It is said that the pottery culture of Gifu Prefecture began about 1,400 years ago with the firing of earthenware known as Sue ware. In the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), Mino ware with enhanced artistry appeared along with the popularity of the tea ceremony.

However, Mino ware, which production was dominated by the pursuit of beauty and taste in works of art, was driven into a crisis of decline in the 1900s. The potters, who had to find a new way to survive in addition to preserving tradition, chose to create pottery that were easy to use in everyday life, and their techniques attracted much attention.

The possibilities are as endless as the number of potters and kilns that continue to produce pottery, including modernized versions of traditional techniques and deeply pursued versions of ancient techniques. The new challenges of Mino ware continue.

KOKO utsuwa introduces pottery studios “KAMAMOTO” which have inherited the tradition of Mino ware and yet produce warm, handmade pottery that is easy to incorporate into modern daily life.