Daikura, ceramic workshop of Bizen

In the 16th century, the great lord Hideyoshi and the tea master Sen no Rikyu were great ceramics enthusiasts and encouraged the development of this craft. Both simple and high quality, Bizen ceramics are created using only clay and fire.

In the city of Bizen itself, a craftsman with 50 years of experience works the clay and bakes original pieces with a modern design. This is the concept of the Daikura workshop: Bizen ceramics that serve us in everyday life. Vases, utensils for the tea ceremony, decorative objects, various crockery, and an extensive range of pottery are shaped.

To read: The ceramics of Bizen

Export local pride

Since its creation, Daikura has participated in a dozen exhibitions worldwide to promote Japanese craftsmanship and encourage foreigners to come and see for themselves the know-how transmitted from generation to generation in the prefecture of 'Okayama.

In September 2015, it was the consecration! The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry certify the Daikura ceramic carafe as part of "The Wonder 500", a selection of objects from local crafts that are the pride of Japan and win at to be known abroad.

On September 22, 2018, two members of the Daikura project came to the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris to present their crafts. A demonstration accompanied by exact explanations lasted one hour, during which the participants could admire the ceramist making five different pieces with clay brought back, especially from Bizen.

Trade secrets

Each piece is made by hand. The clay is kneaded until all the air is removed, then left to dry after being shaped by the hands of the artisan before being carefully arranged in the kiln alongside hundreds of other pieces. Each of them is unique. Pinewood is used to fire the ceramics at 1,250°C for about ten days, under constant supervision. Finally, you have to wait ten days for the oven to cool before recovering the parts, sanding them down, and rinsing them with water.

Various techniques are used to give each piece a unique pigmentation. The small yellow dots are due to flame projections called goma, which means "sesame seed" in Japanese. The blue and gray traces, sangiri, are often found on ceramics located in the ashes and not exposed directly to the flames. Sometimes the creations are wrapped in rice straw, and when they burn, they leave red bands called hidasuki. Much appreciated, the "Blue Bizen" aobizen effect rarely occurs when gas stagnates around a room. To make cups two-tone, they are stacked on top with the fuseyaki method. Finally, you can also place small creations on other larger ones to leave marks of different colors; this is called botamochi.

Go to Bizen to discover the age-old craft of ceramics!

Daikura's creations are also displayed at Espace Densan in Paris until November 15, 2018.

See also: Choosing and buying ceramics in Japan.