KIKI MUG C811 Series

Mino-yaki is a porcelain made in Gifu. There are various kinds of products, with 15 styles certified as Traditional Craft. The 6 colors of KIKIMUG are designed for modern style inspired by traditional crafts called “Oribe”,“Shino”,“Kizeto”, “Setoguro” “Tetsuyu” and “Minoiga”.

Mino is located in the south of Gifu prefecture and it is currently the largest producing region of ceramics in Japan. The history is believed to have started when “Sue ware” was introduced from Korea more than 1300 years ago. Mino pottery became famous in Heian period and some potters in Seto region started business in Mino. This was the beginning of so-called “Koseto” era. It then moved into “Seto/Mino” era when they started using the bigger ovens. In Momoyama period, Moni-yaki pottery blossomed with the development of tea ceremony, and some potters in this “Seto/Mino” era started to develop a new style of pottery. This was the golden era in the long history of Mino. During Edo period, the number of ovens in each area became under the strict control with ownership system in place. At the same time, porcelain products came into the market and some regions even developed unique local products. Mino-yaki products became more famous in Meiji period when they got distinguished from Seto-yaki products in the market. Gosuke Kato, Danji Nishiura were some of the celebrated potters at the time and their legacy was passed onto other Mino potters of the modern time such as Toyozo Arakawa, Kagemasa Hayashi, and Keisyu Kato (all holders of Important Intangible Cultural Assets). Other potters who made some influence on the Mino pottery industry are Hajime Kato, Fujio Koyama, andSakuzo Hineno.

These potters, with their skills and attitude, haveset the high standard of Mino-yaki products, and there are more individualistic new products being released at present.