Original products that convey the culture of Seto

Seto City in Aichi Prefecture is a pottery production center with a history of over 1,000 years. It has produced a wide variety of pottery in large quantities, so much so that ceramics are now called "Setomono." Thanks to the high-quality clay available, the area produces both earthenware and porcelain. The products produced are diverse, ranging from luxury items to everyday items, novelties for export overseas, architectural ceramic materials, insulators, and more, and everything has been produced to suit the times.

We want to share Seto's craftsmanship.
With this in mind, we consulted with Seto Hongyo Kiln, a pottery manufacturer that has been in business since the Edo period, and we were able to create an original mug featuring a straw hand design that has been painted in Seto since ancient times.

Handcrafted mugs

Each piece is made on a potter's wheel.

The handle and spout are made of brown pigmented iron.

When you turn it over, you can see the pure white that is characteristic of Seto.

The handle is thick and provides a stable grip.

What is a straw man?

Furthermore, the "Wheat Straw Hand" is a traditional design reminiscent of ears of wheat. The glaze is made from weathered minerals called Akaraku, which feels slightly bumpy to the touch. Because it is a natural material similar to earth, the color can vary from salmon pink to orange to a slightly brownish shade, and the variations are fascinating.

A straw tea bowl. This red Raku was a bright salmon pink color.

The blue lines are painted in cobalt blue and are said to be based on the tall, straight-stemmed horsetail plant. This simple pattern is well known for being praised by the thinker Yanagi Muneyoshi, who started the Mingei movement, and beloved by the essayist Shirasu Masako.

[About the product]

Seto Hongyo Kiln x Hitotsuchi Original Coffee Mug |
Material: Ceramic
Size: Diameter 10cm x Height 8cm Capacity: Approximately 250ml Texture: Glossy with a glassy glaze.
Microwave: Can be used Dishwasher: Not recommended (can be used)
Oven: Not allowed
Manufacturer: Seto Hongyo Kiln

*Size and capacity may vary slightly as each piece is made on a potter's wheel. Please use this as a rough guide.

[Precautions when first using]

Before use, boil the container in rice water for about 3 minutes. The container will absorb moisture well at first, so please avoid leaving drinks in it for long periods of time or immediately storing it in a cupboard, as this can leave moisture and cause mold. If mold appears, it is only on the surface, so simply rinse it off. It is not harmful. It will subside with repeated use.

This is a job that deals entirely with nature. We do not use chemicals such as lead or cadmium, which are harmful to the human body, and we use traditional methods to make glazes and clay. We hope you will understand the fate of earthenware.

[Notes regarding returns and exchanges]

For returns or exchanges of this product due to customer convenience, please note that the customer is responsible for the round-trip shipping costs. Even if the product is unused, returns or exchanges due to differences in size, design, or color are at the customer's discretion. Depending on your browser and monitor settings, the color and texture of the product may differ slightly from the actual product. Thank you for your understanding.

[Introduction to Seto Tsukuri-te]

Handicrafts rooted in daily life: Seto Hongyo Kiln, a pottery maker that has been in business since the Edo period

Seto Hongyo Kiln is located in the Hora area of ​​Seto City, about 1.5km from Owari Seto Station. In the mid-Edo period, they produced daily necessities such as plates and stone plates with a pattern known as Umanome, and in the Meiji period, they produced Hongyo Tiles, the first ceramic tiles made in Japan.

Here, they continue to do work that is similar to Seto's craftsmanship, a tradition that dates back to the Edo period or even before that.

"Hon'yo" refers to pottery. Since pottery has been made in Seto since ancient times, the newly introduced porcelain is called "shinsei."

Hora is a town in a valley between two mountains, and in the past there were countless climbing kilns that used to make use of the mountain slopes. Around that time, kiln walls were created, carrying the kiln tools used in the climbing kilns. Over time, the people of the town have been working to preserve them.

This kiln wall stretches for about 400 meters, and the main street where artisans once came and went is named "Kiln Wall Path," retaining the atmosphere of a pottery production area.

In 2022 The Seto Folk Crafts Museum, a museum of craftsmanship and lifestyles, was also established, and within the museum is a climbing kiln designated as a cultural property by Seto City , where you can still feel the remnants of its former 13-chamber structure.

The purpose of the museum is to let people know about the local craftsmanship culture that has been passed down from our ancestors. It also aims to convey how pottery connects people and the lifestyles of the people behind it.

Handmade craftsmanship

The painting is done by a professional painter depending on the design.

By dividing up the work, each person repeats the same process over and over again. This allows the workers to become accustomed to the process, which improves both quality and production speed, which is why they produce in this way.

Making clay from raw soil

Now, I think that handicrafts such as potter's wheel and painting are what many people imagine when they think of the world of handicrafts.

But have you ever thought about the ingredients that came from before that?
At Seto Hongyo Kiln, we start with clay. Seto is home to the world's best quality clay, known as "frog-eye clay," which is ideal for pottery.

However, the raw clay cannot be used as clay. When I asked Yusuke about soil preparation, he explained it to me in great detail.

" I simply pulverize the raw clay (called white clay in Seto, clay containing frog's eyes) collected from the mountains of Seto, sift it through a sieve , mix it with water, and let it sit. There are different grades of frog's eye clay, but I purposely choose one with a rough texture and a coarse grain size to avoid making it too clean."

"When you try to extract the clay from the raw clay, impurities are gradually removed in the process. As a result, the clay flavor ends up being closer to the clay in the porcelain. We simply mix the dried clay with water to return it to its original state in the mountain. This method is not common. It's a bit special."

Other things to add are wood-bush clay and It's chamotte.

This is Kibushi clay. Kibushi clay is made by adding water to dry clay to make it clay. This is added to make it easier to shape on the potter's wheel.

It has a strong ability to keep its shape and is often used by sculptors who make prototypes of dolls and other objects, but because it shrinks very easily, only a small amount is used.

Chamotte is crushed baked clay . It feels rougher to the touch than white clay. Kibushi clay shrinks a lot, so it is added to prevent it from shrinking too much. Once baked, it is less likely to shrink because it has already shrunk.

This is the mixture. The amount of water to add is determined by the hardness of the clay. This is the clay that has been left to sit for about a month.

Clay matured for three months. The whole piece has become more mellow.

The soil is made about once every two months. When it is used, it is passed through a kneader to mix it.

The glaze is also natural

Glazing workshop.

The glazes are all handmade. "Ash glaze" is made by burning red pine, which is commonly found in the Seto mountains, and turning it into ash. Using this as a base, copper is added to create a green glaze. Adding iron makes an iron glaze. Adding rice straw ash makes a white glaze.

Gentle colors born from nature.

Seto is truly blessed with soil perfect for producing pottery, and it is clear that this has shaped the way of life in this city.

The greatness of Seto Hongyo Kiln that we feel

Finally, what we find truly amazing is that when we talk to the eighth generation owner, Yusuke Mizuno, and ask him questions about each and every item he makes, he always gives us an immediate answer.

For example, coffee cups were not originally found in Japan, so how did they come to Seto Hongyo Kiln? There is a history and a proper reason behind them, and Yusuke himself is always clearly aware of this. I am always impressed by this. You will understand the answer once you use it. Please try it for yourself.