Enter the workshop of a 12th-generation master and observe the beauty of Agano-yaki.
2 hour private experience
Location: Tagawa District, Fukuoka
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the master
What you’ll do
Receive an in-depth workshop tour by an agano-yaki master. Examine a nobori-gama style kiln up close that is still being actively used. Observe the master’s creation process and end with a light snack and tea in the gallery.
Who can attend
Children must be 15+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (14:00 - 16:00)
Access
40 minutes from Kokura station
Simplicity, Silence, and Style
With earthy tones and a subdued, natural elegance, Agano-yaki has been favored throughout the centuries, intricately connected to tea ceremonies, beloved by both Sengoku period warlords and Edo era daimyo leaders alike, and praised by Mingei practitioners. However, the origins of this storied artistic practice have origins beyond the borders of Japan, all the way to the shores of the Korean peninsula. Military expeditions into Korea resulted in the movement of Korean artisans into Japan as living bodies of knowledge and craft. The influence of this craft remained linked to migration, spread beyond Kyushu by the practice of sankin-kotai, or alternate exchange, in which feudal lords altered between serving in the Edo capital, and ruling over their home domains. Even in modern times, agano-yaki remains highly exalted for the subdued colors achieved in its glazed finish and the tranquility the pottery expresses. In this experience, observe the creation of this singular pottery style, which prioritizes simplicity and silence, by a 12th-generation master artisan. Utilizing clay sourced from neighboring deposits and glazes developed from natural materials by scratch, each completed piece of pottery retains unique connections to nature and deep ties to the region's cultural history.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
