Fumoto kiln

Visiting Inoue family of Fumoto kiln. (on another rainy day!) When I visit them their daughter Miho welcomed me and kindly showed me their studio.

Fumoto kiln was started by Taishu Inoue in 1965, and currently he and his son Naoyuki are creating their works.

Inoue’s are one of the well known family who live in the ceramic town, Arao-city in Kumamoto prefecture. This ceramic town is known for "shodai-yaki" which has been said to have more than 400 years of history. As other ceramic families in this town, they keep using the old technique of "shodai-yaki" and shows the beautiful snow white color from the straw ash glaze.

Currently, 70 percent of the family works are made by the son, Naoyuki. Continuing their traditional works, Naoyuki is inventing the ceramics with adding the technique of English slipware from 18th century. The modern patterns decorate our dishes very uniquely, and I enjoy using his slipware daily.

Fumoto kiln is one of my most memorable places. Plates from Fumoto kiln actually were the first plates I had purchased for myself back when I was in my early 20s. I went to this kiln again and purchased a set of bowls and hand carried them to LA when I got married. (and we still use them today!)

I have literally "lived" with these plates from Fumoto kiln so I am very excited to carry them!