticeship in a Miyama kiln, see Leila Philip's book, The Road through Miyama. |
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Sakurajima • Iso Gardens (Sengan'en) • Kirishima and Ebino-Kogen • Local pottery
