Issaki Kiln

Tomokazu Yamaguchi is the second generation of the Issaki kiln.The Issaki kiln is located in Arao City in Kumamoto which is known as a ceramic town. This ceramic town specifically is known for “shodai-yaki” which has been said to have more than 400 years of history. Many ceramic families in this town keep using the traditional technique of shodai-yaki and show the beautiful snow white color from the straw ash glaze.The Yamagushi family owns a rice farm in the neighborhood and their straw ash making begins from farming. The process starts by harvesting rice straws and then burning them to make them into ashes. The ashes are then soaked in water for about six months. The water is changed every day in the process. Tomokazu mixes the soil from the neighboring orange field and mixes with the soil which contains high volumes of iron.