tanba

Hoping to apply to a residency in Japan, I have started researching Japanese pottery towns. I have been wanting to visit some of them for a long time, to learn about traditional Japanese ceramic techniques. Below is an excerpt from Touching Stone Gallery's website. Touching Stone is located in Santa Fe and specializes in exhibiting Japanese ceramists. Though their website needs design help, I have learned a lot from their content which is well written.

The following is about Tanba, where Tadashi Nishihata (西端正), whose tea bowl is shown below, comes from a long line of potters. "Nestled in a beautiful valley along the Shitodani River that runs through towering mountains northwest of Kyoto is the picturesque village Tachikui, historically known as Tanba* 丹波, one of the six oldest pottery centers in Japan. The rich ferrous soil in this area has supported generations of farmers and artisans since the Kamakura period (1180 - 1230). Tanba pottery is fired traditionally with wood. The oldest working noborigama (climbing kilns) in Japan are still used here. This serene setting is home of some of the world’s most beautiful ceramics."

photography courtesy of Touching Stone Gallery