Akahadayama -Motogama Pottery(Akahada ware)Hand Building

Akahadayaki is a traditional craft of Nara. During the late 16th century (Tensho period), when the Battle of Nagashino and the Honno-ji Incident occurred, Toyotomi Hidenaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's younger brother, the lord of Yamato Koriyama Castle, invited Yokuro from Tokoname to open a kiln. Early in the Tenmei period (late Edo period), Yasumitsu Yanagisawa, then Lord of Yamato Koriyama Castle, revived Akahadayaki ware, which had ceased to have potters. In response to Yasumitsu's request, a potter from Kyoto named Jihei entered Akahada-yama (Mt. Gojo) and established the kiln. Jihei was the first-generation head of the Akahada-yama Motogama Pottery Furuse Gyozo. Three Akahada-yama Motogama wood-firing kilns remain. The large-scale and medium-scale wood-firing kilns are Registered Tangible Cultural Properties and rare examples of how kilns have changed over time to become smaller. 　Recently, ceramics production in many parts of Japan tends to be carried out under a divided industry system. One of the most attractive features of Akahada-yama Motogama kiln pottery is that the kiln in Akahada-yama (Mt. Gojo) is where all production processes are carried out, from sourcing the clay for raw materials to molding and firing, and they can also be observed. 　Now, you can create your own original Akahadayaki ware in a hands-on activity at this historic kiln.