A Visit to "Kutaniyaki Art Museum", a Museum Specializing in Ishikawa's Traditional Craft "Kutani Ware".

Hello. I'm kuma from Taiwan, and I joined the Kanazawabiyori editorial department in October. This time, I will be in charge of a series with the aim of discovering the wonders and charms of Kanazawa, where I live for the first time. Thank you for your interest in “Kuma’s Kanazawa Walk”.

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• Table of Contents
• Learn about Kutani ware
• Exhibition at "Kutaniyaki Art Museum"
• Spend an artistic café time at tea room “Sabo Kokutani”

Learn about Kutani ware

My favorite singer loves shaved ice, so before I could realize, I was hooked on it myself. After coming to Kanazawa, I visited many shaved ice shops around the city. Commonly, transparent glass bowls are used, but in a shop I visited, I was impressed by the colorful and distinctive bowls, cups, and dishes they used. On my second visit, I asked the staff and learned that the crockery used in the store is called "Kutani ware", a traditional craft from Ishikawa Prefecture. I became interested in Kutani ware, which I heard for the first time, and did some research.

Kutani ware, one of Ishikawa Prefecture's representative arts and crafts, is painted porcelain with bold compositions and vivid colors. Kutani ware has developed and transformed by incorporating various elements over its long history. By now, it has gone beyond the framework of a craft and is highly acclaimed all over the world as a work of art. This time, I went to the "Kutaniyaki Art Museum", the only museum in Japan specializing in Kutani ware. It is located in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the birthplace of Kutani ware.

"Kutaniyaki Art Museum", located in the "Kokutanino-mori Shinsui-koen Park" adjacent to the Kaga City Central Library, is a unique research institution in Japan that traces the history of Kutani wares and introduces it comprehensively and professionally. The signboard at the entrance and the umbrella holder next to the door are all brightly colored in the "Five Colors of Kutani": green, yellow, purple, navy blue, and red. Elements of Kutani ware are incorporated throughout the building, conveying its charm as art beyond just the form of porcelain.

Exhibition at "Kutaniyaki Art Museum"

The birth of Kutani ware is thought to date back to the early Edo period. It is said that during mining development, the raw material for porcelain "pottery stone", was discovered in Kutani Village, which was within the territory of the Daishoji domain at the time. This was the trigger for the beginning of porcelain production. There, a kiln was built to bake porcelain, and it came to be called "Kutani ware", named after the place "Kutani Village". Inside the museum, in addition to the permanent exhibition, limited-time special exhibitions provide a detailed introduction to the birth of Kutani ware, its temporary closure, revival, and its status as contemporary art.

Spend an artistic café time at tea room “Sabo Kokutani”

After viewing the art museum, you can spend an artistic café time at tea room "Sabo Kokutani" on the second floor, while admiring the works of Kutani ware artists. At the attached museum shop, you can purchase Kutani ware works, original goods, books and other goods carefully selected by the staff, as wonderful souvenirs to remember your time at the museum.

■Kutaniyaki Art Museum

Address: 1-10-13 Daishoji Chikyocho, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture
TEL: 0761-72-7466
Business Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Closed on Mondays (open on public holidays)
※Open without closing during the year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
Click here for Official Website
Click here for Official Facebook

■Tea room "Sabo Kokutani"

TEL: 0761-72-6366
Business Hours: 9:30-17:30 (LO 17:00)
Closed: Mondays (open on holidays), December 30th to January 1st

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[Editor kuma from Taiwan]Born in Taiwan, raised in China. A trilingual talented in not only Chinese (traditional and simplified), but also Japanese (perfect score on JLPT N1) and English (106 on TOEFL). Enjoys photography and observing stars in various places.

■Overseas SNS accounts I am in charge of☆
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Facebook Chinese｜Traditional Chinese (Taiwan/Hong Kong)
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