Koishiwara Village Society
of Commerce and Industry

Company Outline/ Company Profile/ Main Products Lineup & Development/ Others/

Company Outline

Koishiwara, a picturesque mountain village with crystal waters and abundant greenery, is known for its traditional ceramic crafts. Koishiwara-ware, with over a 300-year history, is a highly regarded folk craft by many ceramic lovers. The most famous landmark in the village is "Gyoja-sugi," an array of 500-year-old Japanese cedars. The changing landscapes throughout the year and special products of this mountain village will surely refresh tourists who are tired of stressful urban life.

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Company Profile

Name	Koishiwara Village Society of Commerce and Industry
President	Norishige Ono, Chairman
Head office address	941-1, Oaza Koishiwara, Koishiwara-mura, Asakura-gun, Fukuoka-ken
TEL	0946-74-2121	FAX	0946-74-2284
E-mail	mintou@joho-fukuoka.or.jp

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Main Products Lineup & Development

Koishiwara-ware In 1682, the lord of the Kuroda family invited a potter from Imari (now in Saga Prefecture) to Koishiwara, who taught village potters advanced porcelain techniques developed in the Asian Continent. Local potters then developed Koishiwara-ware, incorporating the new techniques with Takatori-ware, which they were already familiar with. Conveying the simplicity and warmth of local potters, Koishiwara-ware is popular as everyday kitchenware. Among its original decorative techniques are "tobikanna," "hakeme," and "uchibake*."

Takatori-ware One of the seven ceramics particularly favored by Kobori Enshu (1579 - 1647), a celebrated tea master. Takatori-ware incorporates both the elegance of Korean ceramics and "sabi," a Japanese concept involving simple and refined beauty. Currently, Koishiwara Village has several kilns, which pass traditional techniques to future generations.

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Others

"Gyoja-sugi" An array of Japanese cedars, extending over 50 m. They were planted by Buddhist ascetics 300 to 500 years ago.

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