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The history of Mizunami pottery
began in the distant Muromachi period, and was handed down through
the Azuchi and Momoyama periods to the present day. Mizunami
pottery contributed to some extent to the foundation of Japanﾕs
Minoyaki pottery, and came to maturity through a long tradition
and history. Shino, Oribe, Setoguro, and Kizeto, which all are
styles of old Mino pottery, have also brought about new kinds
pottery from this same environment.
The history of the
ceramic industry of Mizunami City is still unclear since research
on ancient pottery sites from the Heian and Kamakura periods
is yet unfinished. It is, however, said that Tochi-ku, the birthplace
of the city's ceramic industry of which only ruins and records
in literature remain, has its origin in the time when Kato Saemon
Kagenobu from Musashinokuni Hisayoshiki-gun (presently Yokoyama
City) moved to Tomachi Okawa, and began Okawa Gama (Okawa
Pottery) in 1474 . |
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Okawa Gama, founded by Kagenobu,
reached its peak during the late Warring States period with the
forth-generation potter, Kagetada, and his production of daily
tableware such as bowls, pots, plates, and teacups of Shino,
Oribe, Tenmoku, Oseto styles, for which he received a license
as yosayaki from Oda Nobunaga in 1574. In 1563, 90 years
after the foundation of Okawa Gama, Kato Manzaemon Motonori,
from Seto in the Owari region, moved to Mizugami and founded
Mizukami Mukai Gama (Mizukami Mukai Pottery). Soon after,
in 1578, Katoﾕs son, Niuemon Kagasada moved from Kujiri in the
Doki region and started pottery in Mashizume Kamagado.
Just over 20 years later, in 1602, Kato Taroemon Kagesato from
Ohiramura in the Kukuri region established Tajiri Gama (Tajiri
Pottery) in Mizugami. From the Muromachi through Edo periods,
Okawa Gama, Mizugami Mukai Gama, Mashizume Gama, and Tajiri
Gama, the birthplaces of Minoyaki, were established one after
the other. |
Risenyaki (Inatsu)
In Ori-mura (presently Inatsu-cho), it is
said that pottery manufacturing was started by Iwashima Kakubei
during the Genroku era. According to one literary document, a
style of pottery was established by Wada Kameuemon Mitsunobu,
Yukiemon, and Shusuke in 1841. The pottery, however, was managed
independently by Kameuemon Mitsunobu since Yukiemon and Shusuke
quit after a few years. It was during the second-generation potter
Kodoﾕs time that innovations in the ceramic and soil industries
were made. The pottery then gained its reputation as ”Risenyaki”after
pottery manufacturing developed the painting technique using
copperplate. |
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Haginoshimayaki (Kamado)
In Kamado, Adachi Ryohei
and Zaisuke made pottery in Haginoshima-mura (presently Kamado-cho)
at the beginning of the Tempo era. Although the operation period
of this pottery is unknown, the pottery was later taken over
by Adachi Iwatsugu around 1845, who was the land steward of Haginoshima-mura.
He made the pottery at Nishiyama in Haginoshima-mura, and continued
to make pottery known as ﾒHaginoyakiﾓ until the beginning of
the Meiji period. These works include beautiful white porcelain
dishes such as Shinto and Buddhist wares, incense burners, teacups,
tea bowls, and plates, and are considered very fine works of
pottery of the time. |
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Apart from pottery styles mentioned
above, the foundations of other kinds of pottery in the Mizunami
industrial region all came about since the Meiji period onward.
Since the region has long been favored by quality clay and other
resources, and a number of kiln ruins have been discovered on
the outskirts of Mizunami City, it is clear that the region from
Tono through Kisodani a was treasury of pottery production. Approximately
50 old kilns believed to be from the Kamakura period (ca. 1300)
can be found in the neighborhood of Nakatsugawa City in Shinshu,
located near the famous "Umakago no Yado", known as
the birthplace of Shimazaki Toson. Ochiai, Chayazaka, Shiroyama,
and Sentan Bayashi Nasukawa can be found in this area. |
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