[VILLAGE Report vol.16] The sixth pottery to be recognized | Ehime Prefecture

West from Tokushima. This time, the story is about vessels that do not break easily.

Sixth among ceramics

Tobe ware is, designated a Traditional Craft Product by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1976 so designated.

Among ceramics, it was the sixth designation in Japan.

In this series so far, we have looked at Hasami ware, Koishiwara ware, Satsuma ware, Tsuboya ware, and Bizen ware. Japan has countless ceramic production areas. Among them, Tobe ware was recognized at an early stage.

In 1777, porcelain production succeeded

About 250 years have passed since the founding of its porcelain production. The starting point is considered to be the successful firing of porcelain in An’ei 6 (1777).

Then In Bunsei 1 (1818), Kawanobori pottery stone with low iron content was discovered.

Low iron content means it fires white. The discovery of this stone defined the whiteness of Tobe ware.

Four types are designated

• white porcelain
• blue-and-white porcelain
• celadon
• Tenmoku (iron glaze)

All of them make use of local pottery stone materials.

“Slightly thick, with an unadorned form”

Tobe Town describes the characteristics of Tobe ware this way.

Gosu blue designs that melt into the surface of white porcelain, overglaze colors that harmonize with the whiteness of the body, slightly thick, unadorned forms and the hardness of the material

In descriptions of crafts, to present “unadorned” and “thick” as defining features is not something you see very often.

But this is a vessel used every day, washed, and stacked away and as such, it is the right design. Thin, delicate vessels are beautiful, but they cannot be used every day.

About 100 kilns

In Tobe Town, about 100 kilns can be found. At the Tobe Ware Traditional Industry Hall, visitors can both learn and shop.

In 2005, it was also designated an Intangible Cultural Property of Ehime Prefecture.

Another paper craft from the Heian period

Ehime also has Ozu washi as well. This, too, is a national Traditional Craft Product, and has continued since the Heian period.

The Ozu Handmade Washi Cooperative is still active today, and visitors can also try hand papermaking.

Reaching the world without a national designation

Finally, let us touch on the most famous item in this prefecture.

Imabari towels. This is not a national Traditional Craft Product. But centered on the Imabari Towel Industrial Association, it has become a brand known around the world.

National designation is proof of value, not a condition for value.

Both designated Tobe ware and undesignated Imabari towels are chosen by people in the same way.

Next issue: Kochi, the last stop in Shikoku.

References: Tobe Town, “Introduction to Tobe Ware,” “History of Tobe Ware,” and “Tobe Ware Traditional Industry Hall”; Ehime Prefectural Government, “Ehime Cultural Properties: Tobe Ware” and “Ehime Ippin Taishikan”; Ehime official tourism site “Iyo Kanko Net”; Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries

—The Value Village Editorial Team