July 9, 2010

• July 9, 2010 Miyama

  Today we visit the pottery town of Miyama, also famous for Satsuma Ware.  We took a train from Kagoshima Central Station and got off at Higashi Ichiki, and took a taxi to Miyama, where there is a major ceramic manufacturer, Chin Jukan.   We will be taking another trip in April next year, so click here if you want to see more of Miyama.

  

  Our first stop is at a pottery center, which features the work of local artists.

  

  Let's go inside Miyama Toyukan.  

  

  If you want, you can even become a local artist!  You can make something on the potter's wheel, tell what color glaze you want, and then have it sent when it has been fired.

  

  Thanks to Mr. Potter for the lesson!

  

  I got one of these, but I think it got broken in the 3/11/2011 earthquake.

  

  I should have brought home a couple of these rectangular fish dishes.

  

  Very nice, but the prices are too steep even for avid bunny collectors.  $100, $120 and $150 - Why not get the whole set?

  

  Satsuma Ware Cup

  

  Here is a lovely chicken dish

  

  Have a closer look.  I have no idea of the price. 

  

  These looked like pottery from the Jomon Period.

  

  White Satsuma Ware Vases

  

  Let's go across the street to a famous ceramic producer,　Chin Jukan,  Rows of big pots line the entryway.

  

  The showroom is the building in the back.

  

  Wood stacked up to burn in the kiln

  

  The kiln is of the noborigama type, and this is the first and lowest chamber.

  

  

  The kiln continues on up the hill and has several chambers in which pottery is fired.

  

  We decide to explore a bit behind the showroom, and find...

     

  SHARD HEAVEN!!  Look at the joy on the face of this shard psycho.

  

  We must have brought home a bagful.  We will not mention that Miss Shard Psycho cut her finger during the harvest.

  

  Black Satsuma Ware in the showroom

  

  Here is some White Satsuma Ware.  White was for the ruling class, and the darker version was for the common people.  I brought one of these white cups home with me.  It was in the box and safe from the quake.

   

  Here are painted versions of what I bought, and having a design painted on doubles the price.

  

  These are a bit fancier.

  

  Here is another kiln where I picked up some bunny stamped dishes.  We just happened to be able to hop on a bus back to Ijiun Station and save ourselves the taxi fare.  Hub was there to meet us back at Kagoshima Station, and tomorrow we will visit another museum. 

  

  Alioli at Kagoshima Station - one or our favorites!

  • 04:25
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