The Kutani Ware Kiln Site Exhibition Hall in Kaga Onsen is presenting a special winter exhibition titled "The Lineage of Enuma Kutani: Kaga Kutani Red Heritage," exploring the unique role of red in traditional Kutani pottery.
The Unique Character of Red in Kutani Ware
Among the five traditional colors of Kutani pottery known as "Kutani Five Colors," red stands apart from the other four hues (yellow, green, purple, and Prussian blue). While the other colors require thick layering to achieve vivid tones, red has a different chemical composition that allows for fine, detailed brushwork without the need for building up layers. This characteristic was recognized early by craftsmen, but it would take more than a century after the closure of the original Ko-Kutani kilns for this potential to be fully realized.
The Development of Akae Saibyo Technique
The red fine-line decoration style known as "akae saibyo" was perfected by Iidaya Hachiroemon, a pottery painter at the Miyamotoya Kiln, which had taken over operations from the Yoshidaya Kiln during the Kutani Revival period. This exceptional craftsman developed a technique for drawing red lines as fine as a strand of hair and incorporated design motifs from Chinese ink painting manuals, establishing akae saibyo as one of the defining styles of Kutani ware.
Later, during the late Edo period, this tradition merged with the kinrande (gold brocade) technique and style established by Eiraku Wazen, the twelfth head of the Eiraku family, one of the official tea ceremony artisan houses serving the tea ceremony schools.
A Living Tradition
This artistic lineage continued through modern masters including the Takeuchi Ginshū and Asai Ittō brothers and their disciples, including the first Nakamura Shūtō and his followers. Today, contemporary Kaga Kutani artists continue to carry forward this tradition.
Red has been associated with "life" since ancient times, and the exhibition showcases works from the Enuma kilns of the Kutani Revival period, where artisans sought to breathe life into their vessels through the use of this vibrant color.
Exhibition Details
Title: The Lineage of Enuma Kutani: Kaga Kutani Red Heritage
Subtitle: Kutani Ware Kiln Site Exhibition Hall 2025 Winter Special Exhibition
Dates: January 21, 2026 to July 6, 2026
Note: Partial display change from April 15
Closed Tuesdays (open on national holidays), closed during year-end and New Year period
Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM)
Venue: Kutani Ware Kiln Site Exhibition Hall
Address: 19-101-9 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Admission:
- General: ¥350
- Ages 75 and over: ¥170
- Groups (20 or more): ¥290
- High school students and under: Free
- Visitors with disabilities (with proof): Free
Caregivers: Up to one companion free when assistance is required
Official Website: https://kutani-kamaato.com/
Tourism Information
Kaga City Tourism and Local Promotion Organization
Kaga City Tourism Information Center KAGA Tabi-Machi Net
Phone: 0761-72-6678 (8:45 AM to 5:30 PM) / Open year-round
Official Website: https://www.tabimati.net
