News

Profiles of Contemporary Suzu-yaki Masters

Meet the visionary potters who have dedicated their lives to reviving and evolving Suzu-yaki, the ancient black stoneware of Japan's Noto Peninsula. From the pioneering Onodera Gen to the resilient...

A serene Japanese dining table setting featuring dark Suzu-yaki pottery

Ichiju-sansai

Setting a Mindful Table: Incorporating Japanese Pottery into Everyday Dining

In the modern world, dining has often been reduced to a mere necessity—a rushed moment between tasks, accompanied by the glow of a screen. Yet, in Japanese culture, the act of eating is ele...

Traditional Japanese incense items arranged on a dark slate surface with wooden incense box, incense sticks, and dried botanicals

ceramics

The Timeless Ritual: Kyoto Incense and Suzu-yaki Ceramics

The Timeless Ritual: Kyoto Incense and Suzu-yaki Ceramics In our fast-paced modern world, finding moments of stillness can be challenging. The Japanese tradition of incense offers a simple yet ...

A serene scene of a traditional Japanese Kodo incense ceremony with a Suzu-yaki koro

aloeswood

Kōdō: The Japanese Art of Listening to Incense

In the fast-paced modern world, finding moments of stillness can feel like a luxury. Yet, for over a millennium, the Japanese have cultivated a profound practice dedicated entirely to the apprecia...

Anagama Kiln

Sue Ware: The Korean Ancestor of Suzu-yaki

When we hold a piece of Suzu-yaki pottery, we are not merely touching a vessel crafted in modern Japan. We are holding a physical connection to a lineage that stretches back over a millennium, cro...

A beautifully wrapped Japanese luxury gift box containing a handmade black unglazed stoneware tea bowl

handmade ceramics

The Gift of Permanence: Why Suzu-yaki Makes the Perfect Luxury Gift

In a world increasingly dominated by mass-produced goods and fleeting trends, the art of gift-giving has taken on a new significance. When we choose a gift for a momentous occasion—a wedding,...

A traditional Japanese pottery kiln on the Noto Peninsula at dusk, partially damaged but glowing with warm light

anagama kiln

Suzu-yaki After the 2024 Noto Earthquake: Resilience and Rebuilding

On January 1, 2024, the earth beneath the Noto Peninsula shook with devastating force. The magnitude 7.6 earthquake brought unimaginable destruction to Ishikawa Prefecture, displacing families, l...

Suzu-yaki sake set with tokkuri and ochoko on a wooden tray

ceramic sake cups

Sake and Suzu-yaki: An Ancient Pairing Reborn

Explore the centuries-old tradition of pairing Japanese sake with Suzu-yaki pottery. Discover how the dark, unglazed stoneware of the Noto Peninsula enhances flavor, embodies wabi-sabi, and transfo...

Panoramic view of the Noto Peninsula coastline

handmade pottery

The Noto Peninsula: Japan's Hidden Craft Heartland

Jutting out into the dramatic waters of the Sea of Japan, the Noto Peninsula (能登半島) in Ishikawa Prefecture is a place where time seems to move at a different pace. Far from the neon-lit streets o...

anagama kiln

The Anagama Kiln: Japan's Most Ancient Firing Method

Discover the ancient anagama kiln — the cave kiln that has shaped Japanese pottery for over 1,500 years. Learn how this wood-fired tunnel kiln creates the signature black beauty of Suzu-yaki throug...