Asahi Ware

Asahi ware comes from the banks of the Uji River, south of Kyoto. The kiln is located next to Ujigami Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the village shrine of Uji. It is situated across the river from the Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in temple.

Times were difficult for the 4th to 7th generations, who had to resort to earning their living through agriculture and tea production. Records indicate that they also made roof tiles and boated people across the Uji River.

When the crown prince (who would later become Emperor Taishō) visited Uji in 1898 he saw Shōsai at work at Asahi kiln and purchased some of his wares. Since then it has become a norm for the imperial family and important figures to visit the Asahi kiln whenever they are in Uji. This relationship with the imperial family has continued to today.

Between 1923 and 1924, at Leach’s request, Tsurunosuke built a Japanese climbing kiln at Leach’s workshop and trained Leach’s students. The kiln still exists today.

Despite the kiln being recognized as "marugi" qualified (an accreditation given by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during WWII to people and establishments in order to preserve craft skills) for its ceramic production, operation of the kiln became extremely difficult. To overcome the harsh times, 14th generation potter Matsubayashi Hōsai built the world’s first smokeless ascending kiln in 1975. This Asahi kiln, named Gen'yō, has continued to produce ceramics into the present day. It is now under the supervision of 15th generation potter and namesake Matsubayashi Hōsai (b. 1950).

The clay used comes from the hilly region to the south of Uji. Asahi potters store clay dug by previous generations, which they mix with other clays to produce particular textures not possible with newly extracted clay. In other words, the clay extracted today will be stored away to be used by future generations of Asahi kiln potters.

Today, the Asahi kiln produces both stoneware and porcelain pieces. The stoneware pieces made are mainly of a style known as gohon, which has characteristic faint, red spots—the natural result of a chemical reaction that occurs when iron contained in the clay is fired in the kiln. At Asahi kiln the degree of the color and the patterns are divided into two categories, called hanshi and kase. In the case of ceramic pieces the kiln mainly produces sencha teacups and hōhin (handle-less Japanese tea pots). As with the stoneware, the porcelain pieces also don vibrant glazes that turn red, green, yellow, and other colors as a result of chemical reactions during firing.

In recent years, Matsubayashi Yūsuke, the eldest son of 15th generation Hōsai, has participated in a project entitled GO ON, which links producers of traditional crafts with modern artists and designers, and has presented a work designed by a Danish designer. He has also been involved in various other activities, including working in the reconstructed Leach Pottery.

*All Japanese names are given in the order of surname followed by given name.