The centuries-old "Arita-yaki" pottery from the Saikumon workshop in Saga

Text & Photography / Chi Binghui

 

Both Yingge in Taiwan and Jingdezhen in mainland China are renowned ceramic hubs with a long history of porcelain production dating back several centuries, each with slightly different techniques. Japan’s “Arita-yaki” is one of the country’s most representative types of ceramics, with a history of about 400 years. It flourished in Saga, Kyushu, and is famous for its delicate paintings and rich colors. Among them, the Saikumon workshop still preserves the “purely handcrafted” techniques, with every step strictly monitored to produce precious and limited quantities of Arita-yaki.

The Saikumon workshop, established in this region, has a 250-year history. It currently employs about 50 masters, each with at least ten years of experience. From pottery-making, painting and coloring, glazing, drying, to firing, they all adhere to ancient handcrafting techniques. Each master is responsible for a specific step, making the process especially time-consuming. The highest quality pieces can take up to two months to complete, and any slight imperfection leads to rejection — about 20% are considered defective. Annual production varies.