Japan has long been fascinated with outside influences, and voraciously absorbs them in order to create something totally unique. This can be found in almost all aspects of Japanese industry and culture -- and it is nowhere more apparent than in the pottery born in Kyushu. Of course, ancient kilns dating back to the dawn of Japanese civilization are to be found on Kyushu, yet it wasn't until the late 1590s with the influx of Korean potters -- in the "Pottery Wars" -- that the island's pottery really matured.
Those Korean potters -- many of whom became Japanese citizens -- brought with them new kiln designs, the ability to create porcelain, and ash glazes that have delighted ceramic enthusiasts ever since. The glory of Kyushu's ceramic art from the Edo Period (1603-1867) to the early Showa Era is now on display in Tokyo at the Nihon Mingeikan (Japan Folk Crafts Museum) until June 26 in an exhibition titled "Ceramics in Kyushu."
Those who have not yet been to the Mingeikan, are missing one of Japan's most charming museums. Its intimate and timeless atmosphere is the perfect place to discover the beauty of folk arts, and it's a pilgrimage any lover of Japanese art should make no matter what exhibition they have on offer. Anyone with an interest in traditional ceramic art will be captivated by this exhibition that introduces visitors to the many styles of pottery fired in Kyushu, including Imari and Karatsu from Saga, Hasami from Nagasaki, Koishiwara from Fukuoka, Onta from Oita, Shodai from Kumamoto, and Naeshirogawa and Tanegashima from Kagoshima.