Hi, this is Eri.
In my last blog post, I shared a bit about the origin of Mino ware and how it all begins with the clay.
This time, I’d like to continue that story by introducing how that soft clay is shaped into something we can actually use—a finished bowl, plate, or cup.
Pottery starts with kneading the clay.
Water is added, the air is removed, and the clay is smoothed out by hand until it has a soft, pliable texture. At this stage, the clay is still very tender and unpredictable—almost like a living thing.
Then, using a potter’s wheel or a mold, the clay is shaped into form.
This part of the process is called “forming.” If you watch closely, you’ll see how the clay seems to gently follow the potter’s hands, gradually transforming into a vessel.
But even after the shape is made, you can’t just pop it into the kiln.
It needs to dry slowly in a well-ventilated space. Once the moisture has evaporated, it goes through a first firing called “bisque firing.”
Only after that does it start to resemble something closer to tableware.
Next, the piece is coated in a liquid glaze.
This glaze—sometimes milky, sometimes glossy—is applied carefully over the surface. At this point, the piece still looks dull and its final look is hard to imagine.
Then comes the “main firing,” or hon-yaki.
At over 1,200°C, the clay hardens, and the glaze reveals its color and texture.
For pottery like Mino ware, this is when it becomes truly strong and beautiful—ready to be used, held, and cherished.
From a simple piece of clay, shaped and refined again and again by the hands of a craftsman, the vessel finally reaches the table.
And from there, it finds its way into someone’s life.
When I think of that journey, I realize a bowl is more than just an object.
Oh! One more thing—if you ever visit Toki City in Gifu, there’s a place called Donburi Kaikan where you can try making your own pottery on a wheel. When friends come from Tokyo or overseas, they always ask to go, and I’ve taken part a few times too.
It’s such a fun experience—watching that spinning clay take shape under your fingers is oddly addictive. I totally recommend it!
Prefer to read in Japanese?
