TOHKEN GAMA｜KIYOMIZU WARE・KYO WARE

Brand

Ideas that Connect History

TOHKEN GAMA

• 2002
• Kiyomizu Ware & Kyo Ware
• Kensuke Okumura

History

Pottery developed in the capital of Kyoto

Token Kiln was established in Kyoto in 2002 as a studio for Kyo Warei and Kiyomizu Ware pottery.

Kyo Ware refers to all pottery produced in Kyoto, and began in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), mainly in the Higashiyama area.

In the beginning, each kiln was recognized by its own name, and it is said that the name "Kyo ware" did not take root until the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Kiyomizu Ware, on the other hand, is a type of pottery that was fired in kilns on the grounds of Kiyomizu Temple or on the approach to the temple, and is part of the Kyo Ware category.

These ceramics developed with the popularity of the tea ceremony culture.

Kyoto, the capital of Japan, attracted high-quality materials and craftsmen to hone their skills, so techniques from all over Japan naturally gathered and fused together.

Other than Kiyomizu Ware, other types of Kyo Ware declined with the passage of time.

Today, all pottery produced in Kyoto is called Kyo Ware or Kiyomizu Ware and is passed down from generation to generation with great care.

Kiyomizu Ware, which is made entirely by hand, is a unique, rare, and highly valuable type of pottery and is designated as a traditional handicraft by the Japanese government.

Characteristic

Breathing New Life Into Traditional Techniques

Tohken Kiln is a kiln where skilled artisans pass on the traditional craft techniques of Kiyomizu Ware while young makers take on the challenge of creating new items.

Unlike mass-produced vessels, Kiyomizu Ware and Kyo Ware are brimming with the skill and taste of the artists.

However, in recent years, these artists and craftspeople have become exhausted, and it is difficult to hire young people, so the shortage of successors is becoming increasingly serious.

With a sense of crisis, we decided to create a place where young artisans could dream and create freely.

We launched a new brand to make Kyo Ware and Kiyomizu Ware not only as art objects, which are highly esteemed, but also as highly practical ceramics that can be used more easily and more familiarly in daily life.

We will continue to create items that fit naturally into modern lifestyles, without discontinuing the traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

We aim to be an open kiln where makers and users can freely communicate with each other and create products with new ideas.

For Customers

Everyday Life with Kiyomizu Ware

With the concept of "incorporating the joy of becoming one with nature into daily life," we offer Kyo Ware and Kiyomizu Ware ceramics that blend in with the Western style of modern life and can be used on a daily basis.

For example, we offer bowls and mugs that are sized to fit the hands of both adults and children, and can be used by the whole family.

We are sure you will be satisfied with the stylish, sophisticated appearance and the quality backed by our expert craftsmanship.

Tohken Kiln wants to gently bring the warmth of handmade pottery into your daily life, while creating products that fit your lifestyle without being bound by conventional values.

Our goal is to bring the kind of irregular fluctuations only found in the natural world into our artificial and regimented modern society, in order to bring people a sense of relaxation through all five senses.

We hope that you will take one of our vessels in your hands and feel the pleasant fluctuation created by nature.

Award

2022 Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2nd Chie-1 Grand Prix, Challenge Category, Grand Prix Awarded

2022 Kyoto Excellent Company Award, Kyoto Prefecture